PADI IDC Staff Instructor
men tor the next generation
The PADI IDC Staff Instructor course is your opportunity to step into a leadership role within professional dive training.
As a Staff Instructor, you’ll go beyond teaching students—you’ll help train and mentor future instructors, shape the quality of PADI programs, and support Course Directors in running successful IDCs.
It’s a rewarding next step that deepens your teaching skills, sharpens your evaluation abilities, and establishes you as a respected figure in the professional diving community.
Whether you're looking to elevate your instructional career, build your resume, or eventually become a Master Instructor, IDC Staff Instructor is a powerful milestone in your journey.
Instructor candidates teaching skills in the water during an Instructor Development Course.
Independent Study
Independent Study
Independent Study
Before we begin the in-person portion of your IDC Staff Instructor training, you’ll complete the required PADI Dive Theory eLearning—a deep dive into the science and systems behind scuba.
This independent study ensures you’re fully prepared to evaluate and mentor instructor candidates with confidence. The eLearning covers:
- Physics
- Physiology
- Equipment
- Skills & Environment
- Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) use
Even if you’ve completed Dive Theory in the past, you’ll need to retake it if it’s been over a year to meet current Staff Instructor prerequisites.
You’ll also receive and review the PADI Guide to Teaching and other updated instructor-level materials so you can hit the ground running when we start the in-person sessions.
with me
Independent Study
Independent Study
As your mentor through the IDC Staff Instructor course, I’ll guide you through both the academic and practical components of this leadership-level rating. You won’t just learn how to evaluate candidates—you’ll learn how to support, coach, and inspire them as they step into their own professional roles.
Here’s what we’ll do together:
- Review and refine your evaluation skills using real IDC presentations
- Audit or co-teach an entire IDC, working directly with instructor candidates
- Practice delivering Assistant Instructor-level presentations and workshops
- Get personalized feedback on your teaching and mentoring style
- Dive into real-world strategies for managing stress, performance issues, and candidate support during high-pressure courses
You’ll also gain insider insight into how IDCs are structured and managed—an essential step if you’re considering applying for the PADI Course Director Training Course in the future.
We’ll build a flexible schedule that allows you to meet all performance requirements while developing the confidence and credibility that define great instructor trainers.
Let’s elevate your role from educator to mentor—and help shape the future of professional diving.