PADI SPecialty Instructor
Teach What You Love
As a PADI Specialty Instructor, you’ll get to share your passion for specific types of diving while helping your students grow and explore new underwater adventures. From deep diving to night diving, wrecks to buoyancy, teaching specialties lets you go beyond the basics—and makes you a more versatile and in-demand instructor.
Whether you're interested in marine conservation, technical skills, or just teaching your favorite dive styles, becoming a Specialty Instructor allows you to:
- Offer more courses year-round
- Attract and retain enthusiastic students
- Increase your earning potential and career opportunities
- Share your unique dive interests in a professional setting
It’s also a required step toward achieving Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) status—making this one of the most rewarding and strategic certifications in your teaching journey.
Independent Study
Independent Study
Independent Study
While there’s no formal eLearning for Specialty Instructor courses, you can still get a head start with some self-guided prep. Before our training sessions, I’ll provide you with the relevant PADI Specialty Instructor Guides, which outline course standards, required dives, performance objectives, and teaching tips for each specialty.
You’ll be expected to:
- Review the Instructor Guide(s) for your chosen specialties
- Familiarize yourself with Knowledge Reviews, skill requirements, and any associated materials
- Organize and outline a sample course flow for each specialty, which we’ll review together during training
- Brush up on related dive theory and safety considerations
If you’re pursuing multiple specialties at once, this prep work helps you get the most out of our time together—and ensures you're ready to teach with confidence as soon as you're certified.
with me
Independent Study
Independent Study
When you train with me to become a Specialty Instructor, you’re getting more than a certification—you’re gaining the confidence, strategies, and hands-on experience to teach your favorite dives your way.
Together, we’ll:
- Review each specialty’s structure, standards, and requirements
- Practice organizing and briefing dives specific to your chosen specialties
- Run through realistic training scenarios, including how to adapt for different student needs, local conditions, or dive site logistics
- Focus on teaching techniques, safety considerations, and how to add personal value to your specialty offerings
- Discuss how to market and bundle your specialties to grow your student base and stand out in your local dive community
Each Specialty Instructor course typically includes two open water training dives per specialty (simulated or actual), along with skill review and teaching practice.
I’ll help you build a plan that aligns with your goals—whether you’re pursuing one specialty at a time or bundling five to earn your MSDT rating. Flexible scheduling, personalized coaching, and a real-world approach are all part of the experience.
Let’s take what you love about diving and turn it into a course that inspires others.