What is a PADI IDC Staff Instructor? Simply put, it’s like being an Assistant Instructor for a PADI Course Director. IDC Staff Instructors have completed extensive training to train new PADI Assistant Instructors and assist with PADI Instructor Development Courses and PADI Specialty Instructor training.
Why should you become a Staff Instructor? As almost all instructors will tell you, the PADI Instructor Development Course is pretty intense. There is a lot of material covered in a short amount of time. Taking the PADI IDC Staff course allows you to see the Instructor Development process from a different point of view and pick up on a few things that you might have missed during your IDC. PADI revised the Instructor Development process a couple of years ago. If your IDC was prior to 2009, you will definitely benefit by seeing the new curriculum. Since part of the IDC Staff program focuses on evaluation and critiques, it may help you refine your skills when teaching–especially for new PADI Divemaster candidates. Also, if you’re tracking towards PADI Master Instructor, the PADI IDC Staff Instructor credential is a requirement.
How do you become a PADI IDC Staff Instructor? There are two routes–auditing a complete IDC or presenting all components of a PADI Assistant Instructor course. Common to both are some requirements:
* Prerequisite: You need to be a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) to enroll in the program.
* Preassessment: we’ll assess your knowledge of diving theory and PADI Systems, Standards and Procedures with written exams, then wee’ll assess your teaching abilities with both a knowledge development presentation and a confined water presentation.
* Knowledge development: You’ll participate in four(4) presentations including an Orientation, Instructor Development Standards and Procedures, How to organize and conduct a PADI Assistant Instructor course and the Psychology of Evaluation and Counseling.
* Audit or Teach: Auditing a complete IDC is probably best, because you’ll see how a full PADI Instructor Development Course is conducted and you’ll get the opportunity to evaluate and critique real instructor candidates. Option B, teaching all components of a PADI Assistant Instructor course might be better if you have time restrictions and can’t audit a complete IDC.
* Materials: You will need a PADI Course Director Manual, evaluation slates for confined and open water as well as all materials required for an instructor candidate.
Contact me for more details about IDC Staff Instructor.