PADI Instructor Development Course IDC

IDC - Instructor Development Course - from Divemaster to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

First you need to attend an Instructor Development Course (IDC).

In 8 days you will learn to teach and to act as a PADI Instructor in theory and in practise and which standards you need to follow.

This course is totally different to all courses you have done before. It is not about diving, it is about teaching diving. In the seminars you learn how to conduct theory lessons as an instructor.

In the pool you will practise to present your PADI skills in a perfect and exemplary way and how to instruct your students.

In the ocean, you'll practice safely and correctly conducting and supervising a wide variety of course exercises with your students, from PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) to Divemaster. Potential errors and risks associated with the skills will be constantly simulated, allowing you, as an instructor, to quickly identify and correct mistakes in your students, minimizing the risks in your courses.

The IDC consists of two sections: the PADI Assistant Instructor training and the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor training. The two parts flow seamlessly into one another. In principle, a certified PADI Assistant Instructor is not required to attend the entire IDC, but only the second half. However, if you are not actively employed as a PADI AI and therefore work in diving operations on a daily basis, or if it has been some time since your AI training, you should definitely attend the entire IDC.

During your IDC, you will also receive training to become an EFR instructor. Optionally, you can also participate in the Specialty Instructor training dives to earn five Specialty Instructor licenses immediately and at a lower cost. This will also significantly accelerate your progress to the next level of your instructor license, the PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer.

With us, the complete IDC includes the training to become a PADI AI + PADI OWSI plus EFR Instructor and the Specialty Instructor training for Underwater Navigator Instructor, EAN Instructor, Deep Diver Instructor, Wreck Diver Instructor and Digital UW Photographer Instructor.

The IDC course days begin at 8:50 a.m. and end, depending on the schedule, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Afterward, you still have to prepare your presentations for the next day. There are no days off; the 8-day program also extends over the weekend. The IDC program is very comprehensive; after all, it's a complete professional training program! Therefore, bringing distractions such as a spouse, children, or friends is absolutely not recommended.

The exam, the PADI IE, lasts 2 days and takes place immediately afterwards in the south of the island in Adeje. Including arrival and departure days, you will need 12 days, or 11 overnight stays. You should arrive one day before the IDC and book accommodation at the Hotel PRECISE RESORT in Puerto de la Cruz or nearby for 8 nights (please contact us before booking; as an IDC candidate you will receive a discount on your accommodation at the PRECISE RESORT). On the evening of the last day of the IDC, you will move south to Adeje. Here you will need accommodation at the Hotel El Duque or in the surrounding area for 3 nights. The PADI IE usually ends in the early afternoon of the second day of the exam. However, since you were diving, your return flight should not be until the following morning. If you are arriving here for the IDC/IE from another Canary Island, you can take the ferry back on the same day.

Participation in the complete IDC costs 1400 €

Crossover for Instructors of other organisations like CMAS, SSI, Barakuda, NAUI, VDTL, VEST, FIT, etc.

If you are already instructor in another organisation and you have experience in training of scuba students you could skip the first part of the IDC. You only have to attend the OWSI part of the IDC. You may also attend the full IDC, we recommend this to all instructors who have not been teaching recently or who have only little experience in teaching.

No matter which instructor level you have in your organisation, in PADI you will always start with the PADI OWSI level. Due to your eventually existing high level of experience you may get your equivalent PADI qualification quick and easy for e.g. Specialty Instructor Night diving, Wreck diving, Nitrox etc. So very soon you may get your PADI MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer).

The participation in the OWSI-part of the IDC will cost 800 €

PADI Assistant Instructor (AI) to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

For PADI AIs applies the same rule as for Crossover candidates. You need to attend the OWSI-part only, the second half of the IDC. In case your PADI AI training has been long ago and/or you haven't been active teaching instructor for a long time, we recommend to attend the full IDC.

The participation in the OWSI-part of the IDC will cost 800 €

PADI STAFF Instructor

You are already PADI MSDT and you would like to continue your career to become PADI Staff Instructor? We will help you to become a PADI Staff Instructor. You need to attend the IDC as Staff candidate. You will need the PADI IDC Staff Instructor Crew Pack with e-learning.

We can get you this Staff Instructor Crew Pack in your desired language and either have it here for you upon arrival or have it sent to your home address.

The PADI Staff Instructor Crew Pack costs at PADI actually 507,58€. If you do your IDC with us, we can get you the Crew Pack for only 399,00€.

The participation in the IDC as Staff candidate will cost 900€

Die PADI Staff Instructor application fees will be 143,50€

Pass or not pass

The IDC is a preperation for the examination IE only. You can't fail the IDC, you will be trained to pass. You will repeat over and over again those skills which are not good enough to pass an IE until you have reached instructor level. At the end of the IDC you will need the signature of your PADI Course director to attend the IE. He might decide that your skills and knowledge are still insufficiant to pass the IE. In this case he will give you all options to improve your skills, in worst case he will recommend to repeat the full IDC at a later time if your skills can't be improved within the 8 days of the IDC. You can only fail in the IE and this is exactly what we want to prevent.

There are dive centres that offer IDCs with a "Passing guarantee". This is total B.S. and a fake. Firstly, you can't fail the IDC anyway, and secondly, no dive center or course director has any influence on the IE exams, as these are administered by an independent examiner. PADI clearly separates training from the exam. However, to date, all candidates who have completed their IDC with us have subsequently passed their IE and are now PADI Instructors.

IE - Instructor Examination

The IE will last two days in total.

You will need to pass two written exams lasting 1,5h each needing 75% correct to pass. Also you need to give proof of your teaching and controlling skills in the pool and in the open sea. The IE will be conducted by and independent PADI Examiner sent by PADI EMEA headquater in Bristol. Your instructors from the IDC have no permission to enter the examination and will not be able to assist you there anymore. Although we will be there to help in between the examinations and to solve last minute doubts and to support you just with our presence. There are no grades in the IE, there is only pass or fail.

We offer the IDCs at a time when you may attend the IE right after your IDC here in Tenerife. But you may also attend any other IE anywhere in the world. We recommend to attend the IE as soon as possible right after the IDC.

For the IE you must pay the examination fees directly to PADI actually 833 €

Necessary materials

You need top have a complete own scuba equipment as PADI Instructor (except weights and cylinders). Also you need to have ALL teaching and learning materials named in the PADI standards for this course. You will get everything together in a PADI Instructor Crew Pack.

We can get you this Instructor Crew Pack in your desired language and either have it here for you upon arrival or have it sent to your home address.

The PADI Instructor Crew Pack costs at PADI actually 860 €

We will be happy to get your IDC Crew Pack for only 740 € with your participation in our IDC.

Using rented materials of another instructor is a complete NO GO! Each instructor needs to have his own materials. To avoid usage of rented materials you will receive a holographic sticker with your crew pack, which you will need to send in with your IDC competion form to PADI. So don't oraganize any copies from "friends" or downloads from the internet, as this will not work and you have already missed the most important rule for a PADI Instructor: Act always professional!

For your EFR Instructor course you will need additionally the EFR Instructor Crew Pack. The original PADI price is 266 €, but together with your IDC here with us you will get it for 249 €.

You should bring a notebook, as all materials can be used in digital form. This way searching for issues in the instructor manual is much faster. The PADI Standards exam is an "Open Book" examination and a notebook will suit you well. Please do not bring PADs, as some digital media don't work on PADs.

Prerequisites" - "Must have"

• Minimum age 18 years
• PADI Divemaster or equivalent scuba license of other organisation
• For Crossover Instructor license of other scuba organisation
• Minimum of 100 logged dives (proof by logbook)
• Medical for scuba diving not older than 12 months
• Complete scuba equipment incl. computer, compass, watch, knife, boye
• PADI Instructor Crew Pack
• PADI EFR Instructor Crew Pack

PADI IDC & IE Dates 2025

Please register in good time, as places are limited and preparation must be done in advance as e-learning. The IDC lasts 8 days. You can then take part in the PADI IE here in Tenerife, or register for any other IE worldwide. The location for the PADI IE in Tenerife is in the south of the island, so you will need accommodation for 2 nights in the Adeje area in the south of Tenerife.

Spring

•   IDC ATLANTIK 02.05.2025 - 09.05.2025 
  
•   IE Tenerife 10.05.2025 + 11.05.2025 

Fall

•   IDC ATLANTIK 27.11.2025 - 04.12.2025 
  
•   IE Tenerife 05.12.2025 + 06.12.2025 

Place: Dive Centre ATLANTIK, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife
Reservations until: 30 days before the IDC

You may also attend any other PADI IE after your IDC, a complete list of all IE dates worldwide for 2025 can be found here.

Ulf Mayer is your PADI Platinum Course Director during the IDC

In the 1990s I breathed compressed air for the first time and from my very first dives I was fascinated by the underwater world. Since then, this fascination and respect for the water and its creatures has never left me. In 2000 I became a PADI professional and have been active in the diving industry ever since. I currently offer scuba diving instructor courses in German and English in the Canary Islands and in Germany.

For several years I gained experience abroad as a guide, diving instructor, dive operation manager, tour leader and staff instructor for various course directors. Since 2002 I have been conducting at least four IDCs a year. Initially as part of a training team, later on my own. Over the years I have met many candidates and been able to accompany them on their way to becoming PADI scuba instructors.

I was lucky enough to work with some of the best course directors in the world. And I learned a lot from them. So if there is one thing I can offer you in abundance, it is experience. Experience that I am happy to pass on today for your benefit.

Thomas Christoph is the organiser and your PADI Master Instructor during the IDC

Thomas organizes the entire IDC and is the event organizer. He works closely with the Course Director and handles all the logistics of your training. Thomas can also assist with instruction, assessment, and pool and open water exercises if needed.

Thomas has been managing director of the ATLANTIK diving school for over 31 years, and as an instructor, he has trained thousands of students and completed over 15,000 dives.

His tips and advice are the result of extensive experience in the daily diving business.

Accommodation during your IDC

We can arrange accommodation for you at the PRECISE RESORT**** hotel, ensuring you'll always be right where the IDC is taking place. As an IDC candidate, you'll receive a discount on room rates if you reserve in advance. After you register for the IDC, we'll be happy to send you all the information you need to book your room.

If you book accommodations in other hotels, apartments, or AirB&Bs, please note that you will be responsible for arranging your own transportation from the accommodation to the dive center. The transfer service we usually offer to our "regular" diving guests is not available to IDC candidates, as the IDC schedule runs at different times than regular diving operations.