Guide to success
Prerequisites
- Be certified as PADI Dive Master or hold a leadership level certification with another recreational diver training organization.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement for a diving medical examination conducted within the past 12 months from the start date of the IE, it must be signed by a medical practitioner and must state that you are fit for diving (PADI medical Statement Form recommended).
- Have been a certified diver for at least six months and have completed and logged at least 60 open water scuba dives (100 logged dives to attend the IE, note Career development exception) as documented in your log book and have documentation of experience in deep, night and navigation.
- Submit proof of CPR training within the past 24 months.
- Submit documentation (photocopy) of any qualifying certifications for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership level issued by another recreational diver training organization.
- If not a PADI Dive Master, complete the PADI Dive Master Course Diver Rescue Skills Assessment. (this may be done as part of the IDC Prep program)
Preparation
Complete the 16 IDC Knowledge Reviews, which MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE START OF THE IDC. At the beginning of each Knowledge Review you will find listed the necessary pre-study reading assignments you need to read before answering the knowledge review. This is a prerequisite to attend the IDC, AI course or OWSI program.
You need to be familiar with what to expect from your IDC. This will relax you and ensure that the course is a learning experience for you and not just a mad dash to pass an exam. If you are not happy with previous training or you feel your skills have deteriorated over time a good idea would be to do the IDC Prep Course. If you are already comfortable with your knowledge and skills and don’t see the need for a prep course you can still do some preparation of your own to ensure a pleasurable IDC.
Before coming to the IDC please look at the list of things to have and to do before coming on the IDC. There is no time during the course to do these things and you don’t need the added stress…
If you do not have a new instructor manual make sure that you have and have implemented all Training Bulletins Updates up to date!
If you are missing any you can download them from the Members section of www.padimembers.com
Make sure that all your equipment is complete and in good working order.
4 passport photos on Day 1 of the IDC.
You will also need a valid credit card to pay your PADI fee’s as they do not accept cash.
Requirements
Purchase and have your own personal copies of the following PADI materials:
- Instructor Manual (paper or digital) and Instructor Candidate Workbook.
- Your own RDP and eRDPml.
- PADI OW, Adv, Rescue and DiveMaster manuals.
- All the relevant exam booklets.
- Aquatic cue cards for all the above courses and lesson preparation slates
- Best is to buy the PADI IDC Crewpak which combines all the materials needed for the course as well as pre – study tools (excludes course Manuals and tables).
Who needs the Prep Course?
The IDC Prep course is an added two days before the IDC and is conducted by PADI Staff Instructors under direct supervision of a Course Director
Components
- knowledge development evaluation
- Diving skills evaluation
- Rescue skills evaluation
Make sure you arrive at the IDC with all prerequisite skills mastered, drawn from either the PADI Rescue Diver or Dive Master courses. Proficiency in knowledge development, including dive theory, dive tables, physiology, equipment, and environment, is crucial and will be tested during both the IDC and IE. It's strongly recommended to ensure mastery of these skills beforehand for a smoother IDC experience.
For Instructors or Dive Masters transitioning from other organizations, the Recreational Dive Planner lectures may be particularly beneficial. Demonstrating exemplary diving and teaching skills is essential. While the IDC refines these abilities, it's essential to have them mastered beforehand. Expect assessments on the PADI 20 skill circuit and rescue skills during both the IDC and IE.
Additional skills like knot tying (both above and underwater) and lift bag usage should also be proficiently demonstrated, as they may be required teaching topics. Consider taking the IDC prep course or relevant portions just before the IDC to enhance skills and increase confidence, ensuring a higher likelihood of success in the IE—historically, those who have taken the Prep Course have had a 100% pass rate in the IE.
What will I do on the Prep course?
During the prep course staff will go over Dive Theory with you – mock exams and different methods of explaining difficult concepts to students will be looked at.
At least an entire day will be spent in the water, repeating and enhancing skills you already have or might be unfamiliar with. Lift bags, knots and the 20 skill circuit will be demonstrated and repeated till you are comfortable and have mastered these skills.
Staff will ensure that rescue skills are perfect, not just to pass the IE but to make you comfortable with teaching these skills as well as applying them when needed.
How much will this cost extra?
It will depend on which areas of your training you are not happy with. The entire program is conducted over two full days but is divided into segments – you can do it all or just the portions you feel you need revision on.
- Water Skills
- Assist your Instructor on as many different PADI courses as possible.
- Practice all your diving skills - especially the 20 skills of the PADI skill circuit.
- Concentrate especially on your buoyancy skills: hovering and fin pivots, out of air skills: Buddy Breathing and Alternate Air Source both stationary and swimming, the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent (CESA) and your equipment removal skills: scuba unit and weight belt - both at the surface and underwater.
- Remember although an Open Water Diver can "do the skill", this is usually a long way off from the demonstration quality expected of an IDC candidate.
- Review the skills on the PADI Open Water video or CD-ROM.
- If possible get a PADI instructor to show you the Rescue Diver Exercise #7: "Unconscious Diver on the surface". You can review an excellent demonstration of this on The PADI Rescue Diver video.
- Not only do you need to be able to demonstrate skills from the PADI Open Water Course, but you also need to be able to demonstrate skills from PADI continuing education courses. For example, knot tying from the Advanced Course and Rescue Diver Course skills.
- Go Diving!!
Dive Theory
The absolute best way to prepare for the IE Dive Theory Exam is to own a copy of The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving and Diving Knowledge Workbook (The CD-Rom Encyclopedia includes both) and work your way through it along with the Dive Master exams.
You will have ample to keep you busy during the IDC without having to worry about dive theory questions such as "what are partial pressures" or "how do I find minimum surface intervals with the eRDPml.
You know when you have mastered theory when you can not only arrive at the correct answer - but also explain WHY each of the other answers is wrong!
Go over the Instructor manual, Dive Master section and read the knowledge development part for the 5 topics.
Work through the Rescue and the Dive Master A&B Exams.
What else?
- Complete the IDC application form and mail to us as soon as possible.
- Book early to take advantage of package deals.
- I.E. exams in languages other than English need to be ordered from PADI well in advance of the IE, so let us know as early as possible if you wish to take the examinations in an alternative language.
- During the IE exams are available in over 20 languages. Should the exam not be available in your native language you will be credited with extra time.
- Extra time will not be credited for exams available in a native language when they were not requested in sufficient time prior to the I.E.
- Preparation is the key to Success.
- Preparing for a Career as a Diving Instructor takes a considerable investment of time, commitment and money. The right preparation significantly reduces your IDC course load and allows you more time to assimilate.
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