Assistant Instructor Course

The Assistant Instructor (AI) Course is a minimum of three days. It introduces you to the teaching techniques for skill and knowledge development. The course concentrates on duties and programs AIs may conduct independently.

The AI course emphasizes learning and development – not evaluation. This allows you to gain confidence and improve performance in a low-stress environment. Successfully completing this course earns you an AI certification and qualifies you to continue with the Instructor Development Course (IDC) program.

You must complete the independent study Knowledge Reviews in the Instructor Candidate Workbook prior to the course. Doing so provides you with background information and an overview of basic standards. This information is necessary for you to progress through the course.

During the course, you’ll attend a course orientation session and six curriculum presentations.

You’ll also give at least two confined water teaching presentations, two knowledge development presentations, and one open water teaching presentation integrating two skills.

The staff will evaluate your teaching presentations and provide suggestions for improvement. Prior to certification as an Assistant Instructor you must give at least one presentation with these minimum scores (the scoring criteria will be fully discussed in detail during the appropriate curriculum sessions):

Prior to AI certification you’ll also need to demonstrate mastery by passing a PADI System, Standards and Procedures Exam (75 per cent or higher) and demonstrate competency by successfully completing a skill evaluation, earning 68 points, 3.0 on 20 skills

Keep in mind that this is a performance based developmental process. You will have several opportunities to reach these levels – you don’t have to reach these scores on the first try. We will work with you to develop your abilities and provide additional presentation opportunities.

Course prerequisites:-

Must be certified as a PADI Divemaster (or hold a leadership level certification with another recreational diver training organization).
Must be at least 18 years old.
Must be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement for a diving medical examination conducted within the past 12 months. A licensed physician must sign the form and state that the candidate is fit for diving. The physician signing the form may not be the applicant. (Note UK HSE Medical required under the Diving at Work Regulations)
Have been a certified diver for at least six months and have completed and logged at least 60 open water scuba dives (as documented in the individual’s log book) and have documentation of experience in deep, night and navigation diving. Note - to attend an Instructor Exam, the candidate must have at least 100 logged dives.
Submit proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months.
Submit documentation of any equivalent certification for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership-level issued by another recreational diver training organization. (PADI Members who have these records on file at PADI do not need to resubmit.)
If not a PADI Divemaster, successfully complete the PADI Divemaster course diver rescue skills assessment.

Costs The basic cost of the Assistant Instructor Course includes all instruction. It does not include the Instructor Candidate Workbook, any other books you may require or your PADI Assistant Instructor membership.

Not Included Any other incidental costs such as kit hire, any overnight stays, boat fees, dive site entry fees, air fills, etc are the responsibility of the student. However you will have the choice at all times as to whether you want to incur these costs beforehand. You are recommended to buy 'PADI Encyclopaedia of Recreational Diving', 'Diving Knowledge Workbook' and both the table and eRDPML versions of the Recreational Dive Planner.