PADI Course Director Instructor Training Course

PADI Course Directors are PADI Instructor trainers. The PADI Course Director rating denotes the highest instructor achievement in the PADI System. To become a Course Director, PADI Master Instructors complete a PADI Course Director Training Course during which they learn how to conduct PADI Instructor Development programs and gain experience in developing dive educators. Course Directors are among the dive industry’s most influential opinion makers and play a critical role in shaping the attitudes and abilities of PADI Instructors. They serve as role models for other PADI Members in regards to PADI instruction, diver training and professionalism.

Prerequisites

To apply for a PADI Course Director Training Course, an instructor must:

1. Be a renewed, Teaching status PADI Master Instructor for at least six months.

2. For at least 12 months prior to application have:
a. No verified quality assurance complaints.
b. Conducted all PADI certification courses and experience programs using methods consistent with PADI Standards and philosophy as outlined in the PADI Instructor Manual.
c. Exclusively used the complete PADI System of diver education including all appropriate PADI training materials.
d. Issued only PADI certifications to students completing diver training.

3. Be certified as a PADI IDC Staff Instructor.

4. Have staffed at least two complete IDCs after certification as an IDC Staff Instructor.

5. Be certified as a current Emergency First Response Instructor.

6. Have conducted at least one Emergency First Response course.

7. Meet the minimum experience requirement of 250 logged dives.

8. Have experience working with a PADI Dive Center or Resort.

9. Meet all other requirements as specified by PADI at the time of application.

Training and Certification

PADI Course Director Training Courses are conducted by PADI Office staff. The course has two phases – a training phase and an evaluation phase. Candidates must successfully complete both phases to be certified as PADI Course Directors.

Duties

Beyond the responsibilities and duties they already have as PADI IDC Staff Instructors and Master Instructors, Teaching status PADI Course Directors are authorized to:

1. Conduct PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDCs), OWSI Programs and IDC Staff Instructor courses.

2. Conduct Status Updates.

3. After successful completion of an Emergency First Response Instructor Trainer course, conduct Emergency First Response Instructor courses.

4. After certification as a Specialty Instructor Trainer, conduct Specialty Instructor Training courses.

5. Observe PADI Instructor Examinations (at the discretion of the Instructor Examiner).