PADI Instructor Course

Prerequisite certification: none Minimum age: 15 (10 for Junior Divers)

Course Structure

1. The PADI Open Water Diver course is:

a. Performance-based. This means that you can progress by meeting learning requirements.

b. Divided into three segments: Confined Water Dives, Knowledge Development and Open Water Dives.

2. The course is taught in five confined water dives and five knowledge development sections(three each for Scuba Diver). You meet the requirements for each before moving on to the next.

3. You'll complete most of your knowledge development at your own convenience by reading the manual and watching the video (multimedia). When we meet, a short quiz tells me how well you understand the material; then we'll review any areas where you have difficulty and I'll fill in information specific to diving around here. After the last section, you'll take a final exam. Knowledge Development makes sure you remember everything you've learned throughout the course.

4. We'll make four scuba open water dives together (two for Scuba Diver), during which you'll apply what you've learned, plus develop some new skills. But we'll spend a good bit of time exploring and looking around, too.

C. Course Requirements

1. Attendance requirements (performance based requirements and need to complete each section and session in order.

2. Independent study

a. Prior to each class, watch the Open Water Diver Video and complete the reading, exercises and Knowledge Review questions in your Open Water Diver Manual. (Or use the multimedia version) I'll look over your Knowledge Review when we meet for the review.

b. As you read, underline or highlight important information - particularly the information related to objectives.

3. Equipment requirements

4. Log books (Asks students to bring their log books to all sessions for validation of a PAID Instructor)

5. Other:

D. Course Schedule (Review the course schedule - times, locations, what everyone will be doing - in detail.)

VI. Water Skills Assessment Students must demonstrate, in confined water, they possess reasonable aquatic ability without using equipment before they participate in open water dives. At some point prior to certification, they must also complete a 200 metres/yard continuous surface swim or a 300 metre/yard mask, snorkel and fin swim, plus a swim/float without using a mask, fins, snorkel or any other swim aid. Following the confined water dive, or within it, you may get some of this out of the way. It's not recommended that you perform water skills assessment without a confined water dive.