Assistant Instructor
The next step after Divemaster training is to consider the world of teaching diving. This is a big step, but the program introduces you to teaching techniques to not only support any PADI Program, but furthers your leadership skills in general. There is a lot of demand for dive instructors both locally and abroad. It is an excellent opportunity to travel the world, and earn an income doing what you love.
The path to becoming an instructor is a complicated one, so we're going to walk you through this. There are lots of books, application fees and such that all need to be considered. Keep in mind when reading through this, that Tyler Preston, Course Director and owner at Rockfish Divers has been teaching instructors for almost 10 years in the Pacific Northwest, with nearly 1000 student certifications in cold water, he is more than qualified to teach you how to teach in our local waters. Teaching in cold water is not like teaching in warm water - most students learn in drysuits, have lots of equipment and visibility can vary a lot.
What you should know about becoming an instructor:
There are 4 components that need to be completed in order to start teaching diving. You need to complete the:
Assistant Instructor Course (must be taught by an IDC Staff Instructor or Course Director through a PADI 5 Star dive store or resort)
You need to do the AI course first - this course consists of eLearning (online theory), some traditional lecture format class
room sessions, some pool work and some ocean dives.
* The AI course can be done in 2 days plus the time it takes to do eLearning online at home.
* You need to purchase the eLearning online via the PADI website - $401 CDN
* You will need books and teaching materials to complete this course - cost through Rockfish Divers - $599 with the purchase of the AI course - this is non-refundable and must be purchased in conjunction with the AI and eLearning through Rockfish Divers.
* Cost of the AI course is $399
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion- $133
* Min. 2 candidates
Prerequisites:
Next Date
Contact for the next available course date
Open Water Scuba Instructor (must be taught by a PADI Course Director)
Once you have completed the AI course, you can start the OSWI program. The course consists of some traditional lecture format class room sessions, some pool work and some ocean dives.
* The OWSI course can be done in 3 days if you have done the eLearning (this is the same eLearning as in the AI - if you did
the eLearning format for your AI - and did so within the last year - you do not have to complete this again).
* Books and teaching materials: if you did the AI and got all the books - you have what you need to complete the OWSI
- no other books required.
* The OWSI is available through Rockfish Divers. Cost of the course is $999.
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion (paid for at the IE) - $165 CDN
* You must complete the IE in order to be certified as an OWSI (see below)
Prerequisites:
Next Date:
Contact us for the next available course date
Emergency First Response Instructor (must be taught by a EFRI instructor trainer or Course Director)
Once you have completed the DM course, you can start the EFRI course. The course consists of traditional lecture format class room sessions and the demonstration of the EFR skills. The course qualifies you to teach the EFR course, and as long as you teach the program every two years, you no longer have to take the course every 2 years to keep your skills up.
* The EFRI course can be done in 2 days.
* Books and teaching materials: a crew pack is required - cost is normally $199.
* Cost of the course is $399 including the crew pack.
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion- $127 cdn
* Min. 2 candidates
Prerequisites:
Next Date:
Contact us for the next available course date
PADI Instructor Exam (must be conducted by a PADI Examiner)
Once you have completed the OWSI course, and the EFRI course you can attend a PADI IE. This exam is a 2 day exam and examines your skills as a scuba instructor. Once completed, the course qualifies you to teach the open water, advanced, rescue, divemaster, and other courses via the PADI system of diver education.
* Dates and locations vary.
* Cost of the exam is $650 CDN
* The exams usually take place in Vancouver or Seattle.
Prerequisites:
Next Best Date in Vancouver: TBA
The path to becoming an instructor is a complicated one, so we're going to walk you through this. There are lots of books, application fees and such that all need to be considered. Keep in mind when reading through this, that Tyler Preston, Course Director and owner at Rockfish Divers has been teaching instructors for almost 10 years in the Pacific Northwest, with nearly 1000 student certifications in cold water, he is more than qualified to teach you how to teach in our local waters. Teaching in cold water is not like teaching in warm water - most students learn in drysuits, have lots of equipment and visibility can vary a lot.
What you should know about becoming an instructor:
There are 4 components that need to be completed in order to start teaching diving. You need to complete the:
- Assistant Instructor Course (AI)
- Open Water Scuba Instructor Course (OWSI)
- The EFR Instructor Course (EFRI)
- PADI Instructor Exam conducted by PADI International (IE)
Assistant Instructor Course (must be taught by an IDC Staff Instructor or Course Director through a PADI 5 Star dive store or resort)
You need to do the AI course first - this course consists of eLearning (online theory), some traditional lecture format class
room sessions, some pool work and some ocean dives.
* The AI course can be done in 2 days plus the time it takes to do eLearning online at home.
* You need to purchase the eLearning online via the PADI website - $401 CDN
* You will need books and teaching materials to complete this course - cost through Rockfish Divers - $599 with the purchase of the AI course - this is non-refundable and must be purchased in conjunction with the AI and eLearning through Rockfish Divers.
* Cost of the AI course is $399
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion- $133
* Min. 2 candidates
Prerequisites:
- Certified as a PADI Divemaster
- 18 years old
- Completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within 24 months
- Medically evaluated and cleared for diving by a physician within 12 months
Next Date
Contact for the next available course date
Open Water Scuba Instructor (must be taught by a PADI Course Director)
Once you have completed the AI course, you can start the OSWI program. The course consists of some traditional lecture format class room sessions, some pool work and some ocean dives.
* The OWSI course can be done in 3 days if you have done the eLearning (this is the same eLearning as in the AI - if you did
the eLearning format for your AI - and did so within the last year - you do not have to complete this again).
* Books and teaching materials: if you did the AI and got all the books - you have what you need to complete the OWSI
- no other books required.
* The OWSI is available through Rockfish Divers. Cost of the course is $999.
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion (paid for at the IE) - $165 CDN
* You must complete the IE in order to be certified as an OWSI (see below)
Prerequisites:
- Certified as a PADI Assistant Instructor
Next Date:
Contact us for the next available course date
Emergency First Response Instructor (must be taught by a EFRI instructor trainer or Course Director)
Once you have completed the DM course, you can start the EFRI course. The course consists of traditional lecture format class room sessions and the demonstration of the EFR skills. The course qualifies you to teach the EFR course, and as long as you teach the program every two years, you no longer have to take the course every 2 years to keep your skills up.
* The EFRI course can be done in 2 days.
* Books and teaching materials: a crew pack is required - cost is normally $199.
* Cost of the course is $399 including the crew pack.
* There is an application fee paid to PADI upon completion- $127 cdn
* Min. 2 candidates
Prerequisites:
- Certified as a PADI Divemaster
- Completed EFR Primary and Secondary Care training within the previous 24 months
Next Date:
Contact us for the next available course date
PADI Instructor Exam (must be conducted by a PADI Examiner)
Once you have completed the OWSI course, and the EFRI course you can attend a PADI IE. This exam is a 2 day exam and examines your skills as a scuba instructor. Once completed, the course qualifies you to teach the open water, advanced, rescue, divemaster, and other courses via the PADI system of diver education.
* Dates and locations vary.
* Cost of the exam is $650 CDN
* The exams usually take place in Vancouver or Seattle.
Prerequisites:
- Completion of the OWSI course with a PADI Course Director
- Completion of the EFRI course with an EFRI trainer
- Medically evaluated and cleared for diving by a physician within 12 months
- Minimum of 100 dives
- Must be certified as a diver for 6 months
Next Best Date in Vancouver: TBA
We hope this helps, please email us if you need more details, course dates etc.
