Open Water Scuba Instructor

The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) rating is the first PADI Instructor level attained by dive professionals. During their training (either an Instructor Development Course or OWSI Program), instructor candidates review PADI Standards, procedures, philosophies and teaching methods as well as hone their practical teaching ability, watermanship, and diving knowledge. After successfully completing a PADI Instructor Examination (IE), OWSI's take responsibility for introducing people to scuba diving through various PADI programs and courses. Teaching status PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors may conduct the entire range of PADI programs from Discover Scuba Diving up to Divemaster (except for specialties which require specific Specialty Instructor ratings).

Instructor Development Course (IDC) Prerequisites

To enroll in an IDC, an individual must:

1. Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or hold a leadership level certification with another recreational diver training organization.

2. Be at least 18 years of age.

3. Submit medical clearance for diving signed by a physician, attesting to fitness to dive. The medical clearance must be current within the previous 12 months. The physician signing the medical clearance cannot be the applicant.

4. Have been a certified diver for at least six months and have completed and logged at least 100 scuba dives showing experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation

5. Submit proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months.

6. Submit documentation of any qualifying certifications for entry level, advanced, rescue and leadership level issued by another recreational diver training organization.
 
7. If not a PADI Divemaster, successfully complete the PADI Divemaster course dive rescue assessment.

Training and Certification

PADI Instructor Development has two phases – a training phase and an evaluation phase. Completion of the training phase may be met by taking either a complete Instructor Development Course (IDC), or, if eligible, the shorter OWSI Program. Teaching status PADI Course Directors may conduct IDCs and OWSI Programs. The PADI Instructor Examination (IE) is the evaluation phase of the PADI Instructor Development process. Instructor candidates who have successfully completed an IDC or OWSI Program may enroll in a PADI IE.

To be certified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, an individual must successfully complete a PADI IE conducted by a PADI Instructor Examiner, and be a current Emergency First Response Instructor or hold another current first aid and CPR instructor credential.