Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor (IDC)

Earning the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor (OWSDI) rating is one of the most important steps of an SDI, TDI and/or ERDI Dive Professional’s career, as it is where you will learn to successfully train new and seasoned divers alike. This course has been meticulously crafted to help further your knowledge and experience with regard to the theories and techniques involved in teaching scuba diving as a whole. In this course you will have the opportunity to delve into how and why people learn; common barriers associated with learning and ways to overcome those barriers; the SDI Teaching Philosophy and why it works; risk management and how it applies to being an industry professional; and new ways to successfully market and sell scuba.

Of course, as with all other SDI, TDI and ERDI courses, we believe it’s important that you have the opportunity to fine-tune your current knowledge and skills as well. That’s why we present within this course a review of the knowledge and skills we believe are the foundation on which all dive leaders build. This includes brief but concise information regarding diving physics and pertinent gas laws; diving physiology and related concerns; and most importantly, how it all applies to the dive leader. Further, while we don’t expect that your skills are poor, you will spend time with an instructor in the pool or confined water to hone scuba skills to match those expected of an SDI Open Water Instructor.

This program’s goal is to provide you with the appropriate tools to be able to transfer knowledge and help shape the experiences of future students. SDI, TDI and ERDI have selected the information that we believe is most vital for you to impart to students and we have gathered proven teaching techniques for delivering that information. In addition, over the duration of this program, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights by way of peer education, practice sessions and workshops designed to develop teaching skills. Your instructor trainer will provide feedback based on his knowledge and experiences, and help mold individual teaching style. After all, you are unique and should learn to take advantage of distinct instructional talents. It will then be up to you — the OWSDI - to deliver this critical core package to the student. Together, this is the fundamental partnership between SDI, TDI, ERDI and the SDI OWSDI.

Over the progression of this course you will experience plenty of opportunities and much room to grow as an SDI OWSDI. There are a host of programs for an OWSDI to teach. Some of those are open water scuba diver, specialties and dive professional levels to name a few.

A knowledgeable and professional SDI OWSDI is a great asset to the SDI Facility they work with; however, should you decide that you’re ready for the next step, you can become an SDI Specialty Instructor. This course more than prepares you for the challenges that presents. After the SDI Instructor rating is obtained, even further opportunities will open up to you in the form of the ability to gain instructor ratings in the technical diving field with TDI or emergency response diving with ERDI.

The appendix of the OWSDI Printed Manual includes the outlines you will need to conduct the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course. Specifically, you will find presentation outlines for the academic, pool/confined water and open water presentations in Appendix A. Appendix B contains the questions and answers for the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Knowledge Review questions. Appendix C is a quick reference guide for the most common mathematical formulas used in scuba diving. In addition to these outlines, the SDI OWSDI Cue Cards should be used in the pool/confined water and open water sessions as a skills reference.

As a final note, please remember that throughout this and future programs you may participate in, the instructor trainer (IT) or IT Staff Instructor (ITS) is here to help you learn, grow and have valuable experiences. If at anytime you have questions, comments, concerns or need more direction, feel free to talk with your IT/ITS.

We welcome you to the SDI OWSDI program and we hope you find it challenging, fun and most importantly…rewarding.

Safe Diving!

Start the IDC Now $895.95