Mark conducts the IDC in Conjunction with:
West Coast Divers
PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center S- 6156

What does the IDC consist of?
The IDC is a 10 day course consisting of 2 sections. The Assistant Instructor (AI) Course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) Course.
The course consists of presentations from the PADI Course Director and the IDC Staff on the PADI System and learning how to be an instructor, with examinations of all of the components of the PADI educational model. They will teach you to use PADI Standards and all of the PADI tools to maximum effectiveness and how to prepare presentations for teaching.

Dive Theory Exams
You will have on the IDC Dive Theory Exams similar to ones you did during your Divemaster training. They are on the 5 subjects: Physics, Physiology, Dive Skills & The Environment, Equipment, and Decompression Theory and the Recreational Dive Planner.

PADI Standards Exams
There is an exam to check that you understand the workings of the PADI Instructor manual and the way to use PADI General Standards & Procedures.

Divemaster Skill circuit
This is a run over of your 20 skill circuit from the Divemaster course to make sure that your skills are up to a demonstration quality now to make the transition from assistant to instructor. This will be done in the pool early in the IDC.

Knowledge Development Teaching Presentations
Another component is your own classroom teaching presentations when you will give prescriptive and micro teaching presentations to the Course Director or IDC Staff who will give you positive feedback and ways to improve. You will have a number of attempts at this so feel free to make mistakes as you can learn from mistakes. The idea of the IDC is to provide you with the learning environment to get ready for the IE.

Confined Water Teaching Presentations
You will on the IDC be taught and give teaching presentationsto the staff on skills from parts of the PADI Open Water Course, PADI Adventures in Diving Course and PADI Rescue Diver Course in the pool. This is to prepare you for actually teaching in confined water when you are an instructor and for your teaching presentation on the IE. You again will have a number of attempts at this to get the passing grade and prepare you for the IE so again don’t be afraid of making mistakes. You are here to learn so relax.

Open Water Teaching Presentations
The final grading criteria of the IDC and IE, is the Open Water teaching presentation. After demonstrations initially from the staff explaining the format, we will be out on the boat for the Open Water days when you will give teaching presentations to the staff as an instructor.

THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A LOT BUT IT IS A REALLY INTERESTING COURSE AND REWARDING IN THE TRANSITION YOU WILL MAKE DURING IT. RELAX AND COME AND JOIN US ON THE IDC

So why do your IDC with Mark?

• 10 Day IDC- Unlike some IDC courses run around the world which are finished in 7 days or under we prefer to give you longer to develop your teaching skills prior to the IE. We find that a 10-day program is suitable for this. On the IDC you will also give more teaching presentations in addition to the minimum requirements as practice for those you will be giving on the IE and later as an Instructor. Remember we are training you not just to pass an IE but to be a great Instructor when you go out and teach afterwards.

• 3 day IDC Preparation course included free of charge- The IDC prep course we find is a great way to prepare for the IDC incorporating skills circuit practice dive theory exam practice an remediation and student control rescue and descent workshops. This gets you ready for what you have on the IDC and is a good time to get to know
the staff and fellow candidates before the IDC begins.
We include this as part of the IDC package free of charge
as we want you to have the best preparation possible to ensure an enjoyable and successful IDC.

• Guaranteed IE Pass- In the very unlikely event that you are unsuccessful at your first IE we will pay for your next IDC and IE.

• Training Facilities- The classroom facilities are completely geared for teaching an IDC with up to date materials, large visual aids, DVD players, interactive teaching aids and everything you need to learn and teach
scuba diving. The swimming pool meets all of the requirements for teaching PADI courses and is la great place to learn in preparation for teaching diving. We also have all the materials you need to conduct successful teaching presentations such as descent lines, lift bags, first aid mannekins, Oxygen kits, and a stocked dive shop.

• Staff- Our Course Director Mark Slingo and the PADI IDC Staff Instructor team are all extremely experienced instructors from many different walks of life. Mark has worked in Instructor Development for a number of years and his philosophy on IDC’s is not to prepare you just to pass the exam but to come out as a good Instructor. A relaxed atmosphere is also crucial to getting you through the process of an IDC and he can also tell you that you should have great fun on your program. IDCs are about learning so don't be afraid to make mistakes. We can sort them out!

• Additional staff and candidate presentations- On our IDC the staff find time to give various extra presentations to help candidates in
understanding certain aspects of teaching. On the IDC you will also give more teaching presentations in addition to the minimum requirements as practice for those you will be giving on the IE and later as an Instructor. Remember we are training you not just to pass an IE but to be a great Instructor when you go out and teach afterwards.

• Extra workshops incorporated- We want you be a good instructor not just pass an IE. The extra workshops that are part of the IDC package incorporate a Rescue Exercise 7 workshop, ascents and descents workshop, a student control workshop and our jobseeking workshop. This includes CV building workshop, a look at web marketing and website
construction and tips and techniques on finding a jobin the Dive Industry from our Course Director and experienced shop staff.

• IDC Toolkit included as part of the package- We have worked out a small package for you before you start your IDC which contains those little extras that aid you to prepare and teach better. These are in addition to the PADI materials you use for the IDC and your own personal diving equipment. The IDC toolkit includes- Measuring tape, Pocket Mask, John line, pocket mask, calculator, knot tying rope, Instructor Briefcase.

• Breakfast and lunch provided every day during the IDC

• IAHD Instructor course* part of every IDC Package- When you come out into the competitive dive instructor market it helps to have qualifications that can set you aside from the rest. The IAHD course enables you to take handicapped divers into the water and teach them courses. Not only do you get an extra qualification that you can offer a dive employer but it also can allow you to extend the boundaries for disabled people and give a life changing experience. The IAHD course is also taught by Mark Slingo who is a wheelchair user and the first and only PADI Course Director in the world to hold this qualification. So you are really learning form someone who understands the ins and outs of the program. It is also a really interesting and challenging course, which brings you out with extra rating you can offer to a dive center.

• Enriched Air Instructor Course* part of every IDC package- The PADI Enriched Air diver course is one of the most popular certifications worldwide and we figure this means that you should be able to offer as one of the courses you can teach. For this reason every IDC package also includes an Enriched Air Instructor course following successful completion of the IE.

• PADI Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty * extra add on to IDC packages

• CD and Staff present during the IE segments for support

• Transfers, tanks and weights provided for the duration of your IDC IE and any pre/post courses.

• Go-Pro Candidate Equipment Discount- 10%-20% off equipment purchases for IDC candidates

• Accommodation can be arranged for IDC Candidates

• Free airport Pick Up

• Visa Assistance

• IE Graduation BBQ & Party

• Wireless Internet Access

• Great fun & New Friends

*Excludes fees to PADI

What do you need to start an IDC?

• Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or PADI Assistant Instructor or hold a diving leadership level certification (click here for crossover information) with another recreational diver training organization.

• Be at least 18 years of age.

• Submit medical clearance for diving signed by a physician within the last 12 months (Download PADI Medical Statement)

• Have been a certified diver for at least 6 months and logged at least 60 dives (AI and IDC requirement) and have documentation of experience in deep, night and navigation diving. (To attend an IE, the instructor candidate must have at least 100 logged dives.)

• Submit proof of CPR training within the past 24 months. (See EFR Courses)

***From March 2008 ALL PADI Instructors must be EFR Instructors before theri IDC/IE Paperwork can be processed by PADI. As part of the IDC we will run an EFR Instructor Course as an extra.

What is the best way to prepare for an IDC?

• Meet the all of the IDC Prerequisites

• Check that you have all of your certification details. Bring all of you certification cards with you to the IDC. If you do not have all of your certification cards then contact PADI to confirm certification numbers and details. If you have any certifications from organisations other than PADI then please photocopy both sides of the certification cards and bring the cards with you as PADI will need these copies to verify your existing credentials.(Click here for IDC Application form to fill out and email back to us)

• Make sure that you have a visa to be in Thailand for the duration of your course.

• Make sure you have and get acquainted with the required materials such as the instructor Manual and teaching slates. This will be helpful to you in preparing for your teaching presentations and the Standards Exams. For a full list of the required materials click here.

• If you are choosing the eLearning option then complete the required online IDC presentations prior to the IDC and reveiew the PADI Guide to teaching

• To prepare for your Dive Theory exam the best way is to go back over your PADI Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving and doing the questions in the PADI Diving Knowledge workbook as well as having a run over the knowledge reviews from you student level courses. Have a look at other things such as Enriched Air questions to help broaden you theory knowledge.

• Make sure that your gear is in working order with regulators serviced, SPGs working, compasses functional etc.and that you have all of the required equipment. You do not want to have a problem on the IDC due to faulty gear.

• Practice your 20 skill circuit from the DIvemaster course to get your skills better and towards demonstration quality.

• GAIN EXPERIENCE. Try and work as much as you can as a Divemaster assisting PADI Instructors to teach courses. We provide this option by doing an internship here with us before your IDC. For details of the internship click here.

• Take the IDC Preparation Course.

What is the IDC Prep Course?

This course does exactly what is says on the tin.

• It pre-assesses and prepares you for the PADI IDC. It is really worthwhile doing to make sure that you are actually ready to begin an IDC by running over theory, and dive skills, as well as a quick introduction to the PADI method of teaching.

• Bear in mind that you will be reviewing with the staff the standards they expect from you on the IDC so it gives you a really good review of where you are before you go onto the IDC.
  

• It lasts two and a half days with Classroom, Confined water and Open Water reviews and workshops on student control. There are also reviews of Rescue confined skills especially Exercise 7 (Unresponsive Diver at the surface) which is a part of the IE.
  

• The course is conducted immediately prior to the IDC.

PADI IDC Required Materials

Instructor Manual, Paper or Digital version
PADI Guide to Teaching
Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Outline
Project Aware Specialty Outline
Aware Coral Reef Conservation Specialty Outline
Open Water Diver Quizzes & Exams Booklet
Rescue Diver Final Exams Booklet
Divemaster Final Exams Booklet
Cue Cards Open Water
Cue Cards Confined Water
Cue Cards Adventures in Diving
Cue Cards Rescue Diver
Discover Scuba Diving
Confined Water Preparation Slate
Open Water Training Dive Lesson Planning Slate

Please bring the following PADI materials from your Open Water, AOW, Rescue and DM courses (required for the IDC):

Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving
eRDP Multilevel
RDP Table
PADI Open Water Manual (incl. RDP Table)
PADI Adventures in Diving Manual
PADI Rescue Diver Manual
PADI Divemaster Manual
Diving Knowledge Workbook

Other Recommended Materials

Calculator

Recommended PADI Materials for the IDC

Business of Diving
The Law and the Diving Professional
Best of the Undersea Journal
Children and Scuba Diving Resource Guide
Open Water Prescriptive Lesson Guides
Rescue Diver Prescriptive Lesson Guides
Divemaster Course Lesson Guides
Skill Evaluation Slate- PADI Skill Circuit
AWARE-Our World, Our Water Manual
AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Lesson Guides

Required SCUBA Gear

BCD
Regulator with Alternate Air Source and Submersible Pressure Gauge (SPG)
Mask
Snorkel
Fins
Appropriate exposure suit
Cutting Tool
Whistle
Compass
Depth Gauge
Timing Device
SMB

Recommended SCUBA Gear

Pocket Mask (You will need this for Recue Exercise #7 and to teach the PADI Rescue course)
John line
Lift Bag
Measuring Tape
Length of Rope (For demonstration of knot tying)

PADI Instructor Examination

Whether you complete the IDC as a whole or partake in the OWSI Course you will finish the program with a PADI Instructor Examination which will give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learnt during your IDC.

During the IE a PADI Instructor Examiner independently and objectively assesses your knowledge and skills, testing everything from dive theory to PADI training standards.

PADI is the only certification organization that requires an objective, independent examination to qualify as a professional instructor. This balanced and consistent evaluation process is one of the hallmarks that make PADI professionals the most demanded and respected instructors
in the dive industry.

Instructor Examination Schedule
The IE is conducted over 2 ½ days here on Phuket and is divided into 4 segments. It generally takes place in Kata Beach only a few minutes drive the dive centre location.
The grading on the IE is exactly the same as the grading on the IDC

1. Theory Exams & Standards Exams
2. Confined Water 5 Skills Circuit and Confined Water Presentation
3. Knowledge Development Presentation
4. Open Water Presentation

PADI Instructor Examination Prerequisites:
• Successful completion of PADI IDC

NOTE: PADI Instructor Examination fee is $710 AUD. These fees are not covered by your course prices. You will need to pay to PADI directly after your course via credit cards, bank draft or money transfer. See PADI Fees for further information on costs.

Remember you must be Open Water certified with a recognised diving organisation (see here for conversion charts) for at least 6 months prior to the start of your IDC. The IDC is held directly before the IE in Phuket, that way you go in to the IE absolutely fresh and current about what you have learned and what you have to do. We feel that this prepares you best to pass the IE and go onto a successful career in scuba instruction.

If do not see a course date here that suits you, it is possible to arrange courses outside the schedule but remember that the IE dates are set by PADI not by us so these are inflexible. Contact us for more details.

Above prices exclude materials and application fees to PADI and accommodation<
*Prices for the MSDT Package depend on the Specialty Instructor courses selected. For more information please contact us

Accommodation can be included for the duration of the EFRI,
IDC Prep, IDC and IE with prices starting at 8,000 THB