Open Water Scuba Instructor

Are you looking for something extraordinary?

The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Course at COLUMBIA SCUBA

Help people transform their lives and open doors you didn’t even know existed! All of this, and more, awaits you as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

The Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program is one of two distinct components of PADI's Instructor Development Course (IDC)—the core of PADI Instructor training. The first portion is the Assistant Instructor course followed by the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program.

The OWSI program is a minimum of four days. It introduces you to the entire PADI System of diver education and concentrates on further developing your abilities as a professional dive educator.


The Fun Part

This course is about life transformations—both yours and those around you.

The fun part of instructor training is interacting with course participants while creating friendships that continue long after the course concludes.

You’ll begin networking with other professionals and begin to explore PADI Pro Diving Jobs worldwide. You’ll also have the opportunity to continue your professional education by participating in specialty instructor courses, which train you to teach specialties after instructor certification.


The Challenging Part

The challenging part of this course is your personal commitment to the training. Columbia Scuba requires participants to complete the PADI IDC Online course for knowledge development. Then classroom workshops provide practical application of the knowledge you have learned. You'll also prepare daily assignments for some workshops and teaching presentations. Organization and dedication are key.


What You Learn

During the course you’ll learn how to apply the PADI System of Education by presenting at least

  • Two confined water teaching presentations
  • Two knowledge development presentations
  • One open water teaching presentations integrating two skills

You will also attend and participate in the following 14 curriculum presentations:

  • Course Orientation
  • Dive Industry Overview
  • General Standards and Procedures
  • The Role of Media and Prescriptive Teaching
  • Legal Responsibility and Risk Management
  • PADI Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver Course
  • Adaptive Teaching
  • The PADI Continuing Education Philosophy
  • Business Principles for the Dive Instructor
  • Adventures in Diving Program
  • Specialty Diver Courses and Master Scuba Diver Program
  • Rescue Diver Course
  • Divemaster Course
  • Diver Retention Programs
  • How to Teach the RDP (Instructors from recreational diver training organizations other than PADI must complete.)

You will demonstrate competence at

  • performing all 20 dive skills listed on the Skill Evaluation.
  • performing a facedown, nonstop swim for 800 metres/yards using a mask, snorkel and fins.

During the course you’ll need to demonstrate competency in Dive theory by passing a five-part theory exam scoring 75% on each part. Completing the PADI Dive Theory Online course satisfies the requirement for the dive theory exam.


What You Can Teach

After becoming an Open Water Scuba Instructor, you will be able to conduct the entire range of PADI programs from Discover Scuba Diving up to Divemaster. You may also choose to acquire specialty instructor ratings in areas of interest, such as Digital Underwater Photographer or Enriched Air Diver.

At a glance, compare what you can teach when you continue your professional diver education.


The Scuba Gear You Use

You will need to equip yourself with all the basic scuba gear as well as two scuba signaling devices —one audible and one visual.

If you anticipate affiliating with Columbia Scuba to teach once you complete your Instructor Examination (IE), you will need to wear and use the gear brands sold by the store.


The Learning Materials You Need

The PADI Instructor Development Course crewpak includes all the materials needed to prepare for the Instructor Development Course. The 23-item pack includes:

  • Instructor cue cards for PADI’s core courses (Open Water and Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster)
  • Instructor Development Course Candidate eLearning and related digital reference materials,
  • Lesson planning slates for confined and open water
  • Quiz and exam booklets for the core courses
  • Specialty outlines for Project AWARE
  • PADI Digital Instructor Manual


Next Steps

View the Instructor Examination (IE) Calendar


Prerequisites

To qualify for training as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you must:

  • Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or a PADI Assistant Instructor or be an instructor in good standing with another training organisation for at least six months (check with a PADI Course Director or Contact Us for qualifying credentials.)
  • Be certified as an Emergency First Response Instructor 
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be certified as a diver for at least six months
  • Have 60 logged dives that include experience in night, deep and navigation diving to participate in the Instructor Development Course. You’ll need 100 logged dives to take the Instructor Exams
  • Have proof of CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months. The Emergency First Response course meets this requirement
  • Be fit for diving and submit a Medical Statement (PDF) signed by a physician within the last 12 months


Your Next Adventure:

You’ll want to continue your professional training by completing courses that allow you to teach beyond the core courses. For example, Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor, and specialty instructor courses complement your Open Water Scuba Instructor rating and add to your professional portfolio.

For more information about this or other PADI courses have a chat with one of the COLUMBIA SCUBA Team members.