What is a dive instructor course? It is simply a class designed to teach you the basics of scuba diving. A dive course can be as simple as a week-long vacation in a hotel pool or as extensive as a certification program at a leading scuba diving school. But whatever the case, it is essential that you have hands-on training before attempting your first open water dives.
There are three primary schools of thought regarding the best way to learn how to dive. These Dive Instructor Courses have been developed for different types of people with different skill sets and needs. When choosing a scuba diving school, then you must consider these three important things.
Type of Training
The most common type, of course, is the one that takes place in a controlled environment at a certified dive center. Many dive center instructors are ex-Navy or professional scuba divers that have gained the skills necessary to instruct others. You will find that these types of course directors usually work one on one with their students.
Experience
Some dive instructors develop their skills through experience. This means they have spent lots of time underwater, either with others or observing others do their training. Others have also received certification from other institutions and have decided to share their knowledge with others through an instructor development course. You will often find these types of course directors working with many other students, many of whom are beginners.
Types of Instruction
There are many different styles of instruction that can be found at a variety of dive centers. PADI, IDC, iDive, dry diving, refresher courses, advanced open watercourses, and more. The type of course you choose will depend on what you hope to achieve after taking the course. You should always contact a dive center to determine the best diving style for your needs before you pay for your classes.
Certifications
Some instructor development courses will require you to undergo a certified exam to be officially certified. Others may not require certification but will instead give you the option of enrolling in an instructor certification course so that you will have the necessary knowledge to teach others in the future.
Additional Information
You may find additional information about each of the instructor development courses that you are interested in. Typically, you will find the names of specific institutions that offer the courses, contact information for email addresses, and websites to register for the courses online. You may also find forums where you can interact directly with the instructors who teach the PADI instructor development courses that you are interested in taking.
