To become a PADI Instructor, you must complete PADI’s Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. This PADI Instructor Training program will help you gain the knowledge, expertise, and experience needed to teach recreational scuba diving courses. The OWSI program runs for two weeks and consists of five days of academics and five days of practical teaching experience. During the program, you will learn about PADI’s educational philosophy and standards; understand how to conduct a PADI course; review dive theory, physics, and physiology; practice teaching presentations; and complete an open water training dive as two confined water training dives.
Upon successful completion of the OWSI program, you’ll earn the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification. To qualify for the PADI Instructor Examination (IE), which is conducted separately from the OWSI program, you must have at least 60 dives logged and 18 months of dive experience before enrollment in the IE course.
The PADI Instructor Examination is an intense two-day evaluation that tests your dive knowledge, teaching ability, and general aptitude. During the IE, you will give three confined water presentations, three open water presentations, and a standardized “teaching effectiveness” presentation. Successful completion of all evaluations earns you the right to work as a PADI Professional.
