Are you already a diving instructor with a different training organisation and are looking to crossover to PADI ?  We can help with this too.  Dive instructors from other recreational training organisations can crossover to PADI via the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) programme. It is assumed that crossover candidates have experience and teaching ability, so the OWSI programme focuses learning on the PADI system of diver education. Candidates will learn about PADI’s course system, approach, materials and philosophy, then work on adapting their instructional skills to conduct PADI courses.  Following the OWSI Programme, candidates are then required to attend a PADI Instructor Examination (IE), conducted by PADI Examiners, before certification as a PADI Instructor.

PADI OWSI Programmes include the vast majority of a full PADI IDC programme, with the addition of also participating in the ‘How to Teach the Recreational Dive Planner’ presentation.  We can run the OWSI programme for instructors from other agencies at the same time as our regular IDC programmes. The main difference between an IDC and the OWSI programme is the amount of teaching presentations that the candidate is required to deliver to the PADI Course Director and/or IDC Staff Instructor.  We firmly suggest that the candidates also deliver the same amount of presentations as a regular IDC candidate to help familiarise themselves even better with the PADI system, and to increase the levels of comfort before attending the PADI IE.

The full performance requirements for the PADI OWSI Programme are as follows:

• Participate in nineteen IDC curriculum presentations from the PADI Course Director/IDC Staff Instructor.
• Present one Knowledge Development teaching presentations, scoring a minimum of 3.5.
• Present two Confined Water teaching presentations, scoring a minimum of 3.4 on at least one.
• Present one integrated (two skills) Open Water teaching presentation, scoring a minimum of 3.4 on each skill.
• Perform all 24 dive skills in the Skill Evaluation, scoring a minimum of 82 total points, with no individual score below 3.
• Score 75 percent on all sections of the Dive Theory Exam and have any missed questions reviewed until mastery is achieved.
• Score 75 percent on the PADI Systems, Standards and Procedures Exam and have any missed questions reviewed until mastery is achieved.
• Perform a facedown, nonstop swim for 800 metres/yards using a mask, snorkel and fins.

Before certification as a PADI Instructor, you would also need to be a First Aid/CPR Instructor.  If you do not already have this qualification, we can also certify you as an Emergency First Response Instructor during the IDC/OWSI Programme.  If you are already a First Aid/CPR Instructor, you would need to sign up for our 12 Day IDC programme, if you are not yet qualified to teach First Aid/CPR, you would need to sign up for our Pro Silver IDC package as a minimum.

If you are interested in learning more about crossing over to become a PADI Instructor, please send us an email with your current instructor certification details, and any further questions that you might have.  Please also check out our PADI IDC dates to see which programme fits your schedule.  You can also contact us via the Contact Form below: