PADI Instructor Development Course
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Divers Den IDC Cairns Open Water skills
Divers Den IDC Course Great Barrier Reef
Divers Den Cairns PADI Dive Centre

Overview

The PADI Instructor Development Course is your passport to an international lifestyle of diving, travel and a career you’ll really love!

​This course is the gateway to becoming a professional PADI Diving Instructor. You’ll learn how to implement and apply the PADI system in confined water, classroom and open water environments. Most importantly, the course will develop your leadership skills, giving you the confidence to provide fun, safe professional dive training.

Why Choose Divers Den in Cairns for your IDC?

  1. Our course directors bring a wealth of expertise to the table, boasting over 40 years of combined experience dedicated to instructing and developing courses for instructor development. This extensive knowledge base reflects their commitment to excellence in education and ensures a high-quality learning experience for all participants.
  2. Our classes stand out for fostering inclusivity, as our gender ratios consistently maintain a balanced representation, with a remarkable 50-50 split. This departure from the industry norm, where the ratio often leans towards 70% male, underscores our commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse learning environment. We believe that diverse perspectives contribute to a richer educational experience for all participants.
  3. Our IDC includes an essential preparatory course, integral for success, at no extra cost. We prioritize your readiness and believe in offering a comprehensive learning experience without additional fees.
  4. Our IDC students’ success rate runs at 100%!
  5. Our Open water training during the IDC is exclusively conducted at the awe-inspiring Outer Great Barrier Reef, aboard a comfortable liveaboard vessel. We do not compromise on quality by training on inner reef islands or beaches.
  6. Our program’s got a longer timeline, allowing for more practice and repetition. We even throw in rest days for a breather and extra pool or classroom time.
  7. Divers Den has certified over 130,000 divers and counting in our 50 years of making waves. Oh, and we’ve aced the Instructor Exam 100% of the time!
  8. Our focus is on producing instructors who are not only prepared to pass the Instructor Exam but are also equipped to excel in real-world teaching scenarios.
  9. 80% of our Graduates have been employed by Divers Den, with a guaranteed job interview, resume assistance, and job placement and networking assistance provided.
  10. FOUR PADI Specialty instructor ratings to your list as part of your Master Scuba Diver Trainer prep!

Discuss Your Career

Ready to make scuba diving your career? You can book online below, or if you have any questions you can contact our Divers Den PADI Course Directors for a chat.

Are you an instructor in another agency and wish to cross over to PADI? Or have language requirements? Please discuss this with our Course Directors.

Duration:

Approximately 14 days (including IDC prep, IDC and EFRI course), plus 2 days for the PADI IE

Course Outline:

9 days of classroom & pool, 3 days on the Great Barrier Reef, 2 day EFR Instructor course, plus 2 days for the PADI Instructor Examination

2024/25 IDC Course Start Dates

22nd July 2024, 30th September 2024, 25th November 2024, 20th January 2025, 10th March 2025

Included:

  • IDC Preparation Course
  • Instructor Development Course
  • Emergency First Responder Instructor Development Course
  • PADI Instructor Development eLearning
  • PADI Instructor Development slate pack
  • EFR Instructor materials
  • Unlimited tank refills and pool access for practice
  • Career development assistance
  • A guaranteed job interview and trial with Divers Den
  • Full open water course shadow offered after your IDC
  • Access to a library of PADI materials
  • Additional dive theory practice exam sessions
  • Meals and board when on OceanQuest (3 days) (Excluding Minke Whale season - June/July)
  • Special discounts on dive equipment in store, including full gear packages
  • Enriched Air Speciality Instructor Course (conducted after the IDC - Must have a Nitrox certification - PADI application fees not included)
  • Emergency Oxygen Provider Instructor course - (PADI application fees not included)
  • Dive Against Debris Specialty instructor course
  • AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty instructor course

IDC Course Dates

Start date 30th September 2024

Cost per person
$3,999
PADI IDC & EFRI
Book now

Start date 25th November 2024

Cost per person
$3,999
PADI IDC & EFRI
Book now

Start date 20th January 2025

Cost per person
$3,999
PADI IDC & EFRI
Book now

Start date 10th March 2025

Cost per person
$3,999
PADI IDC & EFRI
Book now

Prices exclude materials and PADI fees (see below). Prices valid to 31 March 2025. Price is per person and includes all applicable marine fees and levies. Locals discount not valid for optional extras.

Itinerary

Divers Den IDC

Sample schedule

Days 1-5: Pool & theory

Days off

Days 6-7: Pool & theory

Days 8-10: Sea days

Days off

Day 11: Pool & theory

Days 12-13: EFR Instructor course

Day 14: Course close

 

The PADI Instructor Exam will take place over two days after the IDC ends.

* specialty instructor courses may finish on the Tuesday after the exam

Additional info

Additional Costs

  • PADI application fees
  • EFRI application fees
  • IE fee
  • Professional dive equipment (as listed in the General standards and procedures, Equipment section in your PADI Instructor manual)
  • Dive medical (AS4005.1 or AS2299) required before course start
  • Current first aid certification required to enter course (within 24 months of course end)
  • Accommodation whilst not on the vessel

Course Prerequisites

  • PADI DiveMaster or equivalent
  • Minimum age 18
  • Minimum 100 logged dives
  • Have all required diving equipment – remember, special discounts apply for paid-up IDC candidates
  • Have current first aid/CPR qualification (within the last 24 months
  • Have undergone a professional dive medical examination (see Additional Costs section for more info)

Course Preparation

Please allow sufficient time before your course starts to make sure you have completed the below.

Academic Preparation

  • PADI IDC eLearning materials – this must be completed online before your course starts. You will be given access to the online platform once you have paid a deposit towards your IDC.
  • Study in the five areas of theory from your Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving. On sign-up, our Course directors will contact you with study guidance.

Physical Preparation

  • Complete a 400m freestyle swim (no snorkel, mask or fins)
  • Ability to conduct a rescue scenario where you pull a person from the water
  • Practice all PADI Open Water Diver Course skills to demonstration quality
  • If you have not practised skill demonstrations recently, we urge you to contact us to arrange attendance of a real Open Water Course at no extra charge

Reviews / Testimonials

“I have just completed my IDC with Divers Den. If you want the best, you are in the right place. Professional, thorough, and overall one of the greatest experiences of my life. I cannot recommend doing your IDC with these guys more.

Charlotte and John are incredible. The amount of work they put into you to ensure you pass – this should be reason enough to sign up.

All in, if you want to have the best 3 weeks, meeting amazing people, with the best mentors and learning on the GBR (2 nights live-aboard) – sign up now. Will be the best decision you’ve made.”

– Anna Glassey (Feb 2024)

 

“Doing my ITP/ IDC with Divers Den prepared me for more than just the IE, it prepared me for many of the challenges I now face as a dive instructor every day. I feel confident passing on these skills to my students and I would recommend taking the next step towards Padi Pro with the amazing team at Divers Den.”

– Remily, 2019 (who is now a course instructor at Divers Den!)

Medical & Altitude Info

All scuba participants must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving.

It is required by Queensland law that you must wait at least 24 hours after diving before going to altitude or flying – there is no guarantee that this requirement will prevent decompression sickness. There are no current guidelines regarding diving after flying.

Altitude is defined as 300m/1000ft above sea level. Certain other tourist attractions around Cairns and Tropical North Queensland involve travelling to altitude. These include the Atherton Tablelands and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, so we recommend a gap between booking these experiences and any dive course or trip. Under normal circumstances, you should be out of the water on your last dive at 12pm (midday) on our overnight trips and 2pm on our day trips.