PADI IDC
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Why do the PADI IDC ?
The PADI IDC, otherwise known as the PADI Instructor Development course is your course to become an open water instructor. It is a course that is 2 weeks long and finishes at the end with a 2 days exam, run by PADI. The goal at the end is to be an open water instructor. Your gateway to the ocean world and teaching this incredible sport to ocean enthusiasts. It is an intensive program and has a lot of components to it. Read through the information below and find out about our program here in Costa Rica. We have different options for the instructor course here including a new ECO IDC option. Find out here all about it.

Who Can Enroll on the PADI IDC ?
A PADI Divemaster who has been a certified diver for six months, may enrol in the PADI Instructor development course here in Costa Rica. You also need to fulfill the following requirements:
- At least 60 logged dives to start the IDC and 100 dives to enroll in a PADI IE.
- Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
- A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months stating you are fit to dive.
- You will also need to become an Emergency First Response Instructor which is included in our PADI Diving Instructor Development Course.
With Oceans Unlimited, a 5 Star PADI Career Development Centre, candidates completing the PADI IDC with us are permitted to enter the IE with less than 100 logged dives. PADI will process teaching status once the 100th dive has been logged.


What does our PADI IDC teach you?

Our 14-day program here in Costa Rica will teach you many skills. The focus of the PADI IDC is how to conduct all PADI core courses. You’ll learn how to organize and present information as well as run skill sessions and open water training dives.
You will also learn to become a better public speaker, work on your demonstrations underwater and and practice how to supervise and control your student divers.
You will learn all about correct positioning underwater and being able to anticipate problems and respond as they arise.
How is the PADI IDC course structured?

Here at Go Pro Costa Rica we have a very comprehensive 14 day program. The PADI Instructor Development Course has two parts; online portion and Course Director led portion.
The online section includes the following subjects within the IDC e-learning part of your digital IDC Crew Pack.
The Online section includes the following;
- Dive Theory for dive leaders
- PADI System overview
- Learning, Instruction & the PADI system
- Discover Scuba Diving & Experience programs
- The PADI Open Water Course
- Risk Management & Legal Consideration
- Managing Risk
- PADI Quality Management & Licensing
- Introduction to Teaching Presentations
- Conducting & Evaluating knowledge development
- Confined Water training
- Open water training
- Continuing Education & Leadership Courses
- The Business of Diving
We highly recommend that you complete this online section before you arrive. Once you have signed up for the program you will receive your online login so can start learning from the comfort of your own home.


The rest of the IDC curriculum is led by our PADI Platinum course director Georgia King and consists of the following subjects which are presented in our comfortable air conditioned classroom.
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- Orientation
- Dive Theory Workshop
- PADI System Workshop
- Learning and Teaching Workshop
- Discover Scuba Diving Workshop
- Open Water Dive Course Scheduling and Set Up Workshop
- Risk Management and Licensing Workshop
- Knowledge Development Presentation Workshop and Candidate Knowledge Development Presentations
- Skill Development Workshop
- Confined Water Training Workshop and Candidate Confined Water Teaching Presentations
- Open Water Training Workshop and Candidate Open Water Teaching Presentations
- Continuing Education Workshop
- Advanced Open Water Diver Course Workshop
- Rescue Diver Course Workshop
- Sales Techniques Workshop
- Course Close
Most days are spent between the classroom and the water. Keeping you fully immersed in the scuba instructor experience.
- Orientation
Additional IDC Training Workshops
- CESA – How to conduct the Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent in confined and open water
- Ascent & Descent conduct in Open Water
- How to set up an open water dive site
- Continuing education workshop including ; Knots & Lift bag use – Navigation & handling of a compass
- Rescue Diver exercises
- Marketing and branding
ECO IDC option
What is included?
Starting April 2023, we have an exciting new ECO IDC option. We take our ocean conservation very seriously here in Costa Rica and want to educate our instructor candidates with the tools and skills they need to help them continue that important work.
For this, we have included some valuable additional workshops and classes into our PADI IDC program to train our students thoroughly in ocean conservation techniques. These are all things that can then be passed onto their future students.
- Coral workshop – to include survey techniques and data recording
- Dive againest debris workshop to include “how to record and upload data”
- REEF survey recording using REEF platform
- Fish Survey monitoring techniques and workshop
- Workshop on how to integrate conservation modules and techniques into all teaching and diving with students and clients.
What is included with the PADI IDC?
- PADI IDC course
- Emergency First Response Instructor Course
- PADI IDC and EFR instructor materials
- 5 instructor specialties (MSDT prep)
- Internship opportunities
- Free Prep Course – 2 days duration, skills and academics covered
- Free Diving before and during the program.
- Free T-Shirt
- Dive equipment rental- BCD, reg and wetsuit
If you do not not own a full set of scuba gear, or for travel reasons do not want to bring your equipment we include a Regulator, BCD and a wetsuit for you. If you start to teach with us following the program it is recommended that you purchase your own regulator and BCD. We have special discounts in the shop for pro students.
You will need to provide the following for the IDC and the IE here at Go Pro. They are all required by PADI standards.
- Mask
- Fins
- Snorkel
- Dive computer
- Compass
- Knife or diving tool
- Surface Market Buoy DSMB and reel


PADI ECO IDC Course – become an instructor and learn how to give back to the ocean
PADI ECO IDC Become a PADI Instructor and learn to give back to the oceanPackagesPADI IDCECO DMWhy a PADI ECO IDC ? The PADI IDC, otherwise known as the PADI Instructor Development course is your course to become an open water instructor. Here at Oceans...
What is the Cost of the PADI IDC?
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Cost of the PADI IDC including the EFR Instructor and Free MSDT prep as well as the extras outlined above is $2125.
There are a number of additional application and examination fees, all of which must be paid by the candidate.
These are;
PADI Instructor Exam – $795
PADI Instructor Application – $220
EFR Instructor Application – $135
These are paid for at the time of the PADI IE.
Specialty instructor applications – $85 per application (can be sent off at a later date)
