How to Become an Open Water Scuba Instructor

The Professional Association of Diving Instructions, or PADI, offers several types of scuba instructor certifications including, Open Water Scuba Instructor. If diving is your passion, being a certified scuba instructor is a great career choice.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Earn your diving certification from an authorized PADI dive center. Locate a dive center near you through the PADI website. Keep your diving certification for at least 6 months before you begin your path to become an open water scuba instructor.

2. Log at least 60 dives including night dives, deep dives and navigation dives. Get experience at local PADI dive centers and PADI resorts.

3. Obtain CPR certification and keep the certification current. Locate CPR certification courses near you through the American Red Cross.

4. Work as a PADI assistant instructor for at least 6 months. All PADI open water scuba instructors must work as assistant instructors first. Find the required coursework to become an assistant instructor at the PADI website.

5. Get medical clearance from your doctor and ask him to sign the required medical release forms required by PADI.

Tips & Warnings

• Much of the required courses to become an open water scuba instructor have prerequisite courses. Contact a PADI office to find out what courses you need to take first.

Resources

• Locate a PADI Dive Center near you.
• Locate CPR certification courses near you.
• See required course work to become a PADI Assistant Instructor.