What Certifications Do You Need to Be a Scuba Instructor?
Scuba instructors teach novice scuba divers how to dive safely. Scuba stands for self-contained breathing apparatus, meaning divers are completely submerged in water. Teaching proper scuba skills is both a critical responsibility, and an enjoyable way to make a living. Your dive students will look to you for how to use their equipment, how to signal to other divers and what to be aware of in their environment. Certification from any professional scuba organization allows you to be a scuba instructor.
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Organizations
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Several organizations certify scuba instructors. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the National Academy of Scuba Educators, the National Association of Underwater Instructors and Scuba Schools International all provide instructor training and certification. To choose an organization, review their locations, tuition and course requirements, and choose the school that’s the best fit for you.
Basic Requirements
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You must be at least 18 years old to be certified as an instructor with most scuba organizations. You also must be certified in CPR and first aid and as an emergency first responder instructor. You need to be a certified diver and have a minimum amount of various dive experience. And you will also need experience as an assistant instructor through a certifying scuba organization.
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Curriculum
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Each scuba organization has its own curriculum for certifying scuba instructors. In general, the curriculum includes risk management, information on the dive industry, adapting your curriculum to each student, and how to teach courses specific to the scuba organization. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), for example, requires scuba instructors to demonstrate two confined water teaching presentations, two knowledge development presentations and one open water teaching presentation that integrates two skills before becoming certified as an instructor.
Experience
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Scuba organizations require extensive experience as a part of instructor certification. In general, you will need to show that you can competently handle dives in a number of different environments, including deep water, confined water, open water, and nighttime diving. You will generally complete a number of dives during the course of your instructor class, and you may be required to log additional dives as well.
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