SDI IDC/IEC Instructor Course

Short post to reflect on the Scuba Diving International (SDI) Instructor Development Course (IDC) and Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC) to become an Open Water Scuba Instructor. A colleague and I went through the program together, and in total the Program took 7+ months. with about 80+ hours of class and pool time.

We averaged about 1 class session per week (of about 3 hours), with some weeks more, and some weeks less. The class sessions were very humbling, with the course being conducted by 2 SDI Instructor Trainers that I consider 2 of the best divers & Instructors I have known. The class presentations were sometimes scheduled topics, sometimes unannounced. Emphasis was placed on the SDI Presentation Outline, making sure that the topics and key points were clearly communicated, emphasised, and covered. In addition, special emphasis was placed on the "Big 3" of Advanced Training, Shop sponsored dive trips, and Gear Sales. I have made many management presentations throughout my career, but I will say that the SDI program was especially tough, and I learned a lot about myself, and gained additional confidence that can also be applied to business situations. The class also included the required swimming tests and skill demostrations, and very comprehensive written exam.

Now (finally!) as a certified SDI Instructor it reminds my of my younger days when I went through US Army Airborne School. By the time you got through the training, jumping out of a perfectly good Airplane at 1,500 feet at 130 mph was the easy part. The training is always designed to be harder to prepare you for the situations you may encounter.

I've conducted my first confined water classes with 10 Students with an experienced Instructor "Co-Instructing" with me. As indicated above, I found the experience easier (and less stressful) than the IDC/IEC, and also much more rewarding in the respect of seeing people "coming in off the street" complete the academic and Confined Water portion of the training and gain new skills and self-confidence. Many of the students in my first confined water (CW) class went to the lake this weekend for their Open Water (OW) training with another Instructor, and I look forward to feedback about their preparation in becoming "Certified Divers".

So - as a fledgling Instructor - I would encourage all divers in their quest for advanced training. I also look forward to teaching many more Confined Water and Open Water classes to develop my own methods - taking tips from many of the great Instructors I have worked with. By the way, I also picked up Instructor status for about 10 additional Specialties, such as Deep, Wreck, Navigation, etc.

If you think being a Divemaster or Instructor is in your future - go for it.

Dive Safe.