SDI Course Director

The SDI Course Director Course is the first module of SDI’s Instructor Trainer (IT) Development Program. This program trains candidates to conduct the SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC) independently. In addition, SDI Course Directors are qualified to conduct the SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor Course and specialty ratings for SDI Instructors and Assistant Instructors.

Who this course is for:

• This course is designed for individuals that wish to teach others “How to Teach” scuba. It also prepares candidates for the second module of the SDI Training program, the complete Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW)

Course prerequisites:

• • Minimum age 21
  • Provide proof of 200 logged dives
  • Active SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor or equivalent, for a minimum of 2 years with no quality assurance issues for the past 12 months
  • Have issued a minimum of 150 SDI (or equivalent) diver certifications* at various levels (Suggested levels as defined below):
    • 100 open water scuba diver
    • 25 rescue diver
    • 20 specialty diver
    • 5 Divemaster or Assistant Instructor

*NOTE: A minimum of 25 of the required student certifications must be SDI unless authorized in writing by SDI Headquarters Training Department prior to course commencement.

• Provide proof of current CPR, first aid and oxygen provider, where local law permits
• Have a current medical examination for scuba diving signed by a licensed physician
• Staff at least 1 instructor development course (IDC) prior to Course Director training

What you can expect to learn:

In addition to topics taken from other SDI Leadership courses at the discretion of the conducting Instructor Trainer, the following topics, in line with information detailed in the current IT manual, are required to be covered and the candidate’s comprehension and ability to convey them are required to be evaluated:

• How to use the SDI IT Manual
• Being a professional instructor trainer
• Instructor training process – general
• What it means to be a SDI/TDI/ERDI Instructor
• Dive leader risk management
• Methods of instruction
• The business of diving
• Instructor evaluation process
• SDI Instructor training process everview
• Scheduling options
• Course orientation
• Teaching the SDI Instructor courses
• How to teach diving physics
• How to teach diving physiology
• Courses an SDI Instructor can teach
• Teaching the rescue instructor course
• Teaching the Divemaster and Assistant Instructor courses
• Teaching specialty instructor courses
• Marketing SDI Instructor courses
• Conducting instructor in-water sessions
  • Demonstration of open water scuba diver waterman-ship requirements and skills
  • How to teach skills in pool/confined water
• Preparation, planning, presentation
• Non-diving specialty instructor program
• Conducting the SDI Instructor crossover program
• Knowledge quests and examinations

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

• Perform, to demonstration quality, one complete rescue scenario
• Perform a 10 minute survival-float or tread, without the use of swimming aids
• Complete a 400 metre swim on the surface, non-stop, any stroke, without the use of swimming aids, in less than 10 minutes; swim goggles permitted
• Complete a 800 metre swim with mask, snorkel, and fins non-stop without the use of arms in less than 17 minute
• Bring a diver, simulating unconsciousness, up from depth, not greater than 6 metres/20 feet; at the surface swim them 100 metres in less than 4 minutes
• Candidates must perform, to demonstration quality, all skills listed in the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course
• Pool/confined water problem solving
• Candidates must perform, to demonstration quality, all skills listed in the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course
• One rescue demonstration
• Open water problem solving
• Present, at an instructor trainer quality, a minimum of:
  • Two diver level academic presentations
  • Three instructor level academic presentations
  • Two diver level confined water presentations
  • Two diver level open water presentations
• Evaluate a minimum of:
  • Two diver level academic presentations
  • Three instructor level academic presentations
  • Two instructor level confined water presentations
  • Two instructor level open water presentations
• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning student coaching and evaluating

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may:

• Conduct the IDC portion of an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor Course
• Conduct the SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor Course
• Certify SDI Instructors, Assistant Instructors and Non-diving Specialty Instructors to teach SDI Diving specialties* they hold instructor ratings for
• Attend an SDI Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW)

*NOTE: Certain Specialty Instructor ratings are subject to minimum student numbers being met before IT status is granted.

SDI Course Director minimum requirements:

• Successfully complete the Course Director pre-course study package which includes:
  • Written Standards and Procedures Exam
  • Online OWSDI Course
  • Online Professional Familiarization (crossover) Course
  • Presentation evaluations
• Successfully pass the SDI Course Director written exam with a minimum score of 80 percent and a 100 percent remediation by the conducting