The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor Level (OWSI) is the first PADI Instructor level attainable for professionals in diving.

During their training (either in the PADI Instructor Development Course / IDC or in the PADI OWSI program), prospective OWSIs receive an overview of PADI's standards and procedures, PADI's philosophy and teaching methods, as well as the finishing touches to their practical ability to teach and learn Training in skills in and under water and in diving theory.

After successfully completing the PADI Instructor Examination (IE), the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor takes responsibility for teaching people how to scuba dive during various courses and programs. A PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor in teaching status is authorized to conduct all PADI courses and programs, from Discover Scuba to Divemaster (with the exception of Medic First Aid and specialty courses that require a specialty instructor rating).

To take part in a PADI IDC, you must:

  • Be a certified PADI Assistant Instructor or PADI Divemaster, or be a diving instructor member of another recreational diving training organization
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Present a medical certificate not older than 12 months. The certificate must be signed by a doctor and certify that the person is fit for scuba diving. The signing doctor may not be the instructor candidate himself
  • Have been a certified diver for at least 6 months and have carried out at least 60 dives and entered them in the logbook (as documented in the diver's personal logbook)
  • Provide evidence of successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training within the last 24 months
  • Provide evidence of all equivalence certifications from other training organizations for the entry level, advanced and rescue diver courses. If an equivalent certification is presented for the PADI Rescue Diver, a copy of the proof of successful participation in first aid training must also be presented (PADI members, for whom this proof is already in the documents at PADI, do not have to do so resubmit).

The development to a PADI Instructor is divided into two phases, a training phase and an examination phase:

1. The training phase can either be completed by participating in an Instructor Development Course (IDC) or through an OWSI program. PADI Assistant Instructors and PADI Divemasters take the form of the IDC, whereas qualified instructors from other recognized training organizations choose either the form of the IDC or the OWSI program. IDCs and OWSI programs are directed by teaching-status PADI Course Directors.

2. The PADI Instructor Examination (IE) is the examination phase of the process of qualifying as a PADI Instructor. Instructor candidates who have successfully completed an IDC or the OWSI program can take a PADI IE. In order to be certified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), one must have successfully completed a PADI IE under the supervision of a PADI Instructor Examiners.

Our IDCs are carried out in cooperation with the 5 Star IDC Center Santana Divers, Patong-Phuket.