What Is a PADI IDC and How Do You Prepare For One?

The Instructor Development Course, or IDC, is the training programme that takes a certified Divemaster and prepares them to teach as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. It typically runs over 10 to 14 days and is split into two halves: Assistant Instructor training, which covers supervising and assisting with certified divers and students, and Open Water Scuba Instructor training, which builds the full teaching skill set across confined water, open water, and knowledge development presentations. Most candidates arrive with strong diving skills but limited experience standing in front of a group and teaching. That is normal - the IDC is designed to build that skill from the ground up. The best preparation before day one is simple: revise your dive theory (physics, physiology, equipment, the Recreational Dive Planner and dive tables), watch how your own instructors run sessions, and get comfortable talking through skills out loud, not just performing them. Confidence matters more than perfection at this stage. Course Directors are looking for candidates who can take feedback, adjust quickly, and communicate clearly under a bit of pressure - all things that improve rapidly once the course actually starts.