SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC) & Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC)

Become a Professional SDI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Take the next step in your dive career with Eco Dive Center's SDI Instructor Development Course. Whether your goal is to teach part-time, work at a resort, join a local dive center, or build a full-time career in the dive industry, our IDC program is designed to prepare you for real-world success as a dive professional.

Our Instructor Development Program combines classroom learning, teaching workshops, confined water training, open water teaching experience, and mentorship from experienced SDI Course Directors and Instructor Trainers. The program is structured to help you not only pass the Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC), but also become a confident, employable, and effective dive educator.

Why Complete Your IDC at Eco Dive Center?

Choosing where to complete your Instructor Development Course is one of the most important decisions in your professional diving journey.

For more than 20 years, Eco Dive Center has been developing dive professionals throughout Southern California. As one of the region's most active training facilities, we issue more than 1,000 scuba certifications annually across recreational, leadership, and professional levels.

Unlike many instructor development programs that rely on a single Course Director, Eco Dive Center maintains a team of multiple SDI Course Directors, Instructor Trainers, and experienced dive professionals. This depth of leadership helps ensure consistent course availability, diverse teaching perspectives, and ongoing mentorship throughout your development as an instructor.

Instructor candidates benefit from:

• Training within a highly active dive center

• Exposure to real-world instructional environments

• Multiple Course Directors and Instructor Trainers

• Consistent quarterly IDC offerings

• Ongoing mentorship beyond certification

• Access to a team with thousands of combined certifications, dives, and instructional experiences

Our goal is not simply to help you pass an exam. We aim to prepare you to confidently teach, supervise, and mentor divers in today's dive industry.

What You'll Learn

Throughout the IDC, candidates develop the skills necessary to teach and supervise divers safely and effectively while mastering SDI standards, risk management, and instructional techniques.

Instructor candidates will complete at least:

• 4 Classroom Teaching Presentations

• 4 Confined Water (Pool) Teaching Presentations

• 4 Open Water Teaching Presentations

• Standards and Procedures Workshops

• Risk Management and Student Control Techniques

• Rescue Skills Evaluation

• Dive Theory Review

• Professionalism and Dive Industry Best Practices

• Instructor-Level Watermanship Skills

Course Schedule

Eco Dive Center offers the SDI Instructor Development Course four times annually, with one course offered each quarter.

The standard IDC format includes:

• 4 Weekends of Instructor Development Training

• Additional Zoom Sessions and Enrichment Workshops on Select Weeknights

• 1 Final Weekend for the Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC)

Instructor Evaluation Course weekends are typically scheduled during the final three weeks of each calendar quarter.

This format allows candidates to maintain work and family commitments while completing their professional training.

Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC)

Following successful completion of the Instructor Development Course requirements, candidates participate in a two-day Instructor Evaluation Course conducted with an SDI Course Director.

The IEC includes:

• Classroom Teaching Evaluations

• Confined Water Teaching Evaluations

• Open Water Teaching Evaluations

• Standards and Procedures Examination

• Professional Knowledge Assessment

Candidates must successfully complete all IDC performance requirements prior to participating in the IEC.

What's Included

Your standard SDI IDC tuition includes:

• SDI IDC eLearning Program

• Instructor Development Course Training

• Course Director Mentorship

• Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC) Examination Fees

• Classroom, Pool, and Open Water Evaluation Sessions

SDI Professional Membership and Registration Fees are not included and are paid directly to SDI International upon successful completion of the program.

Private SDI Instructor Development Course

Need a more flexible schedule?

Eco Dive Center offers a fully customized Private SDI Instructor Development Course designed for professionals seeking accelerated training and individualized coaching.

Private IDC Format

• 3 Training Weekends

• 2 Full Weeks of Customized Training Sessions

• Personalized One-on-One Coaching

• Flexible Scheduling Options

• Dedicated Course Director Support

Private IDC Pricing

$3,500 in addition to the standard group IDC tuition

This option is ideal for:

• Working professionals with limited availability

• Dive leaders seeking accelerated completion

• Candidates traveling from outside Southern California

• Professionals wanting individualized mentorship and coaching

Prerequisites

Candidates must meet current SDI Instructor Candidate requirements:

• Minimum age of 18 years

• SDI Divemaster, SDI Assistant Instructor, or equivalent leadership certification

• Certified diver for at least 6 months

• Minimum of 100 logged dives in varying environments and depths

• Current medical examination signed by a licensed physician

• Current CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration certifications (or equivalent)

• Required instructional equipment as outlined in SDI leadership standards

Please contact Eco Dive Center if you would like assistance determining your eligibility or creating a professional development plan toward becoming an SDI Instructor.