IDC in Sharm & Dahab with Circle Divers

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About IDC….but was afraid to ask…

It’s that time of year again when the PADI International Examiners are in town for the latest IDC candidates. Both Circle Divers Centres in Sharm el Sheikh and Dahab will be hosting IDC courses leading up to the Instructor Exams on 2& 3 December ( IE Sharm) and 4 & 5 December ( IE Dahab).

But what does an IDC involve? How long will it take? What are the requirements you need to meet before starting an IDC? All this and more will be answered below.

What is an IDC?

IDC stands for Instructor Development Course and is the course you need to complete to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). The IDC is taught by Course Directors, the highest level and most respected professional rating in scuba diving.

Where is the IDC Qualification Recognised?

Worldwide, PADI operates in 186 countries with over 6,600 PADI Dive Centres and resorts worldwide at the time of the last official statistics.

With a PADI OWSI Qualification, you can teach students independently, work for a PADI-affiliated dive centre as an instructor or as a professional diver at any dive centre regardless of their dive association, anywhere in the world.

What Qualifications Do I Need To Start a Circle Divers IDC?

Before enrolling on a PADI IDC you will need to:

· Be at least 18 years old

· Have a minimum of 100 logged dives

· Been a certified diver for at least 6 months

· Hold a professional-level diving certification (ie Divemaster or equivalent)

· Be declared medically fit for diving as signed off by a physician within the last 12 months.

· Hold a current Emergency First Response (EFR) certification (or equivalent) gained within the last 24 months.

How Long Is The IDC With Circle Divers?

Depending on the logistics of each centre the IDC training will take between 10 and 18 days

For the Sharm IDC, there is an optional 2-day preparation period (we do recommend you take advantage of this), a 2-day EFR Instructor course followed by a 10-day IDC where you will prepare for the IE examinations and learn everything you need to become a professional dive instructor with PADI.

With the IDC In Dahab, all preparation and the EFR Instructor course take place during the 18 days of the IDC course. Both IDC courses conclude with a 2-day Instructor Examination supervised by visiting external PADI International examiners.

How Hard Is A PADI IDC?

A PADI IDC is designed to strengthen your diving skills but many students can find it challenging. It is an intensive course but our experienced Course Directors have been trained to help students become successful diving instructors and are there to support you all the way.

The IDC is made up of two parts the Assistant Instructor (AI) course and the Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program. Most candidates will complete the entire IDC and go on to attend the 2 day IE exams.

If you are an Assistant Instructor looking to upgrade to an OWSI (Open Water Instructor) program, get in touch with Circle Divers to see how we can help.

The final step is the IE exams. The IE will take place over 2 days during which a PADI examiner will assess your teaching abilities in both the classroom as well as in the water. You will also have your in-water rescue skills reviewed and complete some written exams.

Our Course Directors at Circle Divers aim to prepare you for life as a professional dive instructor as well as passing exams, so the IE is just another step on the path to your future career.

How Often is the IDC Course Held?

Generally we host an IDC course at Circle Divers approximately every 3 – 4 months, the next available course starts 18^th November.

The dates of the IDC are set by PADI International every year with a program of external examiners holding exams at each destination on specific dates. If you can’t make the next IDC, get in touch to find out what dates the IDC will be held in 2025.

To answer any further questions you may have contact Jilly or Andi directly or email booking@circledivers.com who can answer your queries and put you in touch with a CD at Circle Divers.