PADI INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE

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Become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor

Are you passionate about scuba diving, love working with people, and dream of an extraordinary career? Take the plunge and become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with London School of Diving (LSD).

Teaching scuba diving gives you the unique opportunity to share your love of the underwater world while enjoying life in, around, and under the water. With LSD, you’ll train with one of the UK’s most recognised and respected dive training facilities, preparing you to inspire and transform lives through diving adventures.

Why Train with London School of Diving?

Over 25 years’ experience training PADI professionals

100% pass rate at the PADI Instructor Examination (IE)

Purpose-built facility with heated pools and modern classrooms

Dedicated IDC Staff Instructor mentor throughout your course

Unlimited Pool Access: Practice your skills as often as needed

Guaranteed work opportunities for successful candidates

12-Day IDC Programme

12-day IDC programme

PADI IDC and EFR Instructor training included

Coaching, practice and development built into the programme

MSDT pathway candidates complete specialty-instructor development

Candidates not taking the MSDT pathway receive additional coaching and practice time

The programme is structured around the candidate group, location and Instructor Examination dates, giving every candidate time to practise, consolidate skills and gain confidence.

Choose your IDC location

Train with an established PADI IDC team in the UK or Cape Town. Choose the location that best suits your professional next step.

United Kingdom · Chertsey

UK IDC at London School of Diving

Train at LSD’s purpose-built facility with heated pools, modern classrooms and an experienced IDC team.

Upcoming 2026 UK IDC & I.E. dates24 Aug – 04 Sep · I.E. 05–06 Sep, Mercers Lake
12–23 Oct · I.E. 24–25 Oct, Bristol
16–27 Nov · I.E. 28–29 Nov, Leicestershire

Enquire about the UK IDC

South Africa · Sea Point

Cape Town IDC with Into The Blue

A 14-day programme including EFR Instructor training, with classroom and pool training in Sea Point and Atlantic dive sites close by.

Upcoming 2026 Cape Town IDC & I.E.30 Oct – 13 Nov · I.E. 14–15 Nov, Cape Town

Enquire about Cape Town

What the IDC Covers

The IDC prepares you to teach safely, professionally, and confidently as a PADI Instructor. Training includes:

Classroom teaching and standards application

Confined water teaching presentations

Open water teaching presentations

Dive theory and PADI systems knowledge

Skill demonstrations and mock Instructor Examinations

Continuous feedback and coaching from senior IDC staff

Development Days (Included)

Two dedicated development days are built into the programme and scheduled during the working week.
These days are used for:

IDC PLUS (MSDT Pathway): Specialty Instructor training and supervised teaching experience

IDC Standard: Additional pool practice, classroom revision, skills refinement, or observing real LSD courses

Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI)

The Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) course is included with your IDC and qualifies you to teach:

Primary & Secondary Care (CPR & First Aid)

Care for Children

AED use

EFRI is a required qualification for teaching PADI Rescue Diver and professional-level courses and is an essential part of your instructor training.

Course Details

United Kingdom: 12-day IDC programme

Cape Town: 14-day IDC programme

Pre-requisites:
Divemaster with 100 logged dives
Certified diver for 6 months
Current medical statement signed by a physician

Free Equipment Hire: Use our top-quality gear for the IDC and IE

Additional Fees (Paid Direct to PADI)

Instructor Application Fee £238.20

EFRI Application Fee £157.20

IE Application Fee £834

Course Pricing

Choose from our range of packages to cater to your specific needs.

IDC STANDARD

£1900

Instructor Development Course

EFR Instructor course

Dive Theory Online

PADI IDC materials

EFR Instructor materials

IDC PLUS

£2350

IDC STANDARD

MSDT Training : -
Drysuit Instructor rating
Wreck Instructor rating
Deep Instructor rating
Nitrox Instructor rating
Emergency O2 Instructor rating

Want to know exactly what happens during the IDC?

Read our “IDC Explained” page for a full breakdown of training, assessments, and support.

IDC Explained

What Is the PADI Instructor Examination (IE)?

The PADI Instructor Examination (IE) is a two-day evaluative program conducted by experienced PADI Instructor Examiners, where your skills, knowledge, and professionalism are put to the test.

Please note that a separate fee applies for attending the IE.

The IE includes:

Teaching Assessments

Dive Theory Knowledge

Skill Evaluation

PADI System Knowledge

Professionalism

FULL I.E SCHEDULE

Why Candidates Succeed on Our IDC

Candidates are never rushed to the Instructor Examination

Additional support and coaching provided where needed

Ongoing mentoring and career support after qualification

Our focus is on producing confident instructors — not just exam passes.

Ready to Start Your Instructor Career?

Whether you plan to teach locally or work internationally, the London School of Diving IDC provides the training, experience, and support needed to succeed as a professional instructor.

Train properly. Teach with confidence. Become a PADI Instructor with London School of Diving.