Frequently Asked Questions

We have found that these following questions are some of the more common ones that we encounter when speaking with or writing to future candidates. If you have further questions after reading these then feel free to contact us

Yes, we have a full-service travel office right here in Phuket. We know the best deals for accommodation, and are familiar with almost every aspect of Phuket. After all, we've been here for ten years. Now all our Go-pro packs have Accommodation with Breakfast and Lunch included.

In order to participate in a PADI IDC you must of course meet all the prerequisite requirements:

• Be certified as a PADI Assistant Instructor, PADI Divemaster, or as dive leader with another recreational diver training organization. 
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be fit for diving and submit a medical form signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
• Has been a certified diver for at least six months and logged at least 60 open water dives with experience in night, deep and navigation prior to beginning the Instructor Development Course, and have been a certified diver for at least 6 months and logged at least 100 dives prior to entering the Instructor Examination.
• Submit proof of CPR and First Aid training within the last 24 months.*
• * For those whose CPR / EFR training has lapsed an update is included in the IDC Prep course or one can be arranged prior to or in conjunction with the IDC - contact us to see what can be scheduled for your IDC.

How can I best prepare for the IDC/IE?

It is important to spend time studying your theory, as this will not be re taught during the IDC Program. By studying, we mean using your PADI Diving Knowledge Workbook and Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving to ensure that you understand all aspects of the diving theory that you will be tested on. During the IDC, we will have a study session and give you a pre-assessment examination. The purpose of the sample exam is to know where you stand with regard to your level of knowledge. We can not emphasize enough that the time to study your theory is before the IDC, not during the IDC. You'll be learning many new things, so you'll want to spend your time learning these new subjects; not reviewing old subjects.

Make sure you are familiar with all the new materials, especially if you never used them as a student. Answer the quick quizzes, student concepts, quick reviews, course Quizzes and Exams etc and make sure that you are comfortable with the style of questions that PADI uses.

Note: Although these materials are available from Chris at a special VIP price (20% of list price), try and get them as early as possible as the more time you have to familiarize yourself with them prior your IDC the better.

Make sure you update your instructor manual with all relevant Training Bulletins If f you are missing any you can download them from the Members section of http://www.padi.com/  Buy your own copy of the Candidate Workbook and read through the pages "How to use this Workbook."

Instructor Candidate Workbook

First of all have a look at section 1 'Independent Learning' You will need to complete the knowledge reviews in the Instructor Candidate Workbook prior to the start of the IDC. This can be done before you get here or through staff led workshops here in Phuket right before the IDC starts. In section 1 you will find the 16 IDC Knowledge Reviews which must be completed prior to the IDC At the beginning of each Knowledge Review you will find listed the necessary pre-study reading assignments you need to read before answering the knowledge review.

These assignments can be found in: your Instructor manual, IDC Candidate Workbook, The Best of the Undersea Journal, The Law & the Diving Professional and The Business of Diving. If you cannot compete these prior before you get to us in Phuket you can have an extra days training added to your package before the beginning of the IDC-Prep course where your Course Director or IDC Staff member will lead you through all the reading assignments helping you understand and become familiar with PADI standards, PADI educational philosophies, provide some training suggestions and other background information necessary to complete your IDC program.

Dive Theory

Remember this is the most failed part of the IE so you need to get this part clear in your own head he best way to do this to get a copy of The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving and Diving Knowledge Workbook (The CD-Rom Encyclopedia includes both) and work your way through it along with the Divemaster exams. You will have ample to keep you busy during the IDC without having to worry about dive theory questions such as "what is DCS", "what are partial pressures" or "how do I find minimum surface intervals with the RDP Wheel ?"

Work your way through the knowledge review / quizzes and exams from the Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue and Divemaster Courses, You know when you have mastered it when you can not only arrive at the correct answer - but also explain WHY each of the other answers is wrong !!! During the IE exams are available in over 20 languages. Should the exam not be available in your native language you will be credited with extra time.

Diving and Skills

Dive as much as possible - nothing replaces real life experience. If you are not a member of a dive club, join one and offer to work int he pool as a DM for free try to assist your PADI instructor as often as possible on as many courses as possible. Practice all your skills - especially the 20 skills of the PADI skill circuit. Concentrate especially on your buoyancy skills: hovering and fin pivots, out of air skills: Alternate Air Source both stationary and swimming, the controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA) and your removal skills: scuba unit and weight belt - both at the surface and underwater.

Remember although an Open Water Diver can "do the skill", this is usually a long way off from the "demonstration quality" expected of an Instructor. You can always review the skills on the PADI Open Water DVD

When was the last time you practiced or demonstrated any of these . ???

If possible get a PADI instructor to watch you perform Rescue Diver Exercise #7: "Unconscious Diver on the surface." You can review an excellent demonstration of this on The PADI Rescue Diver video.

Again a demonstration and workshop of Rescue Diver Exercise #7 is included in the IDC Prep course. Check all your dive equipment and make sure everything is serviced, up to date and ready for action.  Dive Community is a full dive equipment service centre and stocks a complete range of extra items such as computers, compasses, knives, warm water wetsuits, slates, clips, slates, clips, straps from the top manufacturers Mares, Cressi, Scubapro, TUSA and SeaQuest.

Have Fun

Prepare as much as you can from the guidelines above so you can relax and really enjoy your IDC, everyone says they will never forget their IDC and we can guarantee that if you put some effort into preparing you will enjoy this course even more. Have fun on this course and dont take it too seriously, we aim to produce fun, happy instructors and not ones that are stressed and not prepared for life as an Open Water Scuba Instructor

We believe in quality and fun learning and we believe this and our professionalism in education will help you become the best Open Water Scuba Instructor you can be. One of the most important aspects of our course is the emphasis on real-world training. We believe that almost any Course Director can give you enough knowledge to pass the IE if that is your only goal. However, your goal should be to understand the PADI system to the point where you can be a successful employee or owner - a diving professional. In other words, we prepare you for your future; the IE is only a stepping stone. Choosing to do the IDC with Dive Community will make a big difference

Is it possible to `Fail' the IDC Program?

No, it is impossible to fail the IDC - unless you just don't show up - as the IDC is a course, not an exam. Our IDC stresses development. As a result, you can relax while learning, knowing that mistakes are part of the process. Although there are performance requirements for successfully completing the course, there are no time limitations, so you may continue to progress under your Course Director's guidance. The goal is to create a low-stress environment in which you can learn to function as a PADI Instructor. This makes the IDC challenging, yet an enjoyable learning experience. The final evaluation of your knowledge and skills come later during the PADI Instructor Examination (IE).

No, PADI has written exams in many different languages, and certainly in all of the major European languages. They are also getting better about the Asian languages as well, and we do have the exams in Thai. Also, it is possible to do your oral teaching presentations in your native tongue if you so desire.

What is average passing rate for the IE?

Worldwide, 90%. so far in 2006 out of all our candidates, 100% passed.

What is the most common area of the IE that candidates fail?

Theory exams! Study your theory and be prepared for the IDC. So far, none of our candidates have failed due to low scores on teaching presentations.

When can I begin teaching?

As soon as the paperwork from your IE has be processed by PADI. Depending on your where your permanent address is, this could take between two and four weeks although recently its only been taking 4 days

Can I get a job in Thailand?

Yes, it is possible to work in this country at one of the many island resorts, including here in Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phi Phi Island, and Koh Tao. We will do our best to help you find a job here if you so choose, and we have been able to place most of our candidates.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.