1.1 INTRODUCTION
The SDI instructor course is designed to teach current Divemasters or Assistant Instructors the knowledge to safely function as an independent instructor. This program is broken up into two (2) sections, an Instructor Development course (IDC) and an Instructor Evaluation course (IEC).

1.2 QUALIFICATIONS OF GRADUATES
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may:
1. Teach the Open Water Scuba Diver through Assistant Instructor courses only.

1.3 WHO MAY TEACH
Who may teach this course?
2. An Active SDI Instructor Trainer may teach the IDC.
3. A separate active Instructor Trainer must teach the IEC.
4. Two Instructor Trainers may also teach both the IDC and the IEC together.

1.4 STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO
Academic:
5. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
6. A maximum of four (4) students per Instructor Trainer.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary):
7. A maximum of four (4) students per Instructor Trainer are allowed. However, it is the IT’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate.

1.5 STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES
The Student must:
8. Be at least eighteen (18) years old.
9. Have a current medical examination for diving.
10. Have at least one hundred (100) logged dives done in a number of different environments with varying depths.
11. Be certified as SDI Assistant Instructor or Divemaster or equivalent.
12. Be qualified as Oxygen Provider.
13. Be certified in CPR and First Aid.

1.6 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
IDC Execution:
14. Candidate must be able to perform all skills required, to Instructor level quality, for
A. Divemaster and
B. Assistant Instructor.

The Instructor Candidate has six (6) months from the completion of the IDC to attend an IEC.

IEC Execution:
15. Hand over the SDI instructor application to the evaluating Instructor Trainer prior to completion of the course.
Duration:
16. The minimum number of hours for the SDI-IDC is forty (40) hours
17. The minimum number of hours for the SDI-IEC is ten (10) hours.
18. A minimum of fifty (50) hours for the entire course.

1.7 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
19. Collect the course fees from all the students.
20. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
21. Communicate the schedule to the students.
22. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
23. The Instructor should review the Liability Release and Medical Forms before starting on the course.
Upon successful completion of the course the Instructor must:
24. Issue a SDI Certification card. Complete and submit the Registration Form to SDI HQ.
Award card.

1.8 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment for diving leaders as prescribed earlier in this manual.

1.9 REQUIRED SUBJECT AREAS
SDI offers the following support materials:
25. SDI Open Water Instructor guide.
26. SDI Open Water Diver manual.
27. SDI Open Water Dive video.
28. SDI Student Registration folder.
29. SDI Instructor evaluation form.
30. SDI Instructor Written exam.
31. SDI Instructor Application.
32. SDI Confined Water / Open Water Teaching slates.
33. SDI Student Skills check-off slate
Instructor Trainers may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics. The following topics must be covered:
34. SDI standards and procedures.
35. History of SDI.
36. Products and Procedures
A. How to place an order.
B. Yearly renewals.
C. Liability and Insurance.
37. Risk Management
A. Waivers and Releases (Remember, a wavier must be filled out for every course taken.)
B. Filling out an Accident Report.
38. Methods of instruction
A. Teaching theory, methods and oral communications.
B. Lesson preparation
I. In Classroom.
II. In Confined Water.
III. In Open Water.
C. Use of training aids.
D. SDI home study program, use of Knowledge Quest.
39. Successfully selling scuba
A. Budgeting courses.
B. Recruiting students.
C. Organizing and scheduling a course.
D. Retail sales.
40. Instructor ethics.

1.10 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Required Skill Performance – IDC. The student must:
41. Teach a minimum of
A. Two (2) classroom presentations.
B. Two (2) lessons in confined water.
C. Two (2) lessons in Open water.
42. Show preparation, planning and control in
A. Dive management.
B. Diving activities.
43. Scuba ditch and recovery. Must be using all equipment required for a SDI diving leader.
A. Descend to at least two-point-five (2.5) meter / eight (8) feet.
B. Remove mask, snorkel and scuba unit.
C. Swim eight (8) meter / twenty five (25) feet underwater, exhaling continuously, and surface.
D. Take a few breaths and descend swimming (8) meter / twenty five (25) feet back to equipment.
E. Don equipment and ascend slowly.

The Instructor Candidate has six (6) months from the completion of the IDC to attend an IEC.

Required Skill Performance – IEC. The student must:
44. Give a minimum of
A. One (1) classroom presentations (at least fifteen (15) minutes long).
B. One (1) full lesson in confined water.
C. One (1) full lesson in Open water.
45. Successfully pass the SDI Instructor written exam.
46. The evaluating Instructor Trainer must verify all required subjects were covered and skills were performed.

In order to complete this course, the Instructor Trainers are required to evaluate and the student required to pass all the following:
47. Satisfactorily complete the SDI instructor written exam or equivalent,
48. Complete all water requirements.
49. Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning class planning and execution.