If you enjoy working with people, have a passion for scuba diving, and want a life that keeps you in, around, and under the water, becoming a PADI Instructor may be the perfect next step. Teaching scuba diving allows you to share the underwater world with others while doing what you love, creating experiences that transform lives, including your own.
PADI Instructors are among the most sought-after dive professionals worldwide because they complete a program that sets the global standard for professional training. The Instructor Development Course is challenging and rewarding, designed to prepare you to teach safely, confidently, and effectively anywhere in the world.
At Space City Dive Center, you’ll train under PADI Course Director Sean Cowher, with a focus on practical teaching ability, professional confidence, and real-world instructor readiness. This IDC is not about checking boxes. It’s about learning how to teach, manage students, and represent the highest standards of diving professionalism.
To keep the process clear and flexible, our IDC is offered through three Mission options. All Missions prepare you for the PADI Instructor Examination, with differences based on prerequisites and professional goals.
What You’ll Learn
- How to teach scuba academics, confined water, and open water sessions
- Effective student control, problem prevention, and risk management
- Instructor-level dive theory and standards application
- Professional communication, presentation, and evaluation techniques
- Leadership skills and instructor mindset development
IDC Mission Options & Tuition
IDC Core Mission
Total Tuition: $2,500
Designed for candidates who already hold the EFR Instructor rating.
Includes
- IDC training under PADI Course Director Sean Cowher
- Immediate access to PADI IDC eLearning
- IDC Candidate Crew Pack (including instructor slates and teaching materials)
- Enriched Air Instructor certification (application fee included)**
- Coral Reef Conservation Instructor certification (application fee included)
- Instructor Examination preparation and mentorship
PADI Fees Not Included (2025)
- PADI IDC Fee: $235
- PADI Instructor Examination (IE) Fee: $825
- Total Core PADI Fees: $1,060*
IDC Integrated Mission
Total Tuition: $2,900
Designed for candidates who do not yet hold the EFR Instructor rating.
Includes
- All Core Mission inclusions
- EFR Instructor training and certification
- Immediate access to PADI IDC eLearning
- IDC Candidate Crew Pack
- Enriched Air Instructor certification (application fee included)**
- Coral Reef Conservation Instructor certification (application fee included)
PADI Fees Not Included (2025)
- PADI IDC Fee: $235
- PADI Instructor Examination (IE) Fee: $825
- PADI EFR Instructor Fee: $146
- Total Integrated PADI Fees: $1,206*
IDC Advanced Mission
Total Tuition: $3,500
Designed for candidates seeking additional mentorship and preparation toward Master Scuba Diver Trainer.
Includes
- All Integrated Mission inclusions
- Five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications
- Immediate access to PADI IDC eLearning
- IDC Candidate Crew Pack
- Enriched Air Instructor certification (application fee included)**
- Coral Reef Conservation Instructor certification (application fee included)
PADI Fees Not Included (2025)
- PADI IDC Fee: $235
- PADI Instructor Examination (IE) Fee: $825
- PADI EFR Instructor Fee: $146
- PADI Specialty Instructor Application Fees: $92 per specialty (5 specialties)
- Total Advanced PADI Fees: $1,666*
* PADI fees listed reflect 2025 pricing and are subject to change.
** Candidates must already be Enriched Air Certified with at least 10 logged enriched air dives.
Payment Structure
A $1,000 down payment is required to enroll in the IDC. This down payment is applied toward the total tuition of your selected Mission and provides immediate access to PADI IDC eLearning and the IDC Candidate Crew Pack.
The remaining tuition balance is due at the start of the IDC.
PADI application and processing fees are paid directly to PADI and are not included in tuition pricing.
IDC Prerequisites
To enroll in the IDC, candidates must meet the following PADI prerequisites:
- Dive Leader certification (PADI Divemaster or leadership-level certification from another recognized recreational diver training organization)
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Minimum 60 logged dives to begin the IDC
- Minimum 100 logged dives by the time of the Instructor Examination (IE)
- Certified diver for at least six months
- Medical fitness attested by a PADI Medical Statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
- EFR Primary & Secondary Care training (or equivalent) completed within the last 24 months
- Online-only courses are not acceptable
- Completion of a diver rescue skills assessment (required if not a PADI Divemaster)
- Personal dive accident insurance, such as DAN
If you’re ready to turn your passion for diving into a profession and want to talk through Mission options, prerequisites, or timelines, contact Space City Dive Center. We’re happy to help you plan the right path forward.