FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
IDC FAQ (Instructor Development Course)
This FAQ answers the most common questions about the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) in Sardinia, including prerequisites, course structure, schedule, preparation, and next steps toward becoming a certified scuba instructor.
Il corso PADI IDC is the professional training program that prepares Divemasters (or equivalent) to become PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors (OWSI) through instructor-level knowledge, teaching workshops, and in-water training.
You must be at least 18 years old, be certified as Divemaster (or equivalent), and meet PADI experience requirements including logged dives (60 to start and 100 for certification). You also need current first aid/CPR training within 24 months.
The time it takes to complete the PADI Scuba Instructor course varies depending on previous experience and personal commitment. On average, our program takes between 5 and 7 weeks, including online knowledge study, in-water practice and assessments.
The "in-person" section consists of 2 days of Pre-IDC, 8 days of IDC and 2 days of IE.
We also offer flexible programs to fit our students' busy schedules.
A complete IDC typically includes:
teaching methodology and presentations
confined water and open water teaching practice
skill circuits and performance workshops
standards, risk management, and professionalism
exam-style preparation for instructor-level assessments
- We also offer 2 Instructor Specialties included in your preparation!
IDC training can be delivered in English or Italian (and in some cases bilingual), depending on candidate needs and course setup.
Yes. The standard pathway is Divemaster → IDC → IE (Instructor Examination).
If you are certified with another agency, you may be eligible for a crossover pathway.
You’re ready when you can comfortably demonstrate core skills, manage buoyancy and trim, and communicate clearly underwater and on the surface. If you feel “rusty,” a structured pre-IDC preparation plan is the fastest way to close gaps before day one.
After the IDC, candidates typically move to the PADI IE (Instructor Examination) process (timing and location depend on the exam schedule). Once certified, you can teach PADI programs within your instructor rating.
Yes. Many new instructors build toward MSDT by earning multiple Specialty Instructor ratings and gaining certifications experience.
A common plan is: IDC → IE → Specialty Instructor training → MSDT.
Most candidates need clarity on travel, accommodation, transportation, and schedule flow.
A good IDC provider should be able to give a simple plan for arrival, accommodation, training days, equipment needs, and study time.
Yes, we provide assistance to our Candidates.
Typical preparation includes:
completing required online study/eLearning (where applicable)
refreshing dive theory and standards study habits
practicing demonstration-quality core skills
ensuring your medical and first aid/CPR are current
The best process is: choose your course dates, confirm prerequisites, and submit the application request through the website contact form/email for a fast eligibility check and a clear step-by-step plan.
Contact us for more details and let's chat about your IDC +393497355180
Specialty Instructor FAQ
This FAQ explains how PADI Specialty Instructor training works, how long it takes, and how specialties help scuba instructors expand their teaching credentials and career opportunities.
A Specialty Instructor rating qualifies you to teach a specific PADI specialty course (for example Enriched Air (Nitrox), Deep, Wreck, Drift, Dry Suit, DSMB and more).
These courses are for certified PADI Instructors in teaching status. Some specialties may require specific experience, dives, or performance ability relevant to the topic.
Not always. Many specialties can be earned through training with a Course Director, as long as prerequisites and performance expectations are met.
Most can be completed in 1–2 days per specialty, depending on whether the specialty is workshop-based, requires confined water, or includes open water sessions.
Yes. Many instructors complete a bundle of specialties in the same training session, to build a strong teaching portfolio efficiently.
Common high-demand specialties include Enriched Air (Nitrox), Deep, Wreck, Drift, Night, DSMB, and equipment/safety-focused specialties (depending on region and operation type).
Yes. Specialty Instructor ratings make you more versatile and help you fit resort/liveaboard needs, because you can teach more continuing education courses.
Yes. Specialties are a key part of the MSDT pathway when combined with certification experience requirements.
They are primarily about how to teach the specialty: briefing structure, problem prevention, student control, safety standards, and effective skill demonstration.
Choose based on:
the diving environment you’ll work in (cold water, currents, wrecks, etc.)
what dive centers in your target destinations sell most
your personal strengths (navigation, buoyancy, safety, equipment, ecology)
FAQ - EFR Instructor
This FAQ covers the Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor course: who can enroll, what you can teach, course duration, and how EFR Instructor certification supports scuba and non-diving professional work.
Il corso EFR Instructor course certifies you to teach first aid and CPR programs following the Emergency First Response system, using structured lesson guides and performance-based skill coaching.
EFR Instructors can teach core first aid/CPR programs (adult and pediatric formats), including AED education where applicable, and related emergency care training depending on the curriculum used.
You must be at least 18 years old and meet prerequisite first aid/CPR requirements (typically training completed within the past 24 months, or an update/refresher pathway).
EFR Instructor training is commonly completed in 1–2 days, depending on class size, candidate experience, and whether prerequisite refreshers are needed.
Many instructor candidates complete EFR Instructor alongside professional training because first aid/CPR credentials are required for instructor pathways and for teaching Rescue-level programs.
In many cases, active medical professionals can meet prerequisites through their existing credentials, but eligibility depends on current documentation and training recency.
Often yes. Candidates with current equivalent instructor ratings may be eligible for a crossover-style process or abbreviated route, depending on documentation and standards.
If your training is out of date, you typically complete an EFR Primary/Secondary Care (or equivalent update) before or alongside the Instructor course.
Yes. EFR courses are often taught to individuals, families, and workplaces—many instructors use EFR to broaden their teaching opportunities beyond diving.
The usual process is: contact the training center, confirm prerequisites, choose course dates, and receive a clear checklist (materials, schedule, and required documentation).
Contact us for more details and let's chat about your EFR Instructor course +393497355180