SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor (OWSDI)

Become an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor in Melbourne. This professional-level program prepares qualified Divemasters and Assistant Instructors to plan, teach and manage SDI recreational scuba courses.

The program has two stages: the Instructor Development Course (IDC) and the Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC). Courses run monthly; contact Simple Dive for the next Melbourne intake and schedule.

Who this instructor course is for

This course is for experienced divers who want to turn their knowledge and enthusiasm for diving into professional instruction. Candidates should already have leadership-level training and broad diving experience.

If you are still working towards professional-level certification, explore our Divemaster internship pathway.

Course prerequisites

• Minimum age of 18.
• Certified as a diver for at least six months.
• Proof of at least 100 logged dives across different environments and depths.
• SDI Divemaster, SDI Assistant Instructor or an equivalent recognised certification.
• Current CPR, first aid and oxygen-provider certification where local law permits.

CPR, first aid and oxygen-provider training may be combined with the IDC when delivered by appropriately qualified instructors.

What you will learn during the IDC

SDI standards and professional responsibilities

• SDI history, standards, procedures, products and registration processes.
• Professional renewals, liability, insurance and risk management.
• Waivers, releases and accident reporting.
• Instructor ethics and professional judgement.

Teaching and course management

• Teaching theory, oral communication and instructional methods.
• Lesson preparation and the use of training aids.
• Managing the SDI home-study and knowledge-development process.
• Course budgeting, student recruitment, scheduling and retail considerations.

Diving knowledge

• Physics and physiology of diving.
• Dive management, activity planning and problem solving.
• Confined-water and open-water teaching control.

IDC presentation and water-skill requirements

Candidates must demonstrate preparation, control and teaching ability across classroom, confined-water and open-water environments. Required performance includes:

• At least four classroom presentations.
• At least four confined-water lessons.
• At least four open-water lessons.
• One complete rescue scenario performed to demonstration quality.
• A 10-minute survival float without swimming aids.
• A continuous 400-metre surface swim without swimming aids; goggles are permitted.
• An 800-metre mask, snorkel and fins swim without using the arms, completed in under 17 minutes.
• Recovery of a simulated unconscious diver from no deeper than 6 metres, followed by a 100-metre surface tow in under four minutes.
• All required SDI Open Water Scuba Diver skills performed to demonstration quality.
• Confined-water and open-water problem solving.

Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC)

During the IEC, candidates must present at least one classroom lesson of 15 minutes or longer, one complete confined-water lesson and one complete open-water lesson. The evaluating Instructor Trainer must verify that all required subjects and skills have been completed successfully.

Certification outcomes

After successfully completing the IDC, IEC and all SDI requirements, graduates may teach eligible SDI programs including:

• Open Water Scuba Diver.
• Advanced Adventure Diver specialties.
• Computer Diver.
• Rescue Diver.
• Divemaster.

Certification also requires successful completion of the SDI instructor written examination or online equivalent, mature professional judgement and satisfactory course-planning and teaching performance.

Course schedule

The IDC is delivered as eight full days or as a combination of weekend mornings and weekday evenings. Courses run monthly; exact dates are arranged with the instructor team.

Course fee and additional costs

The $2,800 program fee covers instructor-training materials, course fees and IDC diving activities.

Not included: IEC fees of approximately $300–$500, SDI/TDI registration and annual membership fees after passing the IEC, and professional liability insurance required to teach legally in Australia. These costs are paid or arranged separately.

Continue into technical instructor training

After gaining the required technical diver qualifications, logged dives and teaching experience, eligible instructors can progress into selected TDI technical instructor programs. See the complete Simple Dive SDI/TDI training pathway.

Before enrolling, contact Simple Dive so we can confirm your prerequisite certifications, logged dives, current professional credentials and the next available course dates.