SDI Course Director
Develop the leadership, evaluation, and instructor-development skills required to train, mentor, and evaluate future SDI diving professionals and instructors
Duration
7–9 days (9-11 days if including the IEC)
Max Depth
Conducted within recreational diving limits
Level
Advanced Professional Instructor Development
Next Step
Speciality Instructor Training
Overview
The SDI Course Director course is the first module of SDI’s Instructor Trainer development pathway.
This programme trains experienced instructors to independently conduct the Instructor Development Course (IDC) portion of the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor programme.
Training focuses on:
- instructor development,
- candidate evaluation,
- leadership processing,
- risk management,
- professional mentoring,
- speciality instructor development,
- and administrative crossover procedures.
Course Directors are qualified to:
- conduct SDI Instructor Development Courses,
- conduct SDI Non-Diving Speciality Instructor courses,
- certify SDI Instructors and Assistant Instructors to teach SDI specialities they personally hold instructor ratings for,
- and conduct administrative professional crossovers.
At N9BO℠, Course Director training develops experienced instructors into professional educator trainers capable of shaping the next generation of SDI professionals.
Course Facts
- Course name: SDI Course Director
- Level: Advanced Professional Instructor Development
- Minimum prerequisites: Minimum age 20, Certified as SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor, Active First Response Training International Adult and Child Emergency Care Instructor, Minimum 200 logged dives
- Ratio: Maximum of 8 candidates per instructor trainer (small groups recommended for quality training)
- Configuration: Candidates use standard open water scuba equipment as required by SDI Leadership Standards, SDI instructional materials, evaluation slates, instructor evaluation forms, SDI digital instructor resources
- Depth / environment: Classrooms, Swimming pools, Confined water environments, Open water training sites, Instructor development environments
- Format: Pre-course study + academic development + instructor-level presentations + candidate evaluations + IDC staffing + confined water assessments + open water assessments
- Duration: 7–9 days (9-11 days if including the IEC), Minimum 100 hours
What You’ll Learn
- Learn SDI instructor-development methodology
- Develop candidate evaluation and mentoring skills
- Conduct instructor-level academic presentations
- Evaluate diver-level and instructor-level presentations
- Apply quality assurance and leadership processing procedures
- Build the capability required to independently conduct SDI Instructor Development Courses
Prerequisites
- Be at least 20 years old.
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor or equivalent.
- Instructor status for a minimum of 2 years.
- Minimum 200 logged dives.
- Active First Response Training International Adult and Child Emergency Care Instructor.
- Minimum 150 SDI or equivalent certifications issued.
- Suggested certification experience 100 Open Water Scuba Diver certifications, 25 Rescue Diver certifications, 20 Speciality Diver certifications, 5 Divemaster or Assistant Instructor certifications.
- Verification of conducting or assisting with a minimum of 5 complete SDI/TDI/ERDI courses using SDI/TDI/ERDI standards and materials.
- Current CPR, First Aid, and Oxygen Provider certification where local law permits.
- Current diving medical signed by a licensed physician.
- No verified Quality Assurance complaints within the previous 12 months.
- Be medically fit for diving.
FAQ
No.
Course Directors cannot independently conduct the Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC). The IEC must be conducted by a qualified SDI Instructor Trainer.
Graduates may:
- conduct SDI Instructor Development Courses
- conduct SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor courses
- certify Instructor and Assistant Instructor specialty ratings they personally hold
- conduct administrative professional crossovers
Yes.
Candidates must provide verification of staffing:
- 1 complete SDI Instructor Development Course
as part of the graduation requirements.
Successful Course Directors may continue into:
- SDI Instructor Trainer Workshop (ITW)
which qualifies candidates to independently conduct Instructor Evaluation Courses and teach instructor-level programmes.
Ready to Develop Future SDI Instructors?
Whether you want to mentor instructor candidates, conduct Instructor Development Courses, or progress toward Instructor Trainer status, our team will help you develop the evaluation, leadership, and educator-training skills required to succeed as an SDI Course Director.
Go Pro with the SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC)
Expand your diving knowledge through internationally recognised SDI training programmes delivered by experienced course directors and instructor trainers at N9BO℠. Build confidence, aquatic awareness, and practical skills that support lifelong enjoyment of underwater activities.
