- Best PADI IDC Unique Views on the PADI IDC Courses around the world
- Prepare for your IDC / IE Give yourself the best chance of passing your IDC / IE
- Once you Pass Scuba Instructor at last! Congratulations, now what?.
- Best Training Programs You want to do a Scuba Dive Internship program
- PADI IDC / IE Revision Learn as much as you can about scuba diving
Choices for your PADI IDC and PADI IE exams
Where should you take your PADI IDC?
This is a very big question and there is no correct answer but you can narrow down your selection by considering the following
- What do you want to do once you complete your courses and exams
- Where you want to work once you are a Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
- Where the Instructors that took you for your Divemaster or Assistant Instructor course do their IDCs
- The experience of the Course Director*
- Location and water temperature and conditions
- Resort popularity (you may want to be on a almost deserted island but not everyone wants that)
- Other Instructor training availability (Master Scuba Diver Trainer - MSDT prep program and Instructor specialties)
- IDC accommodation and facilities (do you need wifi access, do you have your own room?)
- What is the potential for work after you pass
- Does the Course Director offer an IDC Preparation program
- Could I do my Staff Instructor course with the Course Director in the future
- What do previous IDC students say about the IDC course and the Course Director and staff.
- How easy it is get a work permit in the country of the IDC
- How much will it cost to get a work permit and how often do you need to renew it.
- How politically stable is the country?
- If I don't reach the required standard on the IDC can I do the next one.
- If I fail my IE can I stay in resort and sit the next one.
- Are their recompression chambers nearby
- What are the medical facilities like in resort.
- What protection to wear (rash vests, wetsuits or drysuits)
- How does the Course Director answer your IDC Questions
- Freshwater or Saltwater.
* In 2009 there were less than 50 Platinum rated Course Directors in the whole world, this is the highest rating a PADI Course Director can achieve and represents the most experienced PADI Instructor trainers in the world.
Most established PADI 5 Star IDC centers have all or most of the above factor covered to some degree or other, but some factor vary wildly with location, doing your IDC in Scotland will be vastly different to doing it in Phuket in terms of water temperature and what protection to take.
Choosing the right Course Director and PADI 5 Star IDC or Career Development Center (CDC) for your instructor training is the most important decision you will make prior to entering the dive industry as a professional educator.
Forums should be used to view people's experiences with certain Course Directors, there could be be some 'fake' or self-promotion going on so always ignore the best and worst comments, or at least take them in isolation. You can go on the Facebook page of your IDC or Course Director (most have them now) and ask ex students directly. Alternatively you can look at past students 'verified' comments on this site.
Buy the complete IDC revision pack on DVD now includes more exam questions and answers. 
