SDI Assistant Instructor
Gain real teaching experience and advance your diving career.
Step beyond Divemaster and experience what it’s like to lead and teach with confidence. The SDI Assistant Instructor Course bridges the gap between leadership and instruction, giving you hands-on experience working alongside an active SDI Course Director. You’ll learn how to manage students, assist in real courses, and build the skills that prepare you for a future as a professional scuba instructor. It’s the perfect way to grow your expertise, strengthen your communication, and inspire others, while continuing to do what you love most: diving.
Experience Real Teaching
Work alongside an SDI Instructor or Course Director and gain hands-on experience assisting real students. Learn what it’s like to teach diving—without the full responsibility of a certified Instructor. Build confidence as you help others grow and discover their potential underwater.
Rewarding Without the Pressure
Gain teaching experience and leadership skills without the full responsibility or time commitment of an Instructor—making it a flexible and fulfilling way to advance your dive career. Enjoy the rewards of mentoring others while keeping your own diving fun and stress-free.
A Step Toward Instructor
Take the next step in your professional journey. The Assistant Instructor course prepares you for full Instructor certification and a future in dive leadership. It’s the ideal transition for those ready to turn passion into profession.
Start Your Assistant Instructor Journey Today
Discover how easy it is to take the next step in your dive career!
You can begin your SDI Assistant Instructor training through online eLearning or connect with a nearby SDI Dive Center to start in person. Both options provide the same high-quality education and hands-on experience—helping you grow your skills, gain confidence, and step confidently into the role of a dive professional.
eLearning Code
With the eLearning course, you are in control. Study at your own pace from home, on vacation, or wherever suits you best. Dive into interactive content, videos, and quizzes that prepare you for real buoyancy mastery. Once you’re set, we’ll help you choose the perfect dive center, whether it is close to home or part of your next getaway. Your in water coaching will refine horizontal trim, precise weighting, streamlined configuration, efficient propulsion, and smooth ascents with solid safety stops. You will build dependable control that lowers effort, reduces gas use, and preserves visibility.
Diving Center
It all starts with the right dive center. Your scuba journey begins by choosing your SDI Dive Center. From day one, they’ll guide you through every step — from starting your eLearning to completing your practice sessions and training dives, all under the supervision of a certified SDI Instructor. Once you’ve selected your dive shop, you’ll purchase your eLearning and dive right in. Learn Where It Works Best for You. Pick a dive shop close to home or at your dream vacation spot — wherever you want to begin your underwater adventure, there’s an SDI center ready to welcome you.
Some of the key skills you’ll gain during the course
Course Planning & Control
You’ll learn how to prepare, organize, and manage diving activities in both confined and open water. From pre-dive briefings to safety oversight, you’ll develop the confidence to plan and guide dives like a professional.
Effective Student Instruction
You’ll practice delivering classroom presentations and assisting with in-water training. These experiences will help you refine your communication and demonstration skills while learning how to adapt to different student needs..
Risk Management & Safety
You’ll gain a solid understanding of liability, waivers, and emergency response procedures—including how to handle oxygen administration and CPR—ensuring your divers stay safe at every step.
Professional Leadership Standards
You’ll study SDI’s Code of Ethics and professional responsibilities, learning how to represent yourself and the organization with integrity, confidence, and leadership in every diving environment.
Questions? Let’s dive in!
Who this course is for:
- Certified SDI Divemasters (or equivalent) who want to gain hands-on teaching experience, develop leadership and presentation skills, and take the next step toward becoming a professional scuba instructor.
Course prerequisites:
- Certification: SDI Divemaster (or equivalent).
- Minimum age: 18 years old.
- Experience: Proof of at least 60 logged dives or 50 dives with 25 hours of underwater time.
- Additional requirements: Current First Response Adult and Child Emergency Care Provider and Oxygen Administration Provider certification (or equivalent).
What you can expect to learn:
- SDI Standards, Procedures, and professional ethics.
- Course planning, dive management, and problem-solving in confined and open water.
- How to conduct SDI Snorkeling and Inactive Diver/Refresher courses.
- Effective classroom presentations, briefings, and skill demonstrations.
- Risk management, liability, and accident reporting procedures.
- Emergency response training including first aid, oxygen administration, and CPR.
- Leadership development through assisting with Open Water, Rescue, and Specialty courses.
SDI Assistant Instructor requirements:
- Assist in at least one complete SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course.
- Participate in four different SDI Specialty courses and one SDI Rescue course.
- Complete at least three academic presentations (including physics and physiology).
- Conduct one confined water and one open water presentation under instructor supervision.
- Demonstrate all Open Water Diver skills to instructor-level quality while neutrally buoyant.
- Score at least 80% on the SDI Assistant Instructor exam (with full remediation if required).
How to take this course.
- Students can begin with the SDI Assistant Instructor eLearning course or complete the manual and classroom sessions with an SDI Course Director. The program includes both academic and in-water components, requiring at least 70 hours of training.
- Certification is awarded upon successful completion of all knowledge, skill, and performance requirements.
Review the Course Standards and Procedures
Join One Dive Family
