SDI Non-Diving Instructor

The SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor course is designed to teach members of the scuba diving industry such as: store owners, service technicians, etc the knowledge to safely function as an independent instructor of the non-diving specialties listed below:
- Visual Inspection Procedures
- Air Fill Station Technician
- Other non-diving specialties, i.e. unique specialties, offered by SDI (subject to headquarters’ approval)
- SDI Snorkeling
In order to become an instructor for one of the above courses; a candidate must be certified by a qualified Instructor Trainer or Course Director; experience-based upgrades are not available. Instructors who hold equivalent certifications with a recognized agency and wish to cross over as a non-diving specialty instructor may do so by applying via current instructor crossover procedures.

Who this course is for:

An individual that does not hold a dive professional rating but is qualified to teach a non-diving program

Course prerequisites:

Minimum age 21
Affiliated with an SDI Facility
Minimum of 1 year experience at the provider level for the specialty which will be taught after graduation
Meet all prerequisites for the corresponding instructor level specialty they will teach after graduation; except any assistant instructor or instructor requirements
Provide proof of current CPR and first aid certification*

* Note: CPR, first aid, and oxygen provider courses may be combined with the IDC Program by qualified instructors

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Non-Diving Instructor Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

SDI Standards and Procedures
History of SDI
Products and procedures
- How to place an order
- Registration procedures
- Yearly renewals
- Liability and insurance
Risk management
- Waivers and releases
- Filling out an accident/incident report
Methods of instruction
- Teaching theory, methods and oral communications
- Lesson preparation
- Use of training aids
- Home study program, use of knowledge quest
Successfully selling courses
- Budgeting courses
- Recruiting students
- Organizing and scheduling a course
Retail sales
Instructor ethics
All course content for the specialty the candidate will be teaching after graduation

Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:

Present minimum of 3 academic presentations, minimum time 15 minutes, on subjects from the SDI Specialty they will be teaching after graduation
Present minimum of 2 practical presentations, minimum time 15 minutes, on subjects from the SDI Specialty they will be teaching after graduation
Satisfactorily complete all skill performance and graduation requirements for the SDI Specialty they will be teaching
Demonstrate the ability to correctly remediate exam questions with a student

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may:

Teach the appropriate SDI Non-diving specialty

Note: The candidate may be certified to teach multiple specialties at once, provided all corresponding
prerequisites and graduation requirements are met and the instructor trainer or IT staff instructor conducting the courses is qualified at all levels.

SDI Non-Diving Instructor minimum requirements:

Satisfactorily complete the SDI Standards and Procedures portion of the instructor exam
Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning class planning and execution