Becoming an Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) is a huge achievement, but it’s just the beginning. Becoming a Specialty Instructor allows you to teach what you’re most passionate about and increases your marketability.
- Why Become a Specialty Instructor?
- Teach Your Passion: Love photography? Teach the Underwater Photographer course. Are you a Nitrox guru? Teach the Enriched Air course.
- Increase Your Income and Employability: The more courses you can teach, the more valuable you are to a dive center. Specialty courses are often more profitable.
- Progress to Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT): This is a higher recognition level that requires you to hold at least 5 Specialty Instructor ratings.
- The Two Pathways to Become a Specialty Instructor:
- Attend a Specialty Instructor Training Course:
- How: Taught by a PADI Course Director. You will learn the standards of that specific specialty and how to teach it effectively.
- Pros: Fast, efficient, and you learn directly from the most experienced professionals.
- Apply Directly Based on Experience:
- How: If you are already an instructor and have significant experience in a specific area (e.g., you have 200 deep dives and have assisted on many deep diver courses), you can apply directly to PADI.
- Pros: Saves the cost of a training course if you already have the experience.
- Attend a Specialty Instructor Training Course:
- The 5 Most Popular and Useful Specialty Instructor Ratings:
- Enriched Air (Nitrox)
- Deep Diver
- Peak Performance Buoyancy (PPB)
- Wreck Diver
- Underwater Navigator
Conclusion: Becoming a Specialty Instructor is the best way to continue your professional development, share your specific passions, and become a highly sought-after dive professional.