Course Director - Tony Fontes
Course Director Tony Fontes has been involved in instructor training since receiving his Course Director certification in 1981.
Under his guidance, the instructor training program has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Outstanding Course Director award. In August 2000 Tony reached a rare milestone when he trained his 1000th instructor candidate.
Tony is a well-known figure in the Australian dive industry as his involvement goes well beyond instructor training. For 15 years he was owner/director of a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Centre on the Great Barrier Reef.
Over the past 15 years the recreational dive industry has grown tremendously. As well, the industry has become more demanding. Today's successful instructor must be capable of meeting these demands. This requires a continued commitment from the instructor, first to gain the best education possible and then to maintain the edge by growing with the industry through continuing education.
Tony Fontes has made the very some commitment to his instructor training programs. His IPC and IDC offer you the highest quality educational experience possible. He is constantly working to improve his courses. He will give you the opportunity to be the best. And through our instructor continuing education courses he can offer you the means to maintain that edge and stay abreast of a progressing dive industry.
His track record speaks for itself having successfully trained over 1300 instructors in Australia and the South Pacific.
He has a near 100% plus pass rate in the IE with our candidates scoring higher than the national average, and many of his candidates have moved on to successful careers in the diving industry in Australia and overseas.
Protecting the Marine Environment: our program includes the Great Barrier Reef Naturalist Course developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
|
|
|
Instructor Preparatory Course (IPC)
|
This course is designed to prepare an instructor candidate for the Instructor Development Course as well as the real world of dive instruction. The schedule is very flexible to allow for individual needs. Much time is spent upgrading the skills and knowledge from Divemaster level to Instructor level. Depending on need, candidates are assessed then tutored in Physics, Physiology, Equipment, Diving Skills and Environment, and the Recreational Dive Planner. Much time is also spent in the pool developing demonstration quality skills and rescue technique.
During the IPC, you will also have the opportunity to break the ice and begin developing the all-important instructional techniques, which are later polished in the Instructor Development Course. These techniques include classroom lecturing and pool training.
Although an optional course, the IPC has proven to be a popular course. With the knowledge and skills developed during the IPC, the candidates are able to really focus on their training during the IDC. This allows for more development and at the end of the day, a better instructor.
Instructor Development Course (IDC)
|
Our ten-day Instructor Development Course is the heart of the PADI Instructor Training Program.
This program consists of two parts, the Assistant Instructor course (AI) and the Open Water Scuba Instructor program (OWSI). Combining the AI course and the OWSI program into a continuous program makes up the IDC. By completing both sections of the program, you are then qualified to attend the Instructor Evaluation and earn the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor qualification.
The major thrust of the course involves learning and polishing one's instructional technique. However, the extensive curriculum is extremely varied, consisting of lectures, workshops and candidate teaching presentations in the classroom, pool and open water.
There are three main components to the course.
- Instructional Technique: Much of the program is spent developing a candidates teaching abilities in the classroom, pool and open water. This is a three step process that starts with staff presentations on how to teach, followed by staff teaching demonstrations and culminating in a number of candidate presentations. This experience not only polishes a candidate's teaching ability but also gives them the confidence needed to run a course.
- The PADI System: A number of staff presentations focus on how to effectively use the PADI System of Diver Education. As a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you are qualified to teach not only the Open Water Course, but also a wide range of continuing education courses that include the Adventure Diver Program, the Rescue Diver Course and the Divemaster Course. These presentations will familiarise candidates with the structure, standards, conduct and scheduling of these courses.
Business of Diving: This component of the IDC establishes basic business philosophies that apply to teaching diving and acquaints candidates with the size, direction and trends currently facing the recreational dive industry. It also provides a starting point for candidates in how to deal with the legal aspects of dive instruction.- PADI Underwater Naturalist Specialty & Great Barrier Reef Naturalist Course: To enhance your opportunity in the dive industry, you will also earn the PADI Underwater Naturalist Instructor Specialty qualification. This is a most important and popular specialty program that will allow you to create a marine awareness within all of your students. In addition to the Underwater Naturalist Course, candidates will participate in the Great Barrier Reef Naturalist Course, which has been developed to provide instructors with the information and basic interpretive methods to inform visitors about the biology and management of the reef. The course has been designed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the lead agency responsible for the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the largest marine park in the world today. This is an accredited TAFE course and is recognised throughout the Great Barrier Reef by the tourism industry and the management agencies.
Instructor Examination (IE)
|
The PADI IE is the final step on the road to the PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification. The prerequisite is the successful completion of the PADI IDC within the previous twelve months. This program consists of two and a half days of intensive evaluation of the instructor candidates by the highly trained Instructor Examiners from PADI Headquarters.
The areas of evaluation are the same ones, which the candidates have experienced throughout the IDC and include:
- Teaching Presentations - Classroom, Pool and Open Water.
- Rescue Technique
- Diving Skills
- Theory Exams - Physics, Physiology, Diving Skills and Environment, Equipment, Recreational Dive Planner and PADI System, Standards and Procedures.
Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI)
|
As an instructor, this will be one of your first steps in continuing your education. First aid training is a required component of the Rescue Diver, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor and Instructor courses. Therefore, with the EFR Instructor certification, you can offer all levels of PADI Continuing Education. You will also have the opportunity to teach important first aid skills to lay people as well as divers. Equally important are the skills and knowledge that you will develop and maintain as an active EFR Instructor.
The EFR Instructor Training Course is available to all PADI Members with any experience level.
The course is devoted to a complete overview of the EFR Course that includes the design, instructional, administrative and testing procedures required by EFR.
The IDC Staff Instructor Course is one of the most important steps in the career of a professional diving instructor. IDC Staff Instructors are valuable members of the PADI Instructor training team. Staff Instructors are fully capable of lecturing, evaluation, counselling and training instructor candidates alongside the Course Director.
- The IDC Staff Instructor certification fulfils an important prerequisite for the Master Instructor qualification, PADI's highest instructor rating.
- The IDC Staff Instructor qualification will allow you to conduct the PADI Assistant Instructor Course.
- The IDC Staff Instructor Course is a great way to polish your own personal knowledge, diving skills and, most importantly, teaching techniques.
The course will also provide you with a detailed update on PADI systems, standards and procedures.
To achieve these benefits, the IDC Staff Instructor Course involves four modules run over 10 days (although we recommend taking part in the IPC – at no extra cost - if the candidate's schedule allows):
- Pre-assessment of candidate knowledge, water skills and teaching ability.
- An orientation to PADI IDC policies, procedures and philosophy.
- Training of the candidate in the skills of objective evaluation.
- Auditing a complete IDC.
More Information And Bookings
Detailed information about course requirements, pre-requisites, materials, and course inclusions can be found in our IDC Fact Sheet.
The fact sheet also contains booking and payment information.
*Please note that other Course Directors may be used depending
on numbers.
Download IDC Fact Sheet
