Have you ever imagined turning your love for the ocean into a career?
Maybe it started with your PADI Open Water Diver course, or perhaps you’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional diver. Either way, this is where your journey becomes a profession.
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is the most recognized Scuba Instructor Course in the world, designed to transform passionate divers into confident, employable professionals.
By becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, you’ll be qualified to teach, travel, and work in dive destinations worldwide.
Train in one of the best locations in South Africa, offering:
Training in Cape Town's conditions gives you a competitive edge, making you a globally adaptable dive instructor.
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When choosing where to complete your PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC), the quality of your training team makes all the difference.
At Into the Blue Scuba Dive Centre, you’ll be trained by a highly experienced and supportive professional team, ensuring you receive the highest standard of scuba instructor training in Cape Town.
Your training is led by:
Why This Matters for Your IDC :
Training with a full professional team means you benefit from more personalized attention during your instructor course, multiple teaching perspectives to improve your skills, higher quality feedback on presentations and water skills, better preparation for the PADI Instructor Exam (IE) and a supportive environment focused on your success.
This structure ensures our team to allow the you the best chance of success and train with confidence.
If you’re looking for a PADI IDC in South Africa that offers expert mentorship, hands-on training, and real career preparation, Into the Blue is the ideal choice for you.
Our next Instructor Development Course runs on: 30 October – 13 November 2026
Instructor Examination Dates 2026:
30 April – 01 May 2026
14 November – 15 November 2026
Break Down of Pricing:
EFRI - R5,000
OWSI - R20,000
Theory - R19,000
Our IDC in Cape Town is designed to be focused, efficient and well structured. Getting you ready for the PADI Instructor Exam (IE) with confidence.
What’s Included:
What’s Not Included:
Course Location: Into the Blue Scuba Dive Centre. Sea Point, Cape Town
Train in real-world conditions including kelp forests, boat dives, and shore entries which gives you a strong advantage as a future instructor.
Entry Requirements
To join this PADI IDC in Cape Town, you’ll need:
Train local. Work global.
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Our PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) combined with the EFR Instructor (EFRI) course.
This structured program blends online learning, hands-on training, and real-world teaching experience. Giving you everything you need to succeed in the dive industry.
Step 1: EFR Instructor Course (2 Days)
We begin your journey with the Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) course.
During these 2 days, you will - Refresh your First Aid and CPR skills, learn how to teach emergency care with confidence, understand the EFR teaching philosophy and practice delivering engaging, structured lessons.
This is a key component of your scuba instructor course, as you’ll be certified to teach life-saving skills alongside diving.
For more details on this course, please refer to https://www.diveschoolcapetown.co.za/scuba-courses/emergency-first-responce-courses/efri-course/.
Before your practical training begins, you’ll complete the IDC theory portion online.
Access is provided via our booking system. Completed through digital learning (eLearning).This takes approximately 10 - 12 hours to complete.
You’ll Cover:
Pro Tip: A solid understanding of your dive theory will make your IDC much smoother and more enjoyable. (We offer additional training and counselling if needed in these subjects to provide a more hands on approach that can help with success during your IDC with us.)
This is where you transform into an instructor.
Led by our Course Director, your IDC practical training in Cape Town focuses on:
You’ll practice:
By the end of this phase, you’ll feel ready in all aspects of leading and teaching.
Step 4: IDC Preparation & Revision Day
Before your final evaluation, we include a dedicated revision day to:
The final step is the PADI Instructor Exam (IE), conducted by an external examiner from PADI.
During the 2-day evaluation, you will be assessed on:
At Into the Blue, our in-house Course Director will guide you through a structured program that combines everything you’ve learned so far. Your dive skills, knowledge, and real-world experience and will develop you into a confident, capable PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
What to Expect During Your IDC:
Each day is carefully structured to balance theory, practical training, and teaching experience, ensuring you’re fully prepared for the next step in your career.
It’s a professional environment which is focused, supportive, and designed to help you succeed.
Learn. Practice. Refine.
Our IDC in Cape Town follows a simple but powerful approach:
This ensures you don’t just pass. Instead you become a confident and employable PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
Enrolling in the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is simple:
You can contact us in the following methods :
Once you’ve chosen your preferred IDC, secure your place with payment, complete your PADI E- Learning, and bring your certifications and logbook. Then you’re ready to start your instructor journey in Cape Town.
A PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
Our IDC in Cape Town typically runs over 12-15 days, followed by the Instructor Examination (IE).
We also offer extended and personalised IDC schedules, allowing you more time to refine your teaching skills and confidence.
The Instructor Examination (IE) is a 2-day evaluation conducted by PADI examiners.
It tests your:
Our IDC fully prepares you to pass your IE with confidence.
You can teach the following courses as an OWSI:
Yes. Once you pass your IE, you will be certified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
This allows you to:
We provide support, including:
Our goal is to help you launch a sustainable career in diving.
Yes, many candidates choose to complete their Divemaster internship followed immediately by the IDC.
This fast-tracks your progression from beginner or intermediate diver to a fully qualified instructor.
To maximise employability, we recommend:
These increase your teaching range and help you progress toward Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) status.
We run IDC programs throughout the year in Cape Town.
Spaces are limited to maintain high training standards, so early booking is recommended.
The IDC is challenging but highly rewarding.
With the right preparation, support, and dedication, most candidates successfully complete the program and go on to pass the IE.
At Into the Blue, we ensure you are fully prepared, confident, and supported every step of the way.
has been on the top of my bucket list for years now, but I have never found the time to do it. I am an American but I was studying in Cape Town for a semester so some friends and I decided to take the plunge and sign up to get our open water cert. I cannot praise Into the Blue enough. What really makes this place incredible is the staff. They were helpful, professional, and fun. For many people, myself included, scuba diving is a completely new experience and having instructors that are helpful while keeping things fun made me more comfortable throughout the experience. As far logistics go, they provide all gear during the certification process and allow you to schedule all of your dives (OW and pool) on your own schedule. All I can say is the next time I am in Cape Town, I will definitely be paying Into the Blue a visit.
with them and would not only recommend diving here, but look forward to the next trip to dive with again.
