The PADI Assistant Instructor Course is the first step in your PADI Instructor Development. This new level opens a wide new range of responsibilities to you. Apart from the responsibilities and duties you already have as PADI Divemaster Assistant Instructors are authorized to:

1. Present the academic elaboration for any PADI Diver course under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor.
2. During confined water dives, present initial skills training under the direct supervision of a PADI Instructor.
3. Conduct open water surface skill evaluations during Open Water Diver course training dives under the indirect supervision of a PADI Instructor.
4. Teach and certify PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty Divers under the direction of a PADI Instructor.
5. Independently teach the Project AWARE and, AWARE Coral Reef Conservation Specialties.
6. Independently conduct Discover Scuba Diving in a pool or confined water environment.
7. Independently conduct PADI Seal Team Aqua Missions.
8. Teach and certify divers in a specialty courses that don’t include dives after successful completion of Specialty Instructor Training courses for such specialties.
9. After completing the corresponding instructor training, conduct Digital Underwater Photographer and Emergency Oxygen Provider Specialty courses.

To join the Assistant Instructor Course, you need to:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or hold a leadership level certification with another diver training organization.
3. Be fit for diving and submit a medical statement not older than one year, including the date of the IE.
4. Certified diver for at least 6 months, 60 logged open water scuba dives. Have documentation of experience in deep, night and navigation diving.
5. Submit proof of CPR and first aid training within the last 24 months.
6. Submit documentation of any equivalent certification for entry-level, advanced, rescue and leadership-level issued by another diver training organization.
7. If not a PADI Divemaster, successfully complete the PADI Divemaster Course diver rescue skill assessment.