Diary of an IDC

[TwoBitTxn]

Well friends and family I start my IDC next weekend. I am looking forward to it for a myriad of reasons with great hope and positive emotions.

Why:

The first very simple reason is that I love to teach. I would teach High School if I thought it would support the lifestyle I want to live. I have considered taking the next step and getting my PhD so I can teach college, but the last thing I want is to be pressured to do research. A major aspect of my current job that I love is teaching a national certification course in swimming pool management.

I love to learn. Every class that I work I learn something.

I havn't decided yet if I am going to stop at AI or go on through to instructor.

I am doing this through Blue Dolphin Scuba in Plano with Richard Dean as my CD. I look forward to possibly seeing EK Sowell again as he did my initial open water so many years ago. The shop is a PADI 5 star IDC

I'll share what happens through the track and my own opinions about it.

TwoBit

 

[skeet]

All the best in your endeavor. EK is a friendly guy, he gave me lots of Cozumel tips when he was here setting up a new compressor at our station.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

I have worked through all of the knowledge reviews in the Instructor workbook.

I found some of the articles that were required reading from the UnderSea Journal to be very dated and I had issues with some of the stuff that was said. I'll need to go back through some of it if I need to get specific.

I found the knowledge review stuff from the Encyclopedia to be better and in some places more helpful. At times, I was suprised at the mistakes I made.

I found the required reading sections from Children and Scuba Diving, The Law and the Diving Professional, and The Business of Diving a little more educational and, at times, interesting. I may decide to sit down and see if I can read them cover to cover (and stay awake).

I do know I need to start my cardio workouts again and get ready to do my swim again. I want to get back in shape again anyway. I'm not over weight, just no endurance.

Skeet, thanks. I remember EK and Sally very well. Good people.

TwoBit

 

[Dee]

Congrats, Tom. Good luck on your journey! I'll look forward to your journalling of the experience...it's something that has crossed my mind a time or two!

 

[ScubaTexan]

Best of luck, Tom.....I'm pulling for you!

 

[Foo]

Well friends and family I start my IDC next weekend.

Okay... time for me to help some of you out, and make the rest of you feel superior:

What exactly does IDC mean? Instructor?... Instructor what?

Thanks,
Foo

 

[WileEDiver]

Okay... time for me to help some of you out, and make the rest of you feel superior:

What exactly does IDC mean? Instructor?... Instructor what?

Thanks,
Foo

An IDC is an Instructor Development Course. It's taught by a Course Director (CD) and it prepares you for an IE (Instructor Examination) which is conducted by a PADI Examiner.

Nope, just pinched myself and I feel the same as I did before, no superiorer .

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Sorry, Foo.

Instructor Development Course.

TwoBit

 

[TwoBitTxn]

57 pages of find and mark the answer. Its divided up into sections and I find I do better if I just do one section at a time and then take a break. I'm in no hurry as its not like this has to be done tomorrow.

This is a little history, program standards, how to teach skills, an over view of the industry (from PADI's view point.... at least they accept that the internet will have a significant role in the dive industry), risk management, RDP history and development, teaching children, business principles (even though some of the articles were 10-15 years old I thought there was some good info in them).

Probably a third to a half is program standards... how many students can you teach by yourself...with a certified assistant...age of students...etc

I still found myself reading the articles and thinking critically about them and in places arguing with them.

TwoBit

 

[texdiveguy]

Best wishes!!!