Is PADI AI a necessary step to Instructor??

[k4man]

I am wondering what fellow members have experienced and what you may recommend regarding the Professional side of PADI. From Divemaster, is it customary to move on to the Assistanct Instructor before Instructor?? Or is this just another "pay to get the title" :no step that can be avoided?

As I'm looking at a number of programs, I want to know if the AI is valuable enough/worthwhile to get in itself or just a stepping block that can be completely skipped over and go straight to IE and OWSI.

Thanks.

 

[alcina]

The AI is a step in the process. Most that I know do it as part of a full IDC. The IDC is actually two parts - AI and OWSI.

 

[amascuba]

PADI AI is the first three days of the IDC course. It's basically a stale certification because most people do their IDC all at one time instead of in sections. It doesn't really gain you anything other than almost being done with your instructor certification.

 

[rawls]

DM...Doing the IDC in January...then the IE...I think AI is just an inclusion in the IDC...

 

[DiverLaura]

okay, sorry, but this just kills me. In the "old" days, one got their AI, and assisted with a number of classes before ever sitting for an Instructor course. (of course this was the NAUI path and it was by no means a guarantee that you'd pass). The idea of doing AI is so that you can practice giving lectures and such whilst working with and overseen by an instructor AND that if you love teaching, but don't want the "full" responsibility of instructor (monetary, full instructor insurance, peoples lives in your hands) you have an option to be in such a role. What ever happened to progression towards a leadership role? DM and AI are two different things. Yes, the overlap in some areas, but one is focused on leading dives and the other is focused on the educational process and possibly becoming an instructor, this are very different in my opinion.

This commentary has nothing to do with PADI and their program specifically, it is just a minor rant directed towards training agencies as a whole.

 

[k4man]

okay, sorry, but this just kills me. In the "old" days, one got their AI, and assisted with a number of classes before ever sitting for an Instructor course. (of course this was the NAUI path and it was by no means a guarantee that you'd pass). The idea of doing AI is so that you can practice giving lectures and such whilst working with and overseen by an instructor AND that if you love teaching, but don't want the "full" responsibility of instructor (monetary, full instructor insurance, peoples lives in your hands) you have an option to be in such a role. What ever happened to progression towards a leadership role? DM and AI are two different things. Yes, the overlap in some areas, but one is focused on leading dives and the other is focused on the educational process and possibly becoming an instructor, this are very different in my opinion.

This commentary has nothing to do with PADI and their program specifically, it is just a minor rant directed towards training agencies as a whole.

I couldn't agree more. As I thought, the AI should be another course to TRAIN to become an instructor...if one wishes to...not just another certificate to pay for on the way to OWSI. I guess that's why I posed the question.

As far as instruction, I've been a public educator now going on 21 years, so the teaching thing is sort of "in the blood". Now I'm trying to decide if I want to move this "skill" over to the diving profession or not.

Thanks.

 

[k4man]

DM...Doing the IDC in January...then the IE...I think AI is just an inclusion in the IDC...

thanks for the info.......

 

[knotical]

k4,

Perhaps it would help you to know some of the things a PADI AI can do beyond what a DM can:
- conduct Discover Scuba Diving in confined water
- conduct the Bubblemaker and Seal Team Programs
- teach Peak Performance Buoyancy
- teach Project Aware & Coral Reef Conservation courses
- teach the Equipment Specialist course if authorized
- present initial pool dives skill training for the Open Water course
- conduct Open Water course surface skill evaluations
- present academic elaboration for any course

 

[k4man]

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(15 characters)

 

[Sideband]

Wow. PADI and NAUI are opposits concerning AI and DM. With NAUI, the DM is the higher of the rankings.

Joe