The first question:

Is the OWSI course the only part of the Instructor Development course you need to do?

As a PADI Assistant Instructor or an Instructor with another training agency the answer is yes, your in the right the place! If not, you want to read the information located in the IDC section.

If you are an instructor with another agency, the OWSI course is how you attain equivalent PADI rating. With the huge market share that PADI has in many of the most popular diving destinations, a PADI instructor rating is likely to improve your employment options weather you want to travel, change career, or just work weekends near you home. An instructor who is qualified with more than one training agency is a valuable potential employee. The additional experience and different perspectives that you have, as an instructor with another agency, make you a valued addition to the PADI family. You can be sure that the unique perspectives you bring to the Instructor Development Course will make your contribution to the program particularly valued.

The PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) program enables recreational scuba instructors certified through other certification organizations or PADI Assistant Instructors to become PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors. This program acknowledges that participants are already scuba instructors with some degree of experience and teaching ability, so it focuses on allowing them to explore the PADI System of diver education, rather than on developing basic teaching techniques. The course is designed to encourage participants to first analyze and understand the PADI System and then work on adapting their instructional skills to properly conduct PADI courses. The goal is to give participants through guided study an opportunity to take a close look at PADI – the organization, it’s course structure, programs, educational materials and philosophy. If participants like what they see, they may choose to attend a PADI IE and become PADI Instructors. The OWSI program concentrates on preparing participants to successfully function as PADI Instructors and on giving participants the background necessary to adequately prepare them for the IE.

Even though you do not have to do the AI section, we recommend that you still join us for the full Instructor development course, just so that you are fully prepared for the Instructor Exam, refreshing your skills and the extra practice you get is well worth the extra four days of time if you can spare it.  It will only cost you time, since you won't be charged for the AI portion, i want you to fully prepared for the IE, that is how I have a 100% pass rate, allowing people to repeat the AI portion of the course is well worth both my time and yours to guarantee your success.