Become a PADI Instructor with a PADI Instructor Course in the UK
PADI Instructor Course

Walk into your new job confident in your abilities.

Be 100% ready to teach your first course.

Protect the ocean and inspire your students.

Stuck in the 9-5 grind? Stressed out, lacking job satisfaction, and dreaming of the ocean with a severe case of wanderlust?

Every member of the team at The Fifth Point has been in your shoes at some point.

It's time to change your life and become a PADI Instructor.

It's the best job you could ever wish for!

  • Quit the grind and turn your passion into your dream job
  • Get paid to go diving every day
  • Travel the world and meet incredible people
  • Make a positive change to the underwater world, protect the ocean and encourage others to do the same

Your first step to achieving this dream is to get stuck into your PADI Instructor Course. It will be an adventure that you'll never forget and our training is designed to help you become an amazing, confident, eco-conscious PADI Instructor.

 

What does the PADI Instructor Course look like?

Prep for success.

In the 4 weeks running up to the start of your PADI Instructor Course, you'll work through our IDC Success Pack.

We developed this guided online program to help you refresh the knowledge you've been acquiring throughout your whole diver journey (you're going to need it!)

You will work through practice dive theory questions, and challenge yourself to answer standards queries using your PADI Instructor Manual.

Any nerves that you might be feeling about the course (and your career!) will be well and truly quashed. You'll learn exactly what to expect during your training and how to become an amazing instructor.

We'll catch up with you during weekly Zoom calls to see how you're getting on and prepare resources just for you to help with any struggle you're having.

You will love using the Success Pack before your training starts. It will set you up to get the most out of your PADI Instructor Course and build the foundations for a successful career once you're qualified.

Your PADI Instructor Development Course.

Over 14 dive-packed days, you'll develop into an amazing PADI Instructor. You'll learn everything you need so that as soon as you're qualified, you're ready to go. You will stand up in front of your very first class and deliver fantastic training with confidence.

We'll use the PADI curriculum as a framework for your program alongside lots of extra workshops that focus on your success once qualified. Everything you learn will be applied to real-life training so you can flick that switch in your brain and start thinking like a PADI Instructor.

You'll be in the water pretty much every day practising skills and role-playing with students. Classroom sessions are interactive and discussion-based - you will steer the workshop to learn exactly what you need.

You'll also complete your Emergency First Response Instructor Course and an HSE recognised First Aid qualification with outdoor care specialists Life Saving Training. You'll know how to deliver top-notch first aid courses to your divers and you'll be prepared to handle any situation life as a PADI Instructor may throw at you.

Smash the PADI Instructor Exam.

This is one of the few times you'll hear us mention this 2 day Instructor Exam. It's the final stepping stone to achieving your dream.

The examiners from PADI HQ want to see how awesome you've become. After you've completed your PADI Instructor Course, you'll attend this fun (we promise!) weekend of diving.

Because you'll have spent almost 6 weeks concentrating on what happens after the exam and developing into an amazing instructor, you will pass this little IE with your eyes closed!

Get out there and teach.

All your hard work has paid off and you are now ready to hit the water as a fully qualified PADI Instructor.

You're well prepared, confident and excited to teach your first students.

You know how to organise and deliver fantastic training with respect for the ocean. You are passionate about ocean protection and will inspire your divers to join your eco-army!

This is not the end of our time together. Nic and the team are always available for support for the rest of your career!

During your PADI Instructor Course, you will make friends for life. If you ever have a question or need advice, we are just a phone call away.

As a graduate of The Fifth Point, you will have access to our ongoing mentoring program. This will help develop your teaching ability even further through continuing professional education.

Take your PADI Instructor Course

PROTECT THE OCEAN

SPECIALIST TEAM

AMAZING FACILITIES

REAL LIFE FOCUS

IMMERSIVE SCHEDULE

SMALL GROUPS

Margot took the PADI Instructor Course

"Nic and the team at The Fifth Point supported me throughout my PADI Instructor Course, the IE and beyond.

They were like my personal cheerleading squad! Choosing The Fifth Point for my IDC was the best decision I ever made."

- Margot

Meet Nic, your PADI Course Director

Nic will be your Course Director and mentor throughout your PADI Instructor Course and a constant source of support during your instructor career.

She's been teaching people how to dive for over a decade and is completely committed to protecting the ocean. As co-founder of The Fifth Point, marine conservation is at the heart of everything we do and her passion is infectious! Nic has been creating an army of eco-conscious PADI Instructors who now work all over the globe, implementing the techniques they've learnt from her.

She's the creator of The Dive Pro Hub - a whole bunch of resources aimed at Divemasters and Instructors to help them become the best Dive Pro they can be.

And it's not just Nic you'll meet.

Nic's created a specialist team around her who are experts in their respective fields. You'll meet this incredible bunch of IDC Staff Instructors during your PADI Instructor Course.

Together, the team can give you help and advice in every area a PADI Instructor needs to master. They'll lead workshops in their specialities and be on hand to answer all the questions you might have. Milk them for all their knowledge so you set yourself up for success as soon as you're qualified.

Laura

Founder of Fit To Dive, Laura is Clinical Psychologist as well as a PADI Master Instructor. She offers amazing insights into how to handle the psychological aspects of scuba diving and teaching.

Jim

Jim is a self-confessed kit nerd and PADI Master Instructor. Channel his wisdom regarding modern diving techniques like using wings, longhoses and even sidemount while teaching.

Helena & Ian

Founders of award-winning Life Saving Training, Helena and Ian are specialists in outdoor first aid training. They'll show you how to teach first aid and make sure you can help anyone in trouble.

Become a PADI Instructor, take your PADI Instructor Course

What's involved in the PADI Instructor Course?

You'll become an amazing eco-conscious PADI Instructor during this unforgettable training course. You’ll receive a customised, immersive 14 day PADI Instructor Course that will set you up for a successful career working all over the world. At the end of your training, you'll head to the 2 day PADI Instructor Exam.

After your program, you'll be well prepared to stand up in front of your first class and confidently deliver their training. You'll know the PADI System of Education inside out and be armed with a whole host of teaching techniques to suit every type of student. You'll be able to teach in a way that minimises impact on underwater habitats and inspires others to use their diving skills to protect the ocean.

This is not your bog-standard PADI Instructor Course. This is a deep dive into everything you need to know to be a fantastic instructor. The program focuses on your success as a Dive Pro and develops you into a well-rounded, employable PADI Instructor.

 

4 week online prep.

You'll use our guided program to revisit knowledge you've learnt throughout your whole diving journey. You'll be able to identify any areas that need a bit more work and the team will be on hand to help during weekly Zoom calls. You'll be up to speed and ready to sail through your PADI Instructor Course. 

 

2 day in water prep.

Before your PADI Instructor Course kicks off, you'll spend some time getting to know your fellow candidates and support team. You'll jump in our training tank, head out for some fun diving and take part in environmental activities so that you're feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to get stuck in. 

 

10 day PADI Instructor Course. 

We'll use the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) curriculum as the framework for your program and we've bolted on extra workshops covering topics that we know you'll love.

You'll be in the water pretty much every day and take part in interactive classroom sessions. You'll learn about the PADI System and delivering training to students.

You'll also prepare various teaching presentations to use in role-play sessions where you'll get the chance to practice as an instructor (and have fun as a "naughty" student!)

By the end of the PADI Instructor Course, you will be itching for your first class of students and ready to find a job!

 

2 day First Aid Instructor Course.

As a PADI Instructor, you need to be able to teach first aid to your students and although it's extremely unlikely to happen, you also need to be prepared to act in situations where things haven't quite gone to plan.

During your First Aid Instructor Course, you'll learn from our friends at Life Saving Training. They are outdoor first aid specialists who will take you through a regulated Emergency First Aid At Work certification. You'll learn first aid skills that you can directly apply to diving, plus pick up valuable teaching techniques that you can use to deliver high-quality first aid courses once you're qualified.  

 

2 day PADI Instructor Exam.

After your PADI Instructor Course, you'll attend an IE where examiners from PADI HQ will come and take a look at you. There's no surprise what happens during this weekend - we can even tell you the order of the day!

Show them how amazing you are, use everything you learned during your training and you'll pass this little exam with your eyes closed. 

Once the PADI Examiner shakes your hand... the world is your oyster! Watch out diving world, we've got another amazing PADI Instructor coming to get you!

Next PADI Instructor Course dates

Megan took the PADI Instructor Course

"This isn't just a course that takes 2 weeks and once you've passed you're left stranded alone and wondering where to start.

This PADI Instructor Course has really set me up to be a confident, enthusiastic and excited instructor.

They're the best team and I really wouldn't want to go anywhere else for my training."

- Megan

FAQs

You'll pay £2,995.00 to us (you might choose to add on some extras, but that's the core price). This includes your online prep, PADI Instructor Course, all the training materials you need, breakfast, lunch, snacks and a few other perks.

You also have to pay some fees to PADI to cover various applications and your place at the exam. This comes to about £980.00. We say about, because PADI do change the prices regularly.

Now then, it's time to address the elephant in the room!

We know that our PADI Instructor Course is probably more expensive than other's you've seen.

There's a few reasons for this.

Firstly, your PADI materials are included. There's a sneaky tactic in the diving industry where centres don't include materials in their PADI Instructor Course packages. This makes them appear cheaper when they're advertised. It's a pretty brutal sting in the tail when you turn up for your IDC and there's at least another £700+ to pay.

Secondly, our PADI Instructor Course is longer than most. It starts with 4 weeks of online prep using our IDC Success pack followed by an immersive 14 day schedule before the 2 day PADI Instructor Exam. This time is spent setting you up for a successful career while the cheaper, shorter options concentrate on making sure you pass an exam.

We believe that it's what happens after the Instructor Exam that's most important. In fact, after day 1 of the program, it'll not be mentioned again! For us, it's not the end goal.

With The Fifth Point, you will develop into an awesome instructor that is ready to hit the water and teach their first students confidently. If you focus on that, you will pass the exam with your eyes closed.

We know that it's a lot of money to invest in yourself, so we made a little article that explains things in more detail and gives you 5 reasons it's worth the extra dosh! Read it here.

This blog post was so popular, it was even made into a video. Watch it on The Dive Pro Hub YouTube Channel!

Why is our PADI Instructor Course so expensive? Watch this video!

 

Choosing where to do your PADI Instructor Course is a big deal.

This training is expensive, and you need to make sure that you're making a good investment in yourself. What you learn during your course will set you up for your future success as a PADI Instructor. You need to make sure you're getting the best training you can.

That's why we urge you to do your research! We hope that we're the perfect match for you, but it might be that The Fifth Point just isn't right.

And it's not just about what's included in the training. You need to make sure that you click with your Course Director and their Staff Instructors. You're going to be spending A LOT of time with them during your PADI Instructor Course, and they will be there to support you throughout your diving career. Find mentors that you get along with.

We wrote a little blog post that will help you choose the perfect dive centre. You can read more here.

 

Our credentials.

We are a PADI 5* Instructor Development Centre which means our team train everyone from beginner divers, all the way up to instructor level.

Nic and Jim (the co-founders of The Fifth Point) have been teaching people to dive for over a decade. They have created a very special team that will help you during your PADI Instructor Course. They're amazing in the water, between them they know nearly everything about diving, but most importantly they're going to make sure that you feel welcome and like you're part of the family.

Our commitment to protecting the ocean.

The ocean is a very special place. It's our playground, our office, our happy place. It's also the world's life support system. Without it, there would be no life on Earth.

Divers witness first-hand the pressures that the ocean face. From the devastating impact of climate change on underwater habitats to the issues caused by marine debris.

As a PADI Instructor, you have the skills to do something about it!

Your actions on land and underwater can directly protect the ocean. You are the ultimate role model to your students. You can inspire them to protect the ocean and then equip them with the skills to do just that. You're joining an army of eco-conscious instructors that are working all over the world using the techniques they learnt at The Fifth Point.

 

To start the PADI Instructor Course, you need to be...

  • A PADI Divemaster or:
    • an instructor member in good standing (renewed or eligible to renew) with another recognized recreational diver training organization.
    • have a leadership-level certification in good standing (renewed or eligible to renew) with another recognized recreational diver training organization;
  • 60 logged dives including
    • documented experience in night diving, deep diving and underwater navigation.
    • you'll need 100 logged dives to attend the Instructor Exam
  • 18 years old
  • Medically cleared attesting to dive fitness signed by a physician within the previous 12 months, and have had no medical condition changes.
  • A Certified diver for at least six months.
  • Trained in EFR Primary and Secondary Care, or other qualifying training, within the last 24 months. Remember that Emergency First Response Instructor (or qualifying rating) is required for Open Water Scuba Instructor certification.
  • Successful in completing the PADI Divemaster course diver rescue skills assessment if you're not already a PADI Divemaster
  • Able to provide documentation of any non-PADI qualifying entry-level, advanced, rescue and leadership level certifications as required.

Your PADI Instructor Course starts with our IDC Success Pack - a 4 week, online guided prep program designed to get you up to speed and ready for your course. You can get a free trial here and take a look around.

Then, we'll see you in person for an immersive 14 day program. Your schedule will be jam-packed full of training. You'll be in the water pretty much every day and taking part in interactive classroom sessions.

You can download a sample schedule here - of course, when it comes to your training it might not look exactly like this, but you'll get the idea.

At the end of your training, you'll attend the 2 day PADI Instructor Exam.

The Fifth Point is not your typical dive centre. We've created a really special learning environment with everything you need to make your PADI Instructor Course awesome!

  • Onsite classroom and training tank
  • Nearby swimming pool for bigger confined sessions
  • Local shore dive sites on our doorstep
  • Kit dunking area, drying room and storage
  • Wood burner stove and snug area to warm up after water sessions
  • Service centre with technician available to help with whatever you need
  • Clean kitchen with fridge, kettle, microwave, toaster and oven
  • Spotless changing rooms and showers
  • Washing machine and tumble drier
  • Free wifi
  • and of course Dive Dogs Haldane and Buoy for cuddles

 

Your PADI Instructor Course prepares you for a career as a PADI Instructor. The Instructor Exam is an evaluation of your awesome skills to make sure you're ready to be set loose on all the baby divers!

It's two days of fun, although you might not feel like it at the time, you'll definitely look back on it as one of the best weekends of your life! We schedule our programs right before an exam so everything is fresh in your mind.

We want to let you know that PADI requires 4 candidates to run an IE (they don't all need to come from the same Instructor Course, there just needs to be 4 in total attending from around the UK). Unfortunately, this means that although we plan our Instructor Courses around their exam calendar, there's no guarantee that there'll be an exam when we're expecting. And that does kinda suck.

The good news is that you can go to any exam you like - they're all over the UK (and the world!).

Nic and the team will be with you at the local exam in Newcastle. If you're thinking about attending an exam somewhere else, we also have a support package available so you can take the team with you. They'll take the stress out of the weekend. You'll get to scope out the places where you'll sit the written exams, go see what the pool looks like and most importantly dive the open water sites. That way you already know the logistics and feel comfortable with where you're diving. You'll be completely relaxed about your IE.

 

We will take care of everything while you're here. We'll hump your kit around, fill your tanks and make sure you're where you need to be at the right time. You've got access to team wheels to get you between sessions and transfer you to and from your accommodation if it's close by. If you're flying in or taking the train, we'll even come and pick you up.

If conditions are perfect, our closest dive site is about 15 minutes away at Collywell Bay. But we might choose to head up the coast a bit if we think the viz might be better. We spend a lot of time diving in Beadnell, it's so beautiful and teeming with life! All our shore sites are nice and shallow with reasonably easy entries and exits. If the weather gods aren't on our side and we can't get in the sea, our nearest inland site is about an hour away. Ellerton Lake is a nice shallow training location with showers and changing facilities, and if you're lucky - even a burger van!

 

Breakfast, lunch and all refreshments are included in your IDC. We can cater for any diet, so please let us know your requirements.

We refuse single-use plastic at every opportunity so we work with caterers and suppliers who share our views!

 

Everything you need for your PADI Instructor Course and First Aid Instructor Course is included. PADI materials, equipment, food and transfers. There are no hidden costs. A full breakdown of prices will be included in our info pack so you can see exactly how much you'll need to pay.

  • On the first day, we're going to throw you a welcome dinner so you can get to know everyone. Once you've become a fully qualified PADI Instructor, we're going to throw you one hell of a party!
  • You'll get access to our IDC Success pack to use during your 4 week prep along with your PADI elearning (which also includes lots of instructor manuals, videos and extra resources).
  • When we see you in person,  you'll get your PADI Instructor Crew Pak (it's got all of the slates you'll need) and your First Aid Instructor Crew Pak (with instructor manuals, students guides and some first aid goodies too).
  • We always recommend that you use your own equipment for your training, but if there's anything you need, we can plug the gaps!
  • We'll provide breakfast, lunch and so many refreshments you'll end up needing less lead when you're diving.
  • You'll have access to team transport to get you between sessions.

There are some fees that will be paid directly to PADI. You need to pay these, there's no getting around it. These include:

  • IDC Application (£192.00)
  • Emergency First Response Instructor Application (£120.00)
  • Specialty Instructor Applications (£44.40 each)
  • Instructor Examination fee (£559.00)

 * Prices are accurate as per PADI's 2022 pricelist but are subject to change. 

Other expenses that are not included:

  • Accommodation - if you need somewhere to stay, please let us know and we can recommend some places nearby
  • Entry to inland sites
  • Evening meals