WHY DO I NEED TO APPLY TO DO MY STAFF INSTRUCTOR COURSE WITH THE FIFTH POINT?
I know... it's weird, right?
If you're reading this, chances are you've been researching where to do your PADI Staff Instructor Course and I bet we're the only dive centre that's asked you to fill in an application to do so.
Who the hell do we think we are?!
I promise you, there's two VERY good reasons we ask you to fill in a short application and it benefits you just as much as us.
It helps you make sure that The Fifth Point is the best place to take your training, and it helps us make sure you'll slot perfectly into our Instructor Development team during your time with us.
In this article, I'm going to expand on that a little bit more. If you want to know exactly what happens on the Staff Instructor Course, check out this blog too "Everything you need to know about the PADI Staff Instructor Course".
APPLYING HELPS YOU BECAUSE...
You're about to splash out yet another chunk of cash to invest in your development as a PADI dive pro, make sure you're getting bang for your buck.
If you literally just want the ticket to be able to teach your own AIs and sit in on IDCs, our Staff Instructor Course probably isn't the best fit for you.
However, if you want to do that AND improve your own teaching then you might be onto a good thing with The Fifth Point.
You can see exactly what's included in your Staff Instructor Course with us here, but rest assured we go much deeper into the psychology of teaching divers than a bog-standard SI program. If you approach our training with an open mind, you will excel as a diving educator at every level you teach.
You need to make sure that you find the perfect Course Director and dive centre.
I've been very lucky to have been mentored by some awesome Instructors throughout my diving career. The one thing I've noticed is that I get the best results from my training when I really "click" with someone. When we share the same values and beliefs, we're already on the same page and it makes learning easy peasy. It's like I turn into a sponge, just absorbing everything - spoken and unspoken.
When I feel comfortable with a mentor, I can ask questions openly without worrying if I'll be judged for asking something stupid. I can talk candidly and be myself. This is the way I learn best, I like to question everything!
To get the most out of your Staff Instructor Course, you need to find that same click with your Course Director.
There's a good chance you've already found it with your previous mentors. You'll already know each other really well, plus they'll probably give you a nice little discount on your Staff Instructor Course! However, one of my favourite things is to work with as many different dive pros as I can - it gives you a different perspective and you'll learn new techniques. Don't be afraid to widen your circles of friends in the diving industry!
Once you've completed your application, I'll be in touch to arrange a video chat (or a cuppa at the dive centre if you're local!) You'll be able to bombard me with all the questions you have and put me through your own interview process to make sure I'm the right person for you.
APPLYING HELPS US BECAUSE...
We do things differently at The Fifth Point. You might be surprised at our approach to Instructor Development Courses compared to your own and others that you've experienced previously.
- Our IDCs are longer than most (14 days with 4 weeks of guided online prep beforehand)
- There's no death by powerpoint
- We ban any mention of the IE after the first day
- We don't talk about scores
- We apply everything we discuss to real-life teaching
- We create a psychologically safe space for people to question anything they like, make mistakes and learn from them
- We are committed to protecting the ocean so equip our instructor candidates with the skills to teach in an environmentally responsible way and encourage their students to get involved in conservation
You will become an active member of our Instructor Development team and you'll staff a real IDC. It's really important that I have dive pros around me that are singing from the same hymn sheet.
During your Staff Instructor Course, it's all about you. You'll have my undivided attention.
Once you've completed those 3 days, and you're staffing the IDC, it's all about our instructor candidates. I have to make sure that they are getting the best experience possible, and that means ensuring my team are completely aligned.
You'll be taking part in discussions, scoring candidates and giving feedback. You can imagine the friction if we start contradicting each other.
I'll be completely honest here - I will pull rank if there's any kind of disagreement in approach or scoring that I think is detrimental to the success of our candidates. I want you to be an asset to the Instructor Development team, not someone who has to be carefully managed to ensure the overall success of the IDC.
That's why I need to make sure that we're a good fit for each other.
When everyone is pulling in the same direction, it's a dream for our IDC candidates.
READY TO APPLY FOR YOUR STAFF INSTRUCTOR COURSE?
Get that application filled in! It should only take about 15 mins - especially if you have all the details to hand.
Looking forward to meeting you!