Become a certified PADI instructor.
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is an intensive, 16-day program designed to elevate you from a confident diver to a capable, professional instructor. Our course focuses on developing not only your dive theory knowledge, but also your watermanship, rescue readiness, and leadership skills to a professional standard.
South Coast Diving Co is a PADI 5 Star Dive Operator based in Margate, just minutes from the legendary Protea Banks — widely regarded as one of the top shark diving destinations in the world. As the only IDC provider in the area, with the nearest alternative based in Sodwana Bay, we offer a truly unique and locally unmatched environment for professional dive training.
Our location gives instructor candidates the opportunity to train in a dynamic, real-world marine environment, where every dive helps build not only skill, but also confidence, adaptability, and professional awareness. Training here goes far beyond simply meeting course requirements — it is about developing into a capable, resilient, and well-rounded dive professional.
What also sets us apart is the convenience and comfort we offer throughout your training journey. For those who need accommodation, we have a dedicated on-site guesthouse available as an optional add-on, allowing you to stay close to the dive centre, minimise stress, and fully focus on your course experience.
The PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) is the final step toward becoming a certified dive instructor. It’s a 16-day program made up of two parts: Assistant Instructor (AI) & Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). Most candidates complete both components together before attending the Instructor Examination – a globally standardised, two-day evaluation that qualifies you to become an instructor.
Training takes place in both pool and ocean settings, with access to the dynamic conditions of Protea Banks adding real-world depth to your experience. Water skills development, swim assessments, and stamina sessions are integrated throughout the course to ensure you meet – and exceed – PADI’s professional standards.
Led by one of the very few female PADI Course Directors, our dive skill workshops focus on refining your demonstration quality, problem-solving ability, and teaching techniques, ensuring you are fully prepared for the PADI Instructor Examination and your future career in the dive industry.
*If you’re not yet an Emergency First Response instructor, you can earn this rating during your IDC.
**If you’re already an instructor with another training agency, you may be eligible to enrol directly into the OWSI programme, recognising your prior teaching experience.
Stand out as a highly skilled, in-demand dive professional giving you the ability to confidently teach a range of different specialty courses and work with a wider variety of students.
The PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) rating is one of the most respected milestones for newly certified instructors. It shows that you have gone beyond the basics of teaching entry-level diving and are qualified to offer a broader range of specialty courses, helping you become a more confident, experienced, and employable dive professional.
The PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) rating is a professional-level achievement awarded to PADI Instructors who have demonstrated both teaching experience and the ability to conduct multiple PADI Specialty Instructor courses.
It is not a single standalone course, but rather a development pathway that builds on your Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) certification. The MSDT rating is designed to make you a more rounded instructor by increasing your teaching capabilities, broadening your skill set, and preparing you to work with a wider range of students and diver interests.
Becoming an MSDT is often one of the first major steps in building a successful and long-term career in the dive industry.
What the combo includes:
**Subject to IDC and MSDT requirments
