FAQ: GoPRO

·       Can help out the day-by-day dive operations during my GO PRO PACKAGE?

    YES The main reason you are choosing to start your career with PADI is no doubt because, like us, you love diving and we expect you to dive, help out the dive operation and learn as much as you can throughout your GO PRO PACKAGE / MSDT INTERNSHIP.

·       ACCOMMODATION during my GO PRO PACKAGE?

WE will advise you according to your needs and preferences. We have the option to offer you an accommodation in the apartment of our staff, find a hotel, a room or an apartment.

·       How long will my GO PRO PACKAGE/IDC take?

The whole IDC program takes 16 days, which includes the Emergency First Response and Care for Children Instructor courses, a review of your Open Water Course diving skills and a review preparation to upgrade your Divemaster dive theory knowledge to the level required to pass the IE.

This is longer than other IDCs but ensures that the days are short and relaxed, giving you plenty of time to prepare your own presentations or go diving, go surfing/kite-surfing or just relax in our lovely beaches. After you have completed the IDC you will attend the PADI I.E, which is normally spread over 2 days.

·       How big will my IDC class be?

We are always aiming at giving our candidates the best possible experience and that includes small groups of usually maximum EIGHT candidates per Course Director, which ensures you get the personal service you are paying for.

·       Will I pass my IE?

We are so confident you will pass your IE after completing one of our IDCs that we will NOT charge you for attending the necessary elements of a second IDC in the unlikely event you are unsuccessful.
In this case, accommodation, transportation, visas, diving and food will be for your expenses. PADI will charge you to re-sit I.E. segments.

·       Can I take Specialty Instructor Training Courses after my IDC/IE?

YES, we strongly recommend it !!! Being able to teach specialty courses gives you the chance to pursue your own interests and definitely makes you more employable. We offer wide range of specialties, including the popular Deep, Night, Search and Recovery, Drift diver, Multilevel, Emergency Oxygen Provider and Wreck diver.

The PADI Specialties Sidemount diver, Enriched Air diver and Dive Propulsion Vehicle diver have different prices and extra costs and are taught on demand. Our Master SCUBA Diver Trainer Preparation Program is designed to be totally flexible and run alongside your OPTIONAL two to six week internship and includes the chance to earn your first student certifications. MSDT Preparation includes FIVE PADI Specialty Instructor Training Courses and their appropriate dives (among Deep, Night, Search and Recovery, Drift diver, Multilevel, Emergency Oxygen Provider and Wreck diver).
You can apply to PADI to become a MSDT Instructor once you have attained 25 student certifications at any level.
The main benefit to you as a PADI Instructor is that you can vary your work from teaching “main-spine” courses and programs and learn more teaching commissions. Specialty Diver certifications are essential if you intend to become a DSAT Tec Deep / TEC Sidemount Instructor or PADI Master Instructor/Course Director. Many employers insist on MSDT as a minimum rating in order to be considered for a job position. If taught by a PADI Course Director, you may begin certifying specialty divers immediately after paying to PADI the Specialty Instructor processing fees and receive the authorization from your PADI office, rather than waiting until you have certified 25 divers first.
ADI application fees are also MUCH cheaper if you attend specialty courses with a PADI Course Director.
Additionally, only 10 logged specialty dives are required per rating, rather than 20. Please see our IDC PLATINUM package
Once you pass the IE you will be qualified to teach all core PADI courses (e.g. Discover SCUBA Diving, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver and Divemaster) as well as the following specialties: Peak Performance Buoyancy, Project AWARE and AWARE Coral Reef Conservation. These three specialties do not count towards the five required for MSDT.

·       Can I team teach with experienced instructors at LANZAROTE NON STOP DIVERS after my IDC to get experience?

Yes! We offer all our Platinum package candidates a free UP to six weeks internship and for Gold package candidates a free two week internship where you can teach alongside our experienced instructors gaining further valuable real world teaching tips (with the chance to earn your first certifications).
How much does it cost?
We offer 4 different IDC packages to suit most candidate’s needs:
IDC e-Learning Package
IDC e-Learning Gold Package
IDC e-Learning Platinum Package
I would strongly advise you to exercise caution when comparing prices from different Instructor Development Centers. Be absolutely sure what is and is not included and please be aware that quality rarely comes cheaply!

·       Which Dive Equipment will i need during the IDC?:

Complete SCUBA Equipment plus PADI requires you to have the following additional equipment: pocket mask; snorkel; whistle; compass; dive knife; Surface Marker Buoy; and timing device with seconds displayed as some skills are precisely 30 or 60 seconds (a dive computer is OK only if one can see seconds in dive mode or if dive mode can be disabled, otherwise a cheap waterproof watch is fine). You may wish to bring your own dive lights as night dives are available.

·       How do I get to Lanzarote Island?

It’s really easy! Lanzarote is one of the main touristic island of the Canaryan Archipelago and has an international airport (ACE). We can arrange private transfers from the airport to Playa Blanca, if you wish (15 euros p/ person)

·       What else I should know?

Medical Clearance You will need to have a current, unqualified medical certificate completed and signed by an independent doctor, confirming they find no conditions they consider incompatible with diving. I would strongly recommend that you obtain this before you come and e-mail it to me for verification. Please find attached the current version of the preferred format in English.

We are happy to send you this in another language if you wish. It must be completed no more than 12 months prior to the final day of your IE or PADI will not allow you to participate in the water sessions.

·        What are the prerequisite certifications?:

I should be grateful if you would please e-mail me copies of both sides of all your non-PADI certifications as this is required by PADI to process your applications. Please also let me have your full name and date of birth so I may verify any PADI qualifications online. For your Instructor Applications, I need you send me copies of:

·       Open Water or equivalent (must be at least six months’ old);

·       Advanced Diver or equivalent;

·       Rescue or equivalent

·       Primary Care (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation—CPR) & Secondary Care (First Aid) valid within 24 months;

·       Leadership level – Divemaster;

·       Medical statement valid for 12 months and signed by physician (can not be the candidate).

·       Dive Theory Exams

The IE has a Dive Theory Exams segment. The entire curriculum for this used to be covered on the Divemaster course. However, this has been slimmed down relatively recently and no longer suffices. My preferred resource for you to prepare with before your arrival is PADI’s Diving Knowledge Workbook, which is shipped with the PADI Instructor Crew-pack. This contains a chapter for each topic, being Physics, Physiology, Equipment, Skills & the Environment and Decompression Theory & the PADI Recreational Dive Planner (RDP). Each chapter consists of questions with worked answers. PADI’s Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving is excellent to dip into for further information and is shipped with the PADI Divemaster Crew-pack. You must possess an original RDP table and electronic multilevel eRDPml, together with both Instructions for Use booklets, which again contain worked examples.

If you have a learning disability and have a letter documenting this from your doctor (or psychologist), then you will be allowed 50% extra time to complete your written exams.

Please note that, apart from our pre-IDC preparation days, dive theory is NOT taught as part of the PADI IDC – though it’s thoroughly reviewed. If you took the new curriculum or maybe it was a long time since you took the old Divemaster course, we can give you some tips and suggestions to enable you to study and get your theory in shape before the IDC. Just let me know. I offer you support online by skype or e-mail on demand at pre agreed time between us.

·       General informations

Please bring some passport photos with you (no hat, dark glasses or SCUBA mask and not underwater).

You will need a LAPTOP computer, amongst other things, to read digital versions of the PADI Instructor Manual and PADI’s Guide to Teaching, which are necessary for the PADI Systems, Standards and Procedures Examination, one of your IE segments. From experience, I wouldn’t recommend a tablet!

Please send me a copy/proof of a log book page documenting you have done at least 100 dives as this is also a prerequisite.

Another great tip is starting your studies well in advance. I strongly advise you DIVE THEORY online (question on purchasing, just contact me), The Enciclopedia Of Recreational Diving along with The Diving Knowledge workbook AND remake all OLD Divemaster Course (prior 2009) exams.

·       When is the best season to come to Lanzarote?

Diving in Lanzarote means discovering a uniquely diverse mix of tropical and Mediterranean marine life.
You may find shoals of fish in open water or sheltering in coral covered undercuts in volcanic walls alongside lazily hovering in and around local wrecks.
Lanzarote is a location designed to bring fascinating experiences and discoveries to all tourists and watersports lovers. It is a peaceful Island with a “No Stress” atmosphere and friendly people. It’s location is relatively close to EU with reasonable offers and costs to fly over here. There is also opportunity to enjoy beauties of each island of the Archipelago as well as enjoying other outdoor activities like surfing, kite-surfing, fishing, trekking and snorkeling. We Must also mention it’s a “winter free” Island.
There is no heavy rainy season in Lanzarote and we therefore dive all year round in most of the islands. During the winter we observe angel sharks all year round, but the winter season is when they are most often seen occasionally manta rays, sting rays, eel morays, and large shoals of fish are year round attractions.
During Summer the baby shark angelfish, large shoals of fish .

The underwater world of Lanzarote also offers caves (lava tunnels), deep volcanic walls and some ship wrecks and tremendous abundance and variety of marine life. While you’re here, why not become a PADI Speciality Instructor? Please see our website schedule setting out our IDC dates for 2021.