PADI Instructor Development Course & Exam - March 2009

Aquanauts' March 2009 IDC students and staff. From left, Rick Renzi, Course Director Roger Smith, Ryan Phipps, Master Instructor Gary Tytler, Corey Baker, IDC Staff Instructor David Schwiering and Steven Cormack.

They all arrived at Aquanauts nearly seven months ago without a dive certification. On March 22, Corey Baker, Steven Cormack, Ryan Phipps and Rick Renzi became PADI Dive Instructors.

The two Americans and two Brits exceled in their Instructor Exams. When they returned triumphant after their open water testing, they were joking that one student was a "failure" because he got the lowest score -- a 4.8 out of 5.0. The stellar March 2009 class now gives Aquanauts a perfect I.E. pass rate for the past 21 months.

The March Instructor Development Course also saw American David Schwiering, who became an instructor through the Aquanauts program in 2007, come back and do his IDC Staff course.

In addition to Dave, the IDC was staffed by Course Director Roger Smith, Master Instructor Gary Tytler and IDC Staff Instructor Sally Rathbone. Below are photos from the Instructor Exam's open water session.

Aquanauts and Mermaid's Dive Center IE candidates in the group briefing as PADI Instructor Examiner Thomas Knedlik grades the presentation.

The four Aquanauts IE candidates hit the water and get ready for Rescue Diver exercises.

Rick Renzi as the rescuer.

Now it's Steven Cormack's turn.

All four Aquanauts interns pass their IE with flying colors and are congratulated by Knedlik.

Instructor Gallery

Click a year and month below to see photos and stories of previous Aquanauts interns on their PADI Instructor Exam and IDCs.