Train directly with PADI Course Director Phillip Hetherington through a focused Instructor Development Course designed for Divemasters ready to take the next step as dive professionals.

Sugar Land Dive Center offers a clear professional training pathway in the Greater Houston area. Start with the PADI Instructor Development Course, then add Emergency First Response Instructor or MSDT Prep training if it aligns with your goals, credentials, and future teaching plans.

IDC Course Fee: $1,600
EFR Instructor: $550, available separately
MSDT Prep / Five Specialty Instructor Courses: $600, available separately

PADI fees are paid directly to PADI and are not included in SLDC course fees.

Contact Phillip to discuss your IDC training plan.

IDC At a Glance

Course: PADI Instructor Development Course
Location: Sugar Land, Texas — serving Houston, Katy, Pearland, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Galveston, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, and surrounding areas
Course Fee: $1,600
Includes: PADI Digital IDC Crewpak, IDC eLearning, classroom training, confined water training, open water training, teaching presentation coaching, standards review, dive theory review, and IE preparation
Course Director: Phillip Hetherington, PADI Course Director and owner of Sugar Land Dive Center
Format: Scheduled IDC programs and IDC on Demand
EFR Instructor: Available separately for $550
MSDT Prep: Available separately for candidates who want to add Specialty Instructor ratings
PADI Fees: Paid directly to PADI and not included in SLDC course fees

Train Directly With an Experienced PADI Course Director

Your IDC is more than a course. It is your transition from Divemaster to Instructor, mentor, problem solver, and dive professional.

At Sugar Land Dive Center, IDC candidates train directly with Phillip Hetherington, a PADI Course Director and the owner of Sugar Land Dive Center. You receive direct coaching throughout your preparation, classroom training, confined-water workshops, open-water teaching presentations, standards review, and Instructor Examination preparation.

This direct Course Director mentorship is one of the strongest reasons to complete your IDC with Sugar Land Dive Center. You are not simply joining a large program; you are working directly with the person responsible for your development as a future instructor.

Become a PADI Instructor Without Leaving the Houston Area

Many Houston-area Divemasters believe they need to travel several hours to complete a PADI Instructor Development Course. Sugar Land Dive Center gives you a local path to becoming a PADI Instructor while training in a professional, supportive environment close to home.

Training locally can help reduce travel time, hotel costs, meals, and time away from work or family. Our IDC is accessible to divers from Sugar Land, Houston, Katy, Pearland, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Galveston, The Woodlands, Clear Lake, and surrounding communities.

Example Training Paths

Here are common training combinations candidates may choose, depending on their current credentials, EFR Instructor status, and professional goals.
 

The IDC is the required instructor development program for candidates preparing for the PADI Instructor Examination. Candidates must also meet all PADI prerequisites before certification as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor, including holding an Emergency First Response Instructor rating or a qualifying CPR/first aid instructor equivalent.

What’s Included in the IDC Course Fee

Your PADI Instructor Development Course includes:

PADI Digital IDC Crewpak
IDC eLearning
Classroom training
Confined water training
Open water training
Teaching presentation coaching
PADI Standards and Procedures review
Risk management discussion
Dive theory review
Instructor Examination preparation
Direct Course Director mentorship

The IDC is designed to prepare you not only to pass the PADI Instructor Examination, but to begin teaching as a capable, confident, and professional PADI Instructor.

Optional Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) Training

Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) training is available separately for candidates who need or want to add the EFR Instructor rating.

EFR Instructor Course Fee: $500

EFR Instructor course includes:

EFR Instructor eLearning
EFRI Digital Instructor Start-Up Pak
Instructor-level CPR and first aid training
Teaching practice and coaching
Authorization training for EFR Primary Care, Secondary Care, CPR/AED, and Care for Children

Not included: EFR Instructor application fee, payable directly to PADI/Emergency First Response.

Optional MSDT Prep and Specialty Instructor Training

For new instructors who want to expand their teaching credentials, Sugar Land Dive Center offers MSDT Prep and Specialty Instructor training.

MSDT Prep / Five Specialty Instructor Courses: $600

This training is designed for candidates who want to add Specialty Instructor ratings and continue toward the PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating.

Available specialty options may include:

Deep Diver
Wreck Diver
Enriched Air Nitrox
Drift Diver
Delayed Surface Marker Buoy
Night Diver
Search and Recovery
Underwater Navigator
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Boat Diver
Other specialties by request and instructor eligibility

PADI Specialty Instructor application fees are not included and are paid directly to PADI.

PADI Fees

PADI fees are not included in SLDC course fees and are paid directly to PADI at the appropriate time.

Current fees shown for planning purposes include:

PADI Instructor Examination Fee: $825
PADI IDC / Instructor Application Fee: $235
EFR Instructor Application Fee: $152
Specialty Instructor Application Fee: $96 per specialty applied for

PADI fees are subject to change. Candidates should confirm current PADI fees before enrollment and before attending the Instructor Examination.

IDC Prerequisites

To enroll in the PADI IDC, candidates must:

Be at least 18 years old
Be certified as a PADI Divemaster or hold a qualifying leadership-level certification with another recognized recreational diver training organization
Have been a certified diver for at least six months
Have at least 60 logged dives to begin the IDC
Have at least 100 logged dives before attending the PADI Instructor Examination.
Have current CPR and first aid training within the past 24 months
Have a medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months
Complete a diver rescue skills assessment if not certified as a PADI Divemaster
Have personal dive accident insurance, such as DAN

Candidates must be Emergency First Response Instructors or hold a qualifying CPR/first aid instructor rating before certification as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. EFR Instructor training may be completed as part of your instructor training pathway.

Scheduled IDC and IDC on Demand

Sugar Land Dive Center offers both scheduled IDC programs and IDC on Demand options.

Scheduled IDC

Scheduled IDC programs are designed for candidates who prefer a clear training timeline aligned with a PADI Instructor Examination. This format helps candidates move through preparation, workshops, teaching presentations, and IE preparation on a structured schedule.

IDC on Demand

IDC on Demand is designed for candidates who need a more flexible schedule. We can help you begin the IDC eLearning and preparation process and schedule your in-person training for the next appropriate PADI Instructor Examination.

This option works well for busy professionals, working Divemasters, college students, and candidates balancing training with work or family commitments.

Why Choose Sugar Land Dive Center for Your IDC?

Sugar Land Dive Center provides a professional, locally accessible IDC experience for Houston-area instructor candidates.

Candidates choose Sugar Land Dive Center because of:

Direct Course Director mentorship
A focused instructor development program
Clear pricing and training options
Indoor heated pool access for confined water training
Realistic teaching practice
Standards, risk management, and dive theory review
Local Houston-area training
Support before, during, and after the IDC
A family-operated dive center environment

Our goal is to help you become more than an instructor candidate who can pass the IE. Our goal is to help you become a confident, capable, and professional PADI Instructor.

Our Commitment to IDC Candidates

When you complete your IDC with Sugar Land Dive Center, we are committed to helping you prepare for the PADI Instructor Examination. If you do not pass the IE after completing your IDC with us, you may return and participate in another IDC at no additional SLDC course fee.

PADI fees, travel expenses, lake fees, and third-party fees are not included.

Prefer a Destination IDC Experience?

Prefer a destination instructor Development Course? Sugar Land Dive Center also offers the PADI IDC in Cozumel with Cozumel Dive Academy, the training division of Dive Boutique Cozumel.

Candidates may choose the Houston IDC or Cozumel IDC based on schedule, location, and preferred training environment.

Ready to Become a PADI Instructor?

The first step is a conversation. Contact Phillip at Sugar Land Dive Center to review your current certifications, logged dives, EFR status, schedule, and professional goals.

We will help you determine the right training path and prepare for your next step as a PADI dive professional.