Upgrade from Assistant Instructor to PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
Delivered by Ed Bosworth – Professional Diver Training
In partnership with Go2Similan Diving, Khao Lak
AI → OWSI Upgrade (Assistant Instructor to Open Water Scuba Instructor)
If you’re already a PADI Assistant Instructor (AI), this focused upgrade bridges you from Assistant Instructor to Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) — the final step to becoming a full PADI Instructor.
You’ll join the second half of the Instructor Development Course (the PADI Instructor Development Course) and train to PADI’s current PADI Standards and assessment style, so you walk into the PADI Instructor Examination (also called the Instructor Exam) calm, prepared, and ready to teach. PADI
Delivered in Khao Lak with Course Director Ed Bosworth, in partnership with Go2Similan Diving — with access to professional training environments and supportive local dive centers.
Pricing
To match your IDC structure and industry standards:
AI → OWSI Upgrade – 28,000 THB
(Includes full OWSI training, workshops and IE preparation)
Includes:
• All classroom teaching workshops
• Confined and open water evaluations
• Classroom presentations
• Rescue skills review
• Mock exam sessions
• Lunch during IDC days
• Access to digital study materials
Excludes:
• PADI Instructor Exam (IE) fees
• PADI OWSI application fees
• IDC crewpack (if not already purchased)
• Accommodation (shared accommodation options available)
What “AI” means here (and what it doesn’t)
On this page, AI course means PADI Assistant Instructor course — not artificial intelligence. The PADI Assistant Instructor course is the first half of the IDC; this upgrade is the second half. If you searched for “AI course” because you thought it meant artificial intelligence, you’re not alone — in diving, AI is Assistant Instructor, and this is the AI course upgrade to OWSI. PADI
That said, modern dive operations do use technology. Many dive centers now use virtual assistants, virtual assistants powered by natural language processing, and other tools to manage enquiries, bookings, and Marketing Diving campaigns. That tech doesn’t replace real dive experience, but it can help you present your dive experience clearly to employers. You may even see underwater drones used for site checks, mapping, or content creation. None of that replaces strong teaching fundamentals — but it can help you become a more employable dive professional.
Why upgrade to Open Water Instructor?
As an Open Water Instructor (often written as Open Water Instructor or Open Water Scuba Instructor program graduate), you can teach the full range of core training:
- Open Water Diver (including open water dives)
- Advanced Open Water
- Rescue Diver
- Divemaster courses (for candidates progressing from PADI Divemaster and other pathways)
- Many PADI Specialty courses once you hold the appropriate instructor ratings (more on this below)
This is the upgrade that turns an assistant into a fully independent instructor — a “full PADI Instructor” in the PADI System. PADI
You’ll also practice how to brief and conduct PADI Discover Scuba Diving and other entry-level experiences, because an instructor’s real-world dive experience often includes guiding, supervision, and risk assessment beyond simple training dives.
What you’ll learn (built around the IE)
This upgrade is structured around real diver education outcomes and the performance requirements you’ll be assessed on at the PADI Instructor Examination.
Knowledge Development and dive theory
You’ll refine your Knowledge Development teaching presentations and tighten your command of Dive Theory — including diving knowledge, dive physics, physiology, equipment, and RDP/DSD considerations. If you’re using dive theory online resources (or any other dive theory online platform), we’ll show you how to turn that knowledge into clear teaching.
Recommended resources:
- Diving Knowledge Workbook
- Scuba Tune-up guidebook
- Relevant PADI materials and the PADI eLearning program / eLearning course options (where applicable)
Confined water teaching and skills
You’ll polish demonstration-quality skills, student control, and coaching methods for confined water dives and confined water skills — then learn how to evaluate, remediate, and keep things safe while staying within PADI standards and procedures.
Open water teaching and safety protocols
You’ll plan, brief, conduct, and debrief open water dives using solid safety protocols, robust dive safety systems, and strong Diver Safety habits.
Because dive conditions change day to day, we train you to adapt your teaching to real dive conditions (current, surge, visibility) while maintaining consistent dive safety. The goal is not just to “pass the IE” — it’s to build repeatable habits that keep students safe across different dive conditions and throughout your working dive experience.
You’ll also refine dive planning, manage real-world variables, and build confidence leading groups.
Confined and Open Water lesson prep
You’ll get practical templates for Confined and Open Water lesson prep, including slate work, timing, positioning, and student problem-solving.
Professional toolkit
- Candidate mindset and teamwork for dive professionals
- Using Instructor cue cards effectively
- Working within modern dive operations and dive centers — and understanding what different dive centers expect from new instructors
- Managing dive equipment, basic troubleshooting, and professionalism
- Using a clean dive log and building a realistic dive itinerary
Course structure (Khao Lak)
- Orientation & evidence-based coaching
We assess your current strengths and gaps using Evidence-based assessments and repeat Evidence-based assessments during workshops so training time is spent where it matters. - Join the second half of the PADI IDC
You complete the OWSI portion of the PADI IDC: classroom, confined water, and open water teaching — aligned to the Open Water Scuba Instructor program requirements. PADI - IE preparation workshops
Mock exams, presentation polish, and scenario practice to standardise your performance before the Instructor Exam. - PADI Instructor Examination
You attend the next available PADI Instructor Examination in Thailand.
We assess your current strengths and gaps using Evidence-based assessments and repeat Evidence-based assessments during workshops so training time is spent where it matters.
You complete the OWSI portion of the PADI IDC: classroom, confined water, and open water teaching — aligned to the Open Water Scuba Instructor program requirements. PADI
Mock exams, presentation polish, and scenario practice to standardise your performance before the Instructor Exam.
You attend the next available PADI Instructor Examination in Thailand.
Prerequisites (and the paperwork)
To enrol you’ll typically need:
- Current PADI Assistant Instructor rating (or equivalent)
- Minimum age 18
- A completed PADI Medical Form / Medical Statement (as required) and a current medical where applicable
- Completion of relevant IDC components and materials (e.g., IDC eLearning if used)
- Proof of experience and training status as required by PADI Standards
Pro Diving Careers and employability
This upgrade is designed for Pro Diving Careers in the modern dive industry — where hiring managers look for strong teaching, clear communication, and plenty of documented dive experience.
Add-on certifications that boost employability
Most employers prefer instructors who can teach more than just core courses. Common add-ons include:
Emergency First Response Instructor
Add Emergency First Response Instructor to your CV. It’s built around CPR and first aid training, First Aid training, and EFR modules such as EFR Primary & Secondary Care (also written as EFR Primary and Secondary Care). Many candidates also want an EFR Certification refresh before instructor-level training.
Specialty Instructor Guides and conservation
Build toward Master Scuba Diver Trainer by adding specialities using the relevant Specialty Instructor Guides and PADI Specialty Diver manuals. Popular options include:
- Peak Performance Buoyancy
- Coral Reef Conservation through PADI AWARE PADI
- AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty Instructor pros-blog.padi.com
These can be a strong fit for the Thailand market. If you also teach kids programs like Seal Team AquaMissions, conservation messaging and buoyancy control become even more important.
Training location and real-world context
All training and upgrades are based and delivered in Khao Lak, Thailand. Khao Lak is a long-established instructor training location, offering calm training conditions, reliable logistics, and a professional dive centre environment suitable for focused development rather than resort-style “experience” diving.
The course is taught within a real working dive operation, allowing candidates to develop skills in conditions that reflect how instructor training and dive operations actually run. This includes realistic scheduling, student management, and operational expectations, rather than simulated or idealised scenarios.
Alongside the technical and instructional components of the upgrade, we provide practical guidance on instructor progression, including:
-
How instructors typically build experience after qualification
-
Understanding the difference between training, assisting, and paid instructional work
-
What employers usually look for when reviewing CVs from newly qualified instructors
-
How to develop teaching confidence and consistency within a single training environment
The emphasis is on preparing you for real-world instructor work, without promoting alternative training locations or suggesting further courses elsewhere. The focus remains on developing competence, professionalism, and realistic expectations within the dive industry.
Standards, safety, and professional responsibility
Your job as an instructor is to deliver consistent training, not to improvise. You’ll learn how to apply PADI Standards in real scenarios, including equipment issues, student anxiety, and environmental conditions.
We also touch on:
- Recognising product labels and a safety warning label mindset (especially relevant when purchasing consumables and rental items)
- Environmental considerations such as reef-safe products — and why some countries use regulatory frameworks like the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment chemical list (Prop 65) as a consumer information tool. OEHHA
What’s included
- Classroom and workshop sessions
- Confined water and open water teaching evaluations
- IE prep (mock exams, presentation coaching, skills circuits)
- Ongoing mentoring from a PADI Course Director
- Guidance on the PADI Course Catalog and the pathway to MSDT
FAQ Section – PADI AI → OWSI Upgrade Course
Who can join the PADI AI → OWSI Upgrade Course?
This course is specifically designed for certified PADI Assistant Instructors who want to upgrade their qualification to become a fully certified PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI). If your AI rating is current and you’re medically fit to dive, you can enroll.
How long does the OWSI upgrade take?
Most candidates complete the training portion in 6–8 days, plus the scheduled PADI Instructor Examination.
Do I need to redo parts of the IDC?
No. As a PADI Assistant Instructor, you join the OWSI section of the PADI IDC. PADI
Where does the training take place?
Training is delivered in Khao Lak, Thailand, in both classroom and open-water environments with real student divers, giving you strong hands-on teaching experience.
Who teaches the upgrade course?
Training is led by PADI Course Director Ed Bosworth, with direct coaching throughout classroom workshops, confined water sessions, and open-water assessments.
Will this certification allow me to work as a scuba instructor worldwide?
Yes. Once you pass the IE you qualify as an Open Water Scuba Instructor and can work globally as a PADI Instructor (subject to local requirements, insurance, and work permits).
Which materials should I bring?
Why Upgrade with Ed Bosworth?
• Highly experienced educator with strong technical and pro-level background
• Clear, supportive teaching style tailored to each candidate
• Excellent preparation and success record for the Instructor Exam
• Real-world teaching techniques relevant to modern dive centres
• Based in Khao Lak, close to the Similan Islands with ideal training conditions
• Low-stress, confidence-building training environment with small groups
Ready to Become a PADI Instructor?
If you’re an Assistant Instructor who wants to become an Open Water Scuba Instructor, this is the fastest, most direct route to a full PADI Instructor rating — while still getting the coaching, workshops, and IE prep you need to pass confidently.
Contact us to book your AI → OWSI Upgrade.