PADI Instructor Course in Cozumel: Our Nov 15 IDC Dates, Costs and Requirements

If you're a Divemaster and you've been wondering when to make the jump to instructor, here's a date to circle.

Cozumel Dive Academy, the training division of Dive Boutique Cozumel, starts its next PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) on Sunday, Nov 15, 2026. This post covers the dates, the real costs and what you need before you show up. If you're still deciding whether Cozumel is the right place, read why do your PADI IDC in Cozumel first.

The dates

IDC: Sunday, Nov 15 to Saturday, Nov 28, 2026 (14 days)
PADI Instructor Examination: Nov 30 to Dec 2, 2026

The IDC is the training. The Instructor Examination is a separate step, with its own PADI fee, where you officially qualify.

Who can join

The IDC has real prerequisites. Check these off before you book:

At least 18 years old
PADI Divemaster certification, or a qualifying leadership-level certification from another recognized training organization
Certified diver for at least six months
At least 60 logged dives to start, and at least 100 before the Instructor Examination
CPR and first aid training within the past 24 months
A physician-signed medical statement from the past 12 months
A diver rescue skills assessment, if you're not already a PADI Divemaster
Personal dive accident insurance, such as DAN

One more thing to know. You need an Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) rating, or a qualifying CPR and first aid instructor equivalent, before you can be certified as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. If you don't have one, we offer the EFRI course as an add-on.

What it costs

Here are the course fees you pay us:

IDC only: $1,800
IDC plus EFRI: $2,300
IDC plus EFRI plus MSDT Prep: $2,900

MSDT Prep is five Specialty Instructor courses toward the Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating. It's optional.

PADI fees are paid directly to PADI, not to us:

Instructor Examination: $825
IDC and Instructor application: $235
EFR Instructor application: $152
Specialty Instructor application: $96 per specialty

A quick example. IDC plus EFRI is $2,300 in course fees, plus $825, $235 and $152 in PADI fees. That comes to $3,512 before travel, lodging and meals.

IDC only works out to $2,860 the same way ($1,800 plus $825 and $235).

Your accommodations, travel, meals and personal expenses are not included. You arrange those yourself.

What's included in the IDC fee

PADI Digital IDC Crewpak and IDC eLearning
Classroom, confined-water and open-water training
Teaching presentation coaching and a PADI Standards and Procedures review
Risk management, dive theory review and Instructor Examination preparation
Direct mentorship from your Course Director
Scheduled Cozumel fun dives, planned around the IDC calendar, ocean conditions and boat availability
Transportation on scheduled training days

Who teaches it

Your Course Director is Phillip Hetherington, a PADI Course Director with 30 years of teaching experience.

What if you don't pass the exam?

If you complete the IDC with us and don't pass the Instructor Examination, you can attend another IDC with us at no additional course cost. That's a real safety net for a demanding course.

How to reserve your spot

Contact Phillip to review your certifications, logged dives, EFRI status, schedule and goals.
We confirm your prerequisites and dates, and help you plan any EFRI or MSDT Prep training.
A $600 deposit reserves your place once the plan is confirmed.

Good to know before you pay: course payments are non-refundable once the IDC has started. If you need to change dates before the program begins, we'll make reasonable efforts to apply eligible payments to a future course, subject to availability and costs we've already incurred. PADI digital materials are non-refundable once assigned or redeemed.

We haven't posted a daily schedule online, so ask Phillip what a typical day looks like when you reach out.

Ready to talk?

Read the full details on the PADI Instructor Development Course in Cozumel page, then email phillip@cozumeldiveacademy.com with your questions. For general inquiries you can reach us at info@diveboutiquecozumel.com, 1-800-543-6974 (US and Canada), or WhatsApp at +1-346-757-3783.

Source: Dive Boutique Cozumel, PADI Instructor Development Course page