Instructor Internship

Becoming a scuba instructor is one of those brilliantly surreal moments in life where you move from learning how to teach to suddenly being expected to actually teach real humans who will follow you underwater. It’s a bit like learning to drive in an empty car park—and then being handed the keys to a double-decker bus at rush hour.

You’ve got the qualification.
You’ve passed the exams.
And then someone says, “Right. Off you go—your students are waiting!”

And that’s when you realise the giant gap between knowing and doing.
That’s where the Big Blue Instructor Internship Program steps in.

Why Do an Instructor Internship? Because Training ≠ Real Teaching

Whether you became an SSI Instructor here on Koh Tao or completed your ITC elsewhere, the truth is universal: nothing builds confidence like teaching real courses with real students under the wing of an experienced mentor.

New instructors often describe their first “official” teaching day as mildly terrifying—equal parts excitement and “please don’t let me forget how to tie a bowline.” So instead of sending you straight out into the world with a polite pat on the back and a “Good luck!”, we bring you into the heart of Big Blue and ease you into teaching through a structured, hands-on Instructor Internship.

Because just like Divemasters, instructors with experience are the instructors who get hired.

What You’ll Actually Do as an Instructor Intern

As an Instructor Intern, you’ll work closely alongside your dedicated Instructor Mentor. You won’t just follow them—you’ll shadow, observe, contribute, and gradually take over the teaching role in a natural, confidence-building progression.

Your Internship Journey

You’ll take part in:

• Complete involvement in course briefings and debriefings

• Observation of how real-world teaching unfolds

• Hands-on experience evaluating students in confined & open water

• Teaching selected skills and academic sections

• Leading dives and conducting parts of full courses

• Building your own teaching rhythm, style, and confidence

We start you slow—shallow-water skills, small teaching segments—and increase your responsibility organically. Before long, you’re teaching full courses with your mentor as backup, and then eventually teaching solo.

You know… like a real instructor.

What You’ll Earn During the Internship

During the 2-week program, you’ll gain around 20 real student certifications, typically including:

• 3 × SSI Open Water Diver Courses

• 2 × SSI Advanced Adventurer Courses

• 1 × SSI Stress & Rescue Course

• 1 × SSI Basic Diver Course

• Plus any SSI Specialties you’re qualified to teach and available during your internship

This is exactly the kind of experience that makes new instructors employable, confident, and competent.

Duration & Schedule

The Instructor Internship spans 2 intensive, rewarding weeks, during which you will:

1. Passively assist & observe

   • Watch your mentor run Open Water and Advanced Adventurer courses

   • Learn how to structure briefings, manage groups, pace lessons, and troubleshoot student issues

2. Begin active teaching

   • Deliver shallow-water skills

   • Lead dives

   • Teach academic segments

   • Assist in evaluating students

3. Take the reins

   • Run course sections independently with mentor support

   • Gain experience on Basic Diver and Stress & Rescue training

By the end of the internship, you’ll have taught real classes, issued real certifications, and gained the real-world experience that transforms an “instructor on paper” into a fully capable SSI Open Water Instructor.

Entry Requirements

To join the Instructor Internship, you must already be:

• A certified SSI Open Water Instructor

• Equipped with your own full set of dive gear

• Covered by personal & professional liability insurance

• Current with CPR/First Aid (within 2 years)

• Certified as an O2 Provider

• Medically fit to dive (a valid diving medical may be required)

If you’re unsure about fitness, we can guide you through the medical questionnaire.

Don’t Forget: No Flying After Diving!

Because of nitrogen absorption during diving, you must wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying.

Are You Fit to Dive?

Scuba diving requires reasonable health and physical fitness.
If you answer yes to any questions on the medical questionnaire, you may need clearance from a diving physician before enrolling.

We’re happy to help you figure this out—just contact us.

In Summary: Experience Is What Makes an Instructor Employable

Anyone can complete an Instructor Training Course.
But not everyone becomes a confident, independent, competent scuba instructor straight away.

The Big Blue Instructor Internship gives you:

• Real teaching experience

• Real certifications

• Real confidence

• Real employability

By the time you’re finished, you won’t just be an Instructor—you’ll be a ready instructor.
One who knows how to teach, how to manage a class, how to adjust to different student needs, and how to deliver training safely and professionally.

It’s the perfect bridge between “I passed the exam” and “I’m ready to teach.”