Idea details
Heritage and History of IDEA Scuba USA
The International Diving Educators Association (IDEA) was originally established in 1952 as part of the Florida Skin Divers Association (FSDA). FSDA is a group of politically active Florida dive clubs. FSDA has been the voice of the diver since 1952.
In the early days, Scuba Instructor training and certification was handled by the FSDA Scuba Training Committee which was also in charge of Standards & Procedures and new diver certifications. As FSDA grew, so did the Scuba Training Committee. By 1976 there were more FSDA instructors outside of Florida than within the state. Florida is home to many military bases and military personnel and with many FSDA Scuba Instructors in the military, the Scuba Training Committee began to grow internationally. As our military members transferred throughout the world, so did FSDA Scuba Instructors. In a short period of time the instructors had also spread to the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, the Antilles and Barbados and South America. It was at this time the committee members decided that the FSDA Scuba Training Committee had outgrown FSDA.
In February of 1976, the membership voted to expand the Scuba Training Committee to an international certification agency. The name was changed and the International Diving Educators Association (IDEA) was formed. A new name, a new logo, and a new direction lead to a new “IDEA.”.
In the year 1979 IDEA was reorganized and incorporated. IDEA made its first international appearance as a member of the Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA) in Las Vegas in 1980. IDEA grew into over 30 foreign countries and across the continental United States. In 1996 IDEA became the fourth largest certification agency worldwide.
In 2022, with retirement looming for longtime agency head David Scoggins, IDEA passed to a new generation of divers. The new leadership is committed to building on the impressive history and heritage, while transforming IDEA to meet the challenges of the new millennium.
IDEA and the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC)
Founding Members of the RSTC
IDEA and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
Steps to Become a professional with IDEA
1
The journey to becoming an IDEA Professional starts with becoming a Divemaster. This is the first step in the professional development process in the scuba industry. Divemaster’s work with certified divers by leading dives, giving tours, and showing off dive sites. They also provide additional safety when instructors are teaching scuba classes. To become a Divemaster you will have to have several certifications and a decent number of dives under your belt. The IDEA Divemaster program will teach you what you need to know in order to be a dive professional.
2
The journey to becoming an IDEA Professional starts with becoming a Divemaster. This is the first step in the professional development process in the scuba industry. Divemaster’s work with certified divers by leading dives, giving tours, and showing off dive sites. They also provide additional safety when instructors are teaching scuba classes. To become a Divemaster you will have to have several certifications and a decent number of dives under your belt. The IDEA Divemaster program will teach you what you need to know in order to be a dive professional.
Beyond Instructor
But wait, there’s more. Yes, there are ratings beyond Instructor. Yes, we have the courses. No, you don’t have to worry about that now. We have already worried about that for you. Once you are an instructor you will know all you need to know about how to train your students