The PADI Elite Instructor Award program is designed to recognize Instructors who reach annual certification milestones and as a PADI Instructor, you have the opportunity to distinguish yourself by earning this coveted award. Achieving “Elite Instructor” status highlights your proficiency and provides a notable distinction to showcase to student divers, potential customers, prospective employers, and fellow PADI Professionals. In addition to recognition, successful participants will receive an “Elite Instructor” e-badge and digital certificate to further display their accomplishments.
Make this the year you earn the PADI Elite Instructor Award!
Program Summary
PADI Instructors who issue 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 qualifying certifications in a calendar year and have no verified Quality Management violations within 12 months of the date will be presented and recognized with the Elite Instructor Award.
Qualifying certifications: (Certifications issued by the instructor will be included in their tally)
Qualifying student diver certifications include Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver™, junior diver certifications, and all student diver specialties, including distinctive specialties, will be weighted on a one-to-one basis.
Qualifying professional ratings include Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IDC Staff Instructor, Emergency First Response Instructor, and all Specialty Instructor and Distinctive Specialty Instructor courses (weighted one-to-one).
Qualifying Freediver certifications will be weighted on a one-to-one basis and include Basic Freediver, Freediver, Advanced Freediver, Master Freediver, and Freediver Instructor.
Qualifying Mermaid certifications will be weighted on a one-to-one basis and include Basic Mermaid, Mermaid, Advanced Mermaid, Basic Mermaid Instructor, and Mermaid Instructor.
Emergency First Response® course completions, ReActivate®, Discover Scuba® Diving, Bubblemaker, Seal Team, Master Seal Team registrations, and Skin Diver (Advanced Snorkeler) certifications will be weighed on a five-to-one basis. For example, five Discover Scuba Diving certifications will be weighted the same as one Open Water Diver certification.
Referrals will be weighted on a two-to-one basis.
Additional Information
PADI Instructors achieving “Elite” status will receive an e-badge to include in emails, websites, blogs, and social media pages. All award recipients will also receive a digital certificate recognizing them for issuing 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 or more certifications in that given year.
PADI Pros with a rating of Freediver Instructor, Mermaid Instructor, EFR Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor, or above will automatically be included in the program, and their productivity will be tallied by PADI.
Certifications issued from 1 January through 31 December qualify for the award program. All certifications must be processed by 15 January the following year.
The Elite Instructor Award qualifying certifications are tallied on an annual basis, and the winners will be notified during the first quarter of the following year.
Must be renewed for the following year in order to receive the certificate and eBadge.
Instructors associated with a PADI Dive Center or Resort may authorize the business to display their Elite Instructor Award on the business’s digital site pages.
