Digital Underwater Photographer Instructor

Underwater photography is one of the most popular ways for divers to extend their passion beyond the dive itself, and the Digital Underwater Photographer Instructor course equips PADI professionals to teach it properly. Rather than simply picking up a camera and hoping for the best, students learn composition, lighting, and camera handling underwater in a structured way, and this course trains instructors to pass that knowledge on with confidence.

The course covers how to teach, promote, and deliver the Digital Underwater Photographer specialty, giving instructors the tools to run engaging sessions that help divers come home with images worth sharing. To enrol in specialty instructor training you will typically need to be a PADI Assistant Instructor, an instructor candidate currently in training, or a PADI Divemaster. There is also a direct application route for those who have already certified at least 25 divers and logged a minimum of 20 dives within the specialty area, recognising real-world experience alongside formal training paths.

Beyond the technical content, this specialty is a genuinely useful addition to an instructor's toolkit. It appeals to a wide range of certified divers, from beginners with a compact camera to more experienced photographers looking to refine their technique, and it tends to be a strong draw for repeat visits at a dive centre.

Adding this specialty also moves instructors a step closer to Master Scuba Diver Trainer status, which is awarded after earning at least five PADI Specialty Instructor certifications. For instructors building a broad and marketable teaching portfolio, it is a natural course to add early on.