What is a PADI Examiner?
You will come across PADI Examiners at PADI Instructor Examinations or PADI IEs. A PADI Examiners main function is to facilitate the IE by providing the candidates with a an optimally conducive environment for evaluation, sometimes directing the activities of support personnel too. Their main goal is to fairly and objectively evaluate the teaching ability, knowledge, watermanship, skills and attitude of instructor candidates and judge whether or not they are ready to become PADI Instructors.
A PADI Examiner is not a certification above Course Director, it is a Job Title, they are employees of PADI.
PADI Examiners Requirements
If you want to become a PADI Examiner, you will first need to be employed by PADI. And at the minimum, you will need to be an experienced PADI Course Director and as a bonus, speak more than one language.
All PADI Examiner wannabes will need to undergo 2 weeks of training, which includes theory and practicals, with PADI worldwide followed by staff 3 IEs under the supervision of an experienced examiner.
To keep current, all PADI Examiners are required to meet every six months or more for updates, evaluation training and further training. Also, there is and International yearly meeting, usually held pre-DEMA, which Examiners will need to attend.
There are currently 93 Examiners worldwide and every PADI Office has Examiners on staff to cover their region, so usually the same examiners will be seen in one area. However once in a while, they will be assigned to IEs outside their region if necessary.