Scubility and
Instructor Training
Teaching Diving without limitation
Teaching scuba diving instructor courses from SDI, the inclusive way.
NEW for 2026
Scubility Instructor Development Course.
A new kind of instructor, trained inclusively from the start.
Unlock your potential
Scubility Instructor Development Course.
A new kind of instructor, trained inclusively from the start.
“For the first time, instructor candidates can complete their Scuba Instructor certification, Scubility Dive Buddy and Scubility Instructor training as a single, integrated pathway.”
01
Q: Is this an extra course?
No. Scubility is integrated into the IDC as a structured pathway.
02
Q: Is this approved?
Yes. The Integrated Scubility Instructor Pathway is delivered with approval from the SDI Training Department.
03
Q: Is this harder than a normal IDC?
No. The focus is on awareness, adaptability, and instructional approach, not additional performance pressure.
04
Q: Do I need prior experience working with divers with disabilities?
No. The Integrated Scubility Instructor Pathway is designed to build awareness, confidence, and instructional flexibility.
You are trained to
teach inclusively, not expected to arrive as a specialist.
05
Q: Why include Scubility during the IDC instead of later?
Because inclusive teaching works best when it is learned
at the same time as core instructional skills.
Integrating Scubility during the IDC ensures adaptive thinking becomes part of how you teach — not an afterthought.
06
Q: Will this limit where I can work as an instructor?
No. Your SDI Instructor qualification remains unchanged and globally recognized.
Scubility expands your professional skill set; it does not restrict your teaching scope.
07
Q: Is this suitable for new instructors or only experienced ones?
It is specifically designed for new instructors.
Embedding Scubility principles during instructor development creates stronger, more confident professionals from day one.
08
Q: What about experienced instructors?
For the experienced instructor, the Scubilty program consisting of the Surface/Dive Buddy programs and the Scubility instructor upgrade is specifically designed to enhance the experience already gained.
Scubility
Scubility as a program was first developed in 2003 by Rob Read in conjunction with SDI and has been used to teach divers with disabilities for over 20 years.
The SDI rational of streamlining and innovation was the perfect platform for the Scubility program, an industry first, it integrated adaptive techniques into the established training standards and made scuba diver training fully inclusive.
Rob is an SDI Instructor Trainer (#IT 6576) and has been a scuba diving professional for nearly 30 years. His experience includes SDI Instructor Trainer with over 30 specialist teaching qualifications, TDI and PADI Master Instructor qualifications are also on the CV.
Rob has owned and managed dive centres both in the UK and Egypt, with the emphasis on making diving accessible to those with disabilities.
Having developed the Scubility program, Rob was the first ever certified Scubility Instructor Trainer in 2006 and has continued to teach inclusivity in diving ever since.
. If you are interested in becoming a scubility instructor as a compliment to your current scuba instructor level, you are in the right place.
The Scubility Program
The Scubility program consists of three elements, The Surface Buddy, The Dive Buddy and the Instructor Upgrade.
Scubility Surface/Dive Buddy
The Scubility Surface Buddy program teaches family, friends, and dive professionals how to assist above water and on the surface with an impaired diver by understanding the difficulties encountered and learning the techniques to become an efficient surface assistant.
The Scubility Dive Buddy program adds to the skills acquired during the surface buddy program with the techniques used to assist during the underwater portion of the dive.
The dive buddy program is also perfect for those who wish to learn the techniques of dealing with impaired divers but do not want to progress to instructor level.
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18 (16 with parental consent). SB/DB
- Demonstrate comfort and adequate swimming skills SB
- Current CPR and First Aid certification DB
- Rescue diver certification OR Advanced Adventure diver with 40 logged dives. DB
SB = Surface Buddy
DB = Dive Buddy
Scubility Instructor
The Scubility Instructor Upgrade Programme is for those students who have successfully completed the SDI Scubility Dive Buddy programme and have also completed a recognised scuba diving instructor certification course.
The new Scubility instructor needs only to be updated on the training aspects of teaching divers with medical conditions and physical disabilities.
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18
- SDI Scubility Dive Buddy certification
- Current CPR and First Aid certification
- Current SDI Open Water Scuba Diving Instructor
The Dive Buddy System: Minimising Risk, Enhancing Enjoyment
The Dive Buddy (DB) system was developed to provide a structured supervision framework that allows participation in scuba diving when standard SDI scuba certification pathways are not applicable, while maintaining appropriate safety and oversight.
DB1: All of the performance requirements have been met; the diver has demonstrated the ability to perform self-rescue and can provide equal assistance to his/her buddy should it become necessary. This diver can dive with any other certified diver.
DB2: All of the performance requirements have been met, and the diver has demonstrated the ability to perform self-rescue but is not able to provide assistance to his/her buddy should it become necessary. This diver must dive with two (2) adult-certified divers, one of whom must be a qualified SDI Rescue Diver or equivalent.
DB3: The physical performance requirements have been met and the diver has demonstrated the ability to safely use scuba in an open water environment, but the diver does not have the ability to perform self-rescue or provide assistance to his/her buddy should it become necessary. This diver must dive with two (2) adult-certified divers, one of whom must be a qualified SDI Dive Buddy or equivalent.
The Scubility Course Options:
The Scubility Program has the following teaching opportunities for instructors once they have qualified:
- Scubility Snorkel Diver Course
- Scubility Scuba Discovery Program
- Scubility Surface Buddy Program
- Scubility Open Water Diver Course
- Scubility Inactive Diver Program
Refresher Course
- Scubility Advanced Adventure Diver
- Scubility Advanced Diver Development Program
- Scubility Dive Buddy Program
- Scubility Instructor Upgrade Program
- Scubility Indoor Diver Program
Bring Scubility Training to Your Dive Center
Scubility is available as a Scubility 2U program, delivered directly at dive centers, resorts, and training facilities.
Training instructors where they actually teach ensures immediate relevance, stronger confidence, and smoother integration into daily operations.
The host center supplies facilities such as classrooms, pools, and standard equipment.
We provide the specialized Scubility knowledge, instructional methodology, and hands-on experience.
Interested in hosting a Scubility 2U program?
Contact us to explore how we can tailor the training to your location.
Sydney 2010:
Australia's first Scubility Instructor course.
Surface Buddy is assisting with kitting up a disabled diver.
"I can honestly say that after completing the Scubility course with Rob in 2006, my life has never been the same since."
Anita Knochner, Bayern, Germany.
