As of March 2009, all new PADI Instructors must be current Emergency First Response
Surface Interval - Vol. 4 No. 1
New Open Water Scuba Instructor Requirement
As of March 2009, all new PADI Instructors must also be current Emergency First Response Instructors or hold another current first aid and CPR instructor credential. Although first aid and CPR provider-level training is currently required, the new requirement stipulates that new instructors have instructor-level CPR and first aid skills.
Not only will PADI Instructors be better prepared to respond to emergencies, but they'll also be better able to offer all-inclusive PADI Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses. Additionally, this gives PADI Instructors another marketable skill - one that they can use to diversify their course offerings outside the dive industry.