Dive Instructor Development Course (IDC) Consultancy

1. INTRODUCTION

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an award-winning, independent think tank working to accelerate solutions for a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies. Our work inspires better decisions and sparks meaningful action to help people and the planet thrive. We shine a light on what can be achieved when governments, businesses, non-profits, and communities come together. IISD’s staff of more than 200 people come from across the globe and from many disciplines. With offices in Winnipeg, Geneva, Ottawa, and Toronto, our work affects lives in more than 100 countries.

The Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative seeks to promote natural solutions to strengthening climate resilience and protecting biodiversity in and around protected areas and critical landscapes in the Global South. The initiative’s intervention sites cover marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems and landscapes in Belize, Fiji, and the Greater Virunga and Kavango-Zambezi landscapes. The CAPA Initiative is jointly implemented with the World Wildlife Fund, WWF Africa, and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Fiji and Belize programs.

WCS Belize is an international non-governmental organization committed to working with communities, the government, and other partners to safeguard Belize’s biodiversity and natural resources through integrated land and seascape management, underpinned by applied research. The WCS has long been at the forefront of marine conservation in Belize, boasting a 30-year history of providing technical and scientific support.  In 2021, under the Maya Forest Corridor Trust, WCS also began the management of 30,000 acres of land entrusted for the benefit of the government and people of Belize to protect and conserve its natural ecosystems and wildlife

2.    ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND

Single-source income communities, such as fishing communities, are heavily reliant on natural resources, and their ecosystem services have high exposure and sensitivity to climate variations, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Through a participatory approach, WCS is working with key fishing communities utilizing the Glovers Reef Marine Reserve (GRMR) and the South Water Caye Marine Reserve (SWCMR) to strengthen their adaptive capacity to climate change by engaging them in viable and sustainable livelihood options. An extensive consultative process with stakeholder communities who utilize both GRMR and SWCMR highlighted coastal tourism, particularly tour guide training, as a significant area of interest. The objective is to enhance fisherfolk's economic resilience to the current and future impacts of climate change by providing skills training as part of supplementary livelihood initiatives.

To further this goal, IISD and WCS is seeking to contract a Belize Tourism Board (BTB)-licensed tour operator and Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)-certified dive centre to develop and conduct an open-water dive instructor agency to design and conduct a training program that will certify seven (7) individuals as dive instructors. The program is intended to provide individuals with essential skills and knowledge needed to conduct safe and effective dive training programs, ensuring they are capable of training future dive masters. This capacity-building effort will play a critical role in boosting the communities by developing dive tourism, enhancing livelihood opportunities and eco-tourism practices

3.    SCOPE OF WORK

As the Dive Agency, your primary responsibilities are as follows:

•    Prepare an inception report, including a detailed implementation plan and work plan to be reviewed and approved by IISD and WCS.
•    Develop a training curriculum for the dive IDC based on PADI internationally recognized standards to be reviewed and approved by IISD and WCS. This may include but is not limited to PADI standards and procedures, learning, instruction and the PADI system, conservation and environmental awareness, risk management and diver safety, the business of diving, role as an instructor, and marketing diving and sales counselling.
•    Conduct a 2-week dive class IDC in Belize in the classroom and in open-water environments, to provide a well-rounded and hands-on learning experience. This may include but is not limited to PADI standards and procedures, learning, instruction, and the PADI system, conservation and environmental awareness, risk management and diver safety, the business of diving, role as an instructor, and marketing diving and sales counselling.
•    Provide all materials and equipment to conduct the training at the identified locations. This may include but is not limited to dive gear suitable for the training program; educational materials, such as dive manuals, training resources, and visual aids; safety equipment, including first aid kits, emergency oxygen, and other necessary dive training tools.
•    Organize or facilitate CPR/first aid training for all participants.
•    Ensure the program incorporates all necessary safety protocols, including emergency procedures, diving gear handling, and risk management.
•    Conduct PADI training assessments to evaluate the trainees' theoretical understanding and practical diving skills to ensure they meet the certification standards.
•    Upon successful completion of the program, provide certification of successful trainees under the IDC as recognized by PADI. 
•    Present final technical report to WCS. The final technical report must include lessons learned and recommendations for future engagement of this kind.

4.    DELIVERABLES

The Dive Agency will undertake the following, to be submitted to IISD in hard copies:

Deliverable 1: Inception Report
•    Inception report with detailed workplan, timelines, budget, and implementation of training in consultation with IISD and WCS.

Deliverable 2: Engagement materials and participant training on PADI standards and procedures, 
learning, instruction, and the PADI system:
•    Conservation and environmental awareness 
•    Risk management and diver safety counselling

Deliverable 3: Final Technical Report 
•    Detailed review of the work done, the outcomes achieved, and any recommendations or future steps.

The Consultant will be contracted by IISD and will work closely with WCS Belize.

5.    QUALIFICATIONS 

The Consultant should possess the following qualifications: 

Qualifications (Essential) 
•    BTB-licensed tour operator and PADI-certified dive centre
•    Professional proficiency in English (Garifuna and Spanish spoken would be an asset)

Knowledge and Experience (Essential) 
•    Minimum of 5 years of experience in successfully developing and executing IDC for a range of participants.
•    Experience in training groups of individuals with varying levels of dive experience to become qualified diving instructors.
•    Demonstrated success in certifying trainees as qualified instructors, with evidence of previous cohorts successfully completing certification.
•    Trainers must be familiar with Belize’s marine conservation regulations and policies governing dive tourism in the country. This includes understanding dive industry licensing, safety regulations, and environmental protection laws.

Skills (Essential) 
•    Demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of partners and stakeholders and to mediate and resolve complex issues that involve multiple actors and/or interest areas.
•    Demonstrated ability to deliver engaging and effective instructional content, both in classroom settings and in-water environments. Trainers should be skilled in adapting teaching methods to meet diverse learning styles and varying levels of experience.
•    While English is the primary language in Belize, proficiency in Creole/Garifuna would be highly beneficial for communicating with trainees from diverse backgrounds and ensuring clarity and understanding in training sessions.

Behavioural Competencies (Essential) 
•    Sensitive to multicultural working environment.
•    The trainers must have the flexibility to adjust their communication style based on the linguistic and educational needs of the trainees.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Belize.

The documents should be submitted through Bamboo HR. The deadline for submission is April 16, 2025.

6.    OTHER INFORMATION

Location: Belize

Term: Short-term contractor

Duration of assignment: 1 month
 
Start date: April 28, 2025
All submissions must be in English. 

How To Apply

To apply for this consultancy, please send:

• CV


• Cover letter (with technical proposal and budget included along)
  

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file

for 1 year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQ+, to apply for the position. 

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