The INTERNATIONAL DIVING EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION (IDEA) was originally established in 1952 as part of the FSDA - Florida Skin Divers Association (later changed to Florida Scuba Divers Association). FSDA was and still is a large group of politically active dive clubs. FSDA has been the voice of the diver since 1952. IDEA is proud of its past affiliation with FSDA.

Instructor training and certification was handled by FSDA Scuba Training Committee. Many new instructors were from out-of-state or had moved out of the state. The committee was spreading throughout the continental U.S. By 1978 there were more FSDA instructors outside the state than there were within. We had also spread to the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, the Antilles and Barbados. It was at this time the committee members decided that the FSDA Scuba Training Committee had outgrown FSDA. A new name, a new logo and a new direction was forthcoming. A new "IDEA" was born.

In February of 1978, the membership voted to expand the Scuba Training Committee to an international certification agency, based upon the same principles as the original committee. The International Diving Educators Association (IDEA) was officially formed.

In 1979 IDEA was reorganized and incorporated IDEA made its first International appearance as a member of the Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association) in Las Vegas in 1980. During the last few years IDEA has grown tremendously and is represented in over 30 foreign countries and all the continental United States. In 1987 the majority of certification agencies agreed to form a not-for-profit corporation known as the Recreational Scuba Training Council RSTC). The RSTC has one purpose for existing - to allow member associations a vehicle for developing standards and to monitor quality control for the mutual benefit of the recreational diving industry and the general public.

RSTC member agencies train over 85% of the divers certified worldwide. Member agencies of the RSTC are IDEA, NASDS, PADI, PDIC, and SSI.

IDEA offers a complete continuing education program, beginning with skin diver through instructor Trainer. A variety of specialty courses are also available for both students and instructors. IDEA is the first certification agency to include Rescue Diver certification in the Instructor Training Course programs. IDEA is a progressive organization and recognizes the expertise of other certification agencies and will not discriminate against any agency dedicated to safe and modern scuba training. IDEA offers affiliated member- ship to instructors from other approved agencies. Any interested instructors may contact IDEA headquarters for further information on crossovers.

IDEA scuba course standards are based on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Revised Instructional Standards Minimum Course Content for Entry-Level Scuba Certification as approved on September 1, 1986