The INTERNATIONAL DIVING EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION (IDEA) was originally
established in 1952 as part of the FSDA -Florida Skin Divers Association (laterchaI1ged to Florida Scuba Divers Association). IDEA is proud of its past affiliation with FSDA and has been the voice of the diver since its establishment.
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. Such places include Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, the Antilles and Barbados.
 It was at this time the conunittee 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 1979 IDEA was reorganized and incorporated IDEA made itsfirst Internationalappearance as a member of the Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association) in LasVegas in 1980. During the last few years IDEA has growntremendously and isrepresented in over 30 foreign countries and all the continental United States.