Science of Diving

SSI's specialized Diver Stress and Rescue program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to recognize stress, how to prevent accidents, and learn practical techniques for performing rescue procedures and providing emergency assistance. Through a combination of pool and open water training, you will be well prepared and confident in dealing with emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

This globally recognized training program is the best way to start your lifelong adventure as a certified diver. One-on-one instruction is combined with in-water training, giving you the skills and experience needed to feel truly comfortable underwater. Upon completion of the course, you will be certified as an SSI Open Water Diver.

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins and reduce your surface intervals between dives - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you'll learn new skills and expand your diving knowledge while learning to safely plan and execute dives with an air mixture enriched with up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

As a deep diver, you have the unique opportunity to discover some of the world's best dive sites and most sought-after underwater lifeIn the SSI Deep Diving specialty, you'll learn everything you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters through instruction and free dives. There is so much waiting for you in the dark blue water. In a balanced combination of theoretical lessons and open water dives, you'll learn everything you need to dive between 18 and 40 meters in SSI's Deep Diving Specialization. You will learn how to plan, safely complete your deep diving adventures, use dive computer calculations and plan your gas consumption to maximize your dives. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore the most beautiful deep dive sites anywhere you want. This SSI specialty is also a prerequisite for other advanced training programs, making it the next logical step in your diving education.

Dive longer, explore more remote locations, and discover new opportunities with an underwater scooter. With SSI's Scooter Diver / DPV specialization, you'll make the most of your time underwater, have more fun and reach more remote locations at your favorite sites. In this course, you will learn how to safely plan and execute dives using an underwater scooter.

The SSI Decompression Diving Specialty will teach you how to conduct dives beyond the no-decompression limits. You will learn to plan and conduct dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters with limited decompression using your recreational full-diving system and a single decompression tank. You’ll learn and practice how to effectively use your dive computer’s features, including gas switching, gas integration, time to reserve, and time to surface. Using these dive computer functions will become second nature to you and will allow you to safely conduct limited-decompression dives without spending hours planning each dive. Upon completion, you’ll earn your SSI Decompression Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore amazing deep dive sites or larger wrecks without being restricted by traditional no-decompression limits. The possibilities for expanding your diving adventures have just gotten even wider!

With the SSI Science of Diving specialty, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of the underwater world and its impact on the human body. This specialty is a prerequisite for most SSI professional programs as well as for some Extended Range programs, and it is an essential step in expanding your diving knowledge. You can earn your SSI Science of Diving specialty certification from home and prepare to launch your professional diving career—all available online. Upon completion, you’ll be halfway to earning the prestigious SSI Divemaster certification and will receive your SSI Science of Diving specialty certification.

As a drysuit diver, you can dive in cold waters year-round in warmth and comfort. Only diving in a drysuit gives you access to unique underwater landscapes in cold waters, such as glaciers in the remote Arctic or fascinating places that, despite the cold, are teeming with life. Dry suits are also great for making multiple dives a day, since a dry suit diver doesn’t have to take off a cold, wet wetsuit after each dive but can simply keep the dry suit on. The best way to become a dry suit diver is through the SSI Dry Suit Diver Specialty program. Here, you’ll gain the necessary knowledge and learn all the skills for safe and comfortable diving in a dry suit. This includes handling specialized equipment as well as procedures for dealing with complex situations and problems involving dry suits. At the end of the course, you’ll earn the SSI Dry Suit Diving Specialty certification.