Independent Diving

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Do you have a passion to save the ocean and the marine animals that call it their home? Does the thought of diving with whales fascinate you? Do you want to learn more about the ecology, biology, and conservation of marine mammals? The SSI Marine Mammal Ecology program introduces you to the wonders of these amazing creatures. Dive into the world of whales, dolphins, and seals to explore this amazingly diverse group of marine animals. In this program, you will learn what makes marine mammals distinct from land mammals, discover where they live, explore their physiology, and how to identify various species. You will also learn about marine mammal conservation - a great way to help save the ocean. What are you waiting for? Start your SSI Marine Mammal Ecology training online today!

Drysuit diving opens up a world of opportunities, including diving remote Arctic destinations and exploring cold-water dive sites teeming with life. Dry suit diving also keeps you warm on multi-dive days when you do not want to spend your time getting in and out of a cold wetsuit. The SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty program is the best way to become a dry suit diver and teaches you all the knowledge and techniques you need to dive safely and comfortably in a dry suit. You will learn how to use specialized equipment, like dry suits and BCs, the benefits of dry suits and how to deal with dry suit emergencies – which are unique to this type of diving. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty certification.

Sea turtles are some of the most wonderful animals to dive with. You will want to dive with them even more after completing the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty program! This specialty program provides the skills and concepts you need to recognize and identify common sea turtle species. It teaches you about the fascinating history of sea turtles, their role in marine ecosystems and threats to their survival. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty certification.

In the SSI Shark Ecology program, you will learn how to interpret shark behaviours, why they are often misunderstood and how dive with sharks. This is a perfect course for shark fans and for divers who are nervous about sharks but want to overcome their fear. Upon completion of this program, you will earn your SSI Shark Ecology Specialty certification and no doubt become an avid shark diver. Start today!

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

Choosing and buying your dive equipment is one of the biggest and most important investments you will make as a diver, but it is easy to get it a bit wrong. We want you to choose the right dive kit for your needs and know how to look after it properly. With the right knowledge, you can get the most from your investment and enjoy safe and comfortable dives for years to come. The SSI Equipment Techniques specialty is the best way to learn how to choose and store your dive kit. Working with an experienced and trained SSI Professional, you will learn in-depth information about the components of your Total Diving System and develop a thorough understanding of your diving equipment. You will also practice basic preventative dive equipment maintenance to ensure you get maximum performance and longevity from your Total Diving System. Start this dive equipment specialty today!

The SSI Extended Range Foundations (Discover Technical Diving) program provides you with a workshop environment to improve your skills to a high level using Extended Range Total Diving Systems and procedures. All training dives are completed in a confined water environment at depths less than 12 meters / 40 feet. The intent of the SSI Extended Range Foundations program is to provide divers with a workshop environment to improve their skills to a high level using Extended Range Total Diving Systems and procedures. The XR Foundations program is designed to improve your buoyancy, trim and propulsion techniques and give a stable platform from which to improve all of your diving. The emphasis on in-water training in the Foundations course results in measurable improvements. This course will get you ready for limited decompression in the Extended Range Nitrox Course.

Learn how to use your new Full Face Mask and add another Certification towards Master Diver

The SSI Extended Range Nitrox Diving program (Tec 40) provides divers with the training necessary to independently plan and conduct limited decompression dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters/130 feet, using Nitrox mixtures of up to 50% and recreational or Extended Range Total Diving Systems and procedures with an equally-qualifed dive buddy. Prerequisites: Certification Prerequisites: Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox 40% certification Have logged at least 24 dives. Open Water Dives: 2 days Maximum Training Depth: 40m/130' All dives must be completed using one of the following configurations: A complete recreational Total Diving System, appropriate for single gas switch, non-accelerated decompression diving. One stage cylinder and stage regulator, oxygen cleaned as required. A complete recreational Sidemount Total Diving System, appropriate for single gas switch, non-accelerated decompression diving. One stage cylinder and stage regulator, oxygen cleaned as required. This course includes: Classroom sessions: You must complete an Extended Range Nitrox Diving final exam with a passing score of 80% and be able to independently plan a full dive plan using the Extended Range Dive Planning sheet. Gear configuration sessions Confined water sessions The first 2 open water training dives must be conducted at depths no deeper than 30m/100'. The 3rd/4th training dives must be conducted at depths between 30m/100' and 40m/130'. One dive must be to minimum of 35m/115' for certification.

Correctly mixing gasses is essential to being able to breathe safely underwater. The SSI Gas Blender program teaches you the skills and concepts required to safely blend nitrox and helium-based trimix gases. This non-diving program is open to certified and uncertified divers and teaches proper usage of mathematics, gas blending software, physics, and techniques required to blend breathing gases safely. Upon completing this program, you will earn either the SSI Nitrox Gas Blender or SSI Trimix Gas Blender certification. Get started online today!

The SSI Extended Range Course (Tec 45) provides divers with the training necessary to independently plan and conduct limited decompression dives to a maximum depth of 45 meters/150 feet, using decompression mixtures of up to 100% oxygen and specialized diving equipment and procedures, for a maximum accumulated decompression time of 25 minutes, with an equally-qualified dive buddy. Alternatively, the course can be completed using Trimix. (Additional Fees Apply for the Trimix gas) This program provides divers with the training necessary to: • Independently plan and conduct decompression dives, • In a Twinset or Extended Range Sidemount Total Diving System, • To a maximum depth of 45m/150 feet, • Using decompression gas mixtures up to 100% oxygen, • For a maximum accumulated decompression time of 25 minutes, • With an equally- or more-qualified dive buddy. Prerequisites: Certification Prerequisites: Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox 40% certification Have logged at least 50 dives or be certified in Extended Range Nitrox Diving. Open Water Dives: 3 days Maximum Training Depth: 45 meters/ 150' All dives must be completed using one of the following configurations: A complete Twinset Total Diving System, appropriate for a single gas switch, accelerated decompression diving. One stage cylinder and stage regulator, oxygen cleaned as required or, A complete Extended Range Sidemount Total Diving System, appropriate for a single gas switch, accelerated decompression diving. One stage cylinder and stage regulator, oxygen cleaned as required. This course includes: Extended Range Seminar 2 Simulated Decompression Dives 2 Decompression Dives - Non Accelerated Decompression 2 Decompression Dives - Accelerated Decompression We will complete a day's academic development classroom session. You must complete an Extended Range Diving final exam with a passing score of 80% and the Extended Range Trimix Exam with 80% if qualifying with Trimix. Be able to independently plan a full dive plan using the Extended Range Dive Planning sheet.

This program provides the skills and concepts required to safely and comfortably dive underneath surface ice. You will learn the special requirements for diving in an overhead environment, the techniques and communication methods, and the specialized equipment used for ice diving. You will earn the SSI Ice Diving Specialty certification after completing this program

Exploring overhead environments like caves and wrecks is an exciting endeavor. However, squeezing traditional dive equipment into the tight spaces found within these areas can be challenging. Improving your diver trim and streamlining by using a sidemount configuration allows you to explore more constricted places than ever before. The Extended Range Sidemount program trains you to dive in a sidemount configuration, and the techniques required to use multiple stage cylinders carried for decompression diving efficiently and effectively. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Sidemount certification after completing this program and can then apply that configuration to all other extended range programs.

The Divemaster program is the first step on an exciting journey. Earn the respect of your dive buddies and become an ambassador for diving by taking the Divemaster program. All you need to get started are 40 verified/logged dives and certifications in Deep Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility or at least 5 logged/verified dives experience in each area plus Diver Stress & Rescue. You will be certified as a Dive Guide after successfully completing the Divemaster program. When your interest is to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, teaching Ecology programs, assisting instructors or even becoming an instructor yourself, your next step is the Divemaster Upgrade with a minimum of 60 logged/verified. Upgrade to Divemaster right away or any time after by self-studying the Science of Diving materials, passing the Digital Final Exam which makes you an SSI Professional.