Independent Diving

Watch the reef shift change with our team of instructors. We depart the dock 20 minutes before the sun goes down and put you on a lively reef and the nocturnal animals begin to come out to hunt

If you want to make the most of your bottom time and have more fun on your dives, try underwater scooter or diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) diving. In this underwater scooter and DPV course, you will learn the skills and concepts you need to safely plan and conduct dives using scooters or DPVs. You will learn the special precautions needed for using DPVs, how to maintain buddy contact and how to control your equipment, so you can safely enjoy the new dive experiences DPVs provide. Upon completion of this program, you will earn the SSI Scooter/DPV Diving specialty certification and be able to dive up to 30 meters deep with a scooter or DPV.

Instructors, our staff can provide you with a co-teach or a seminar for most of SSI's specialty programs. Please contact us for specific courses.

Night diving requires different skills from diving during the day. The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is the best way to learn about night diving and practice the techniques you will need to become a safe and confident night diver. In this program, you will be provided with all the knowledge and skills you need to safely and comfortably dive at night or in limited visibility conditions. With a combination of online learning and open water training dives, you will learn how to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment, and how to communicate with your buddy easily at night or in limited visibility. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty certification and be ready to go night diving with confidence.

SSI Sidemount Specialty course is the fastest trending course in recent years of diving. Sidemount is a scuba diving equipment configuration which has diving cylinders mounted along the diver, below the shoulders and along the hips, instead of on the back of the diver. It began as a configuration popular with advanced cave divers, as the total area of a sidemount diver is so much smaller than that of a backmount. Hence, it is much easier for a sidemount diver to maneuver in tight spaces that their back mount counterpart. Nowadays, the main reason of the Sidemount trend is the highly customizable set up, allowing divers to fine-tune their equipment to the smallest details. Moreover, a sidemount system is a good start-up for a journey in the technical diving area. Divers will learn to stage, and handle more than one tank, which is a regularity in technical diving.

The SSI Invasive Species Management specialty program is designed for divers who want to take a proactive role in marine conservation. This course provides an in-depth look at the ecological impact of invasive species and the practical steps required to manage them effectively. The training bridges the gap between environmental awareness and active field work, focusing on the theoretical knowledge and procedural background needed to participate in local management initiatives during your dives.

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification. Includes 4 nights in our dorm and 2 fun dives

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.Includes Nitrox 40 certinfication

Join us for a morning or afternoon 2 tank fun dive on many of Utila's amazing dive sites. Our small groups and fast boats will take you to sites other Utila dive centers will not. Rental gear inlcuded. Nitrox available for $12 per tank

Advanced Open Water DiverIf you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

We depart our dock 30 minutes before the sunrises and enter the water in the dark. Watch the day shift begin it daily routine

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

React Right is SSI’s emergency first response course and provides you with the training and knowledge you need to act as a first responder in a medical emergency. In this flexible dive program, you can choose which subjects you want to learn about, including primary assessment, first aid, CPR and primary stabilization techniques. You can also learn about oxygen administration in diving emergencies and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) basics. Using a combination of academic sessions and practical training scenarios, this program will give you the tools and confidence you need for emergency response. By the time you are certified, you will be able to act as an emergency first responder, provide first aid and CPR, administer oxygen and provide AED support in a medical emergency. Earn your SSI React Right specialty certification. Get started today!

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.

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.