Mermaid Instructor

The Divemaster program is the first step in an exciting adventure. Earn the respect of your buddies and become an ambassador for diving by taking the Divemaster course. To get started, all you need is 40 logged dives and certifications in deep diving, navigation, night diving and low-visibility diving, or at least 5 logged dives in each, as well as stress management and diver rescue training. Upon successful completion of the Divemaster program, you will be certified as a Dive Guide. Training takes place over several weekends or by immersion in our teams; contact us for more information. If you'd like to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, running ecology programs, assisting instructors or even becoming an instructor yourself, the next step is the Divemaster specialization, which requires a minimum of 60 logged dives. Reach Divemaster status immediately or later by studying the Science of Diving teaching materials and passing the digital final exam that will earn you SSI Professional certification.

The Assistant Instructor certification is the next step after the Divemaster in the diving instructor's career. It enables you to gain valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach theory courses and conduct in-water training. Training takes place over several weekends or on immersion in our teams - contact us for more information. If you wish to continue your career as a diving professional, you can complete the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Assessment and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

To optimize your dive time and get the most out of your underwater experiences, try scooter or DPV diving. This scooter and DPV diving course will give you the skills and knowledge you need to plan and execute safe dives. You'll learn the specific precautions to take when using DPVs, how to maintain contact with your buddy and how to control your equipment, so you can fully enjoy the new sensations offered by these machines. The equipment used is SUEX, with a maintenance workshop, theory workshop, one dive in a protected environment and two dives in the open sea. On completion of this course, you'll obtain SSI specialty certification in scooter diving/DPV and be able to dive to a depth of 30 meters on a scooter or DPV.

A specialized deep diving instructor teaches certified divers how to safely explore depths beyond recreational limits (typically 18 to 40 meters), focusing on specialized planning, equipment, gas management, non-decompression and nitrogen narcosis management, involving classroom theory, practical skills and open water dives to gain the expertise needed to teach this popular and essential diving certification.

Becoming an underwater propulsion vehicle (DPV) instructor allows a diving professional to certify students in the use of underwater scooters. Specialization as a diver is a prerequisite.

A Scuba Diving Instructor teaches experienced divers how to plan and execute safe dives on their own, using emergency equipment and advanced self-sufficiency techniques for situations such as photography or underwater exploration. To become an instructor, you must complete instructor-level training with SSI, demonstrate mastery of solo diving techniques (planning, gas management, emergency response) and acquire the teaching skills needed to transmit the essential concepts of autonomous diving.

A specialized decompression diving instructor trains experienced divers to teach others how to safely explore no-decompression limits (NDLs). He teaches them to plan and execute dives requiring mandatory stops, using specialized equipment such as decompression cylinders containing richer gases (e.g. EAN40) and dive computers to manage gas changes and ascents. He bridges the gap between recreational diving and technical diving to explore deeper sites such as wrecks and reefs. To become a Specialty Instructor, you need prior technical certification (such as Decompression Diver/Decompression Procedures) and instructor status. Training focuses on advanced dive planning, emergency protocols and buoyancy control during ascent and team stops.

In this introductory program, you'll learn everything you need to freedive safely with a buddy in a protected pool/environment to a depth of 5 meters. Online training is combined with in-water practice sessions to give you all the skills and knowledge you need. At the end of the program, you'll receive your Basic Freediver SSI certification.

The SSI Extended Range Trimix training program is the foundation on which all other open circuit programs are built. This program marks the start of an exciting journey towards becoming a fully-fledged technical diver. Whether in sidemount or twin-bottle configuration, this program prepares you to plan and execute trimix decompression dives to a maximum depth of 45 m. You'll learn the techniques and procedures for using trimix and nitrox breathing mixes (up to 100% oxygen) for decompression. At the end of the program, you'll be certified as an SSI Extended Range Trimix diver, and your knowledge of technical diving will be further enhanced.

The SSI Extended Range Foundations program offers all divers the opportunity to take their diving skills to the next level through a series of workshops. Learn more about using tech gear with any full-body diving equipment for which you are certified, and develop your core skills to master buoyancy, equalization, finning techniques, positioning, and communication. The Extended Range Foundations program offers supplemental training to existing certifications to increase the diver’s confidence and mastery in the water. All training dives are conducted in a pool or confined water environment at depths of less than 12 meters/40 feet. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.

In this specialty program, you'll develop the advanced skills and knowledge you need to navigate safely and confidently underwater. You'll learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, leave and return to a designated point, as well as basic navigation patterns. You'll also learn how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All this sharpens your underwater observation skills, improves your diving safety and helps you get the most out of every dive. On completion of this course, you'll be awarded the SSI Navigation specialty certification.

N'Gor Bay is home to several green turtles. We quietly go out to meet them, keeping our distance and taking photos. The outing includes certification in SSI's Turtle Ecological Specialty.

The Perfect Buoyancy SSI specialty is the best way to improve your buoyancy and get the most out of every dive. Buoyancy is an essential diving skill, but any diver will tell you that it takes time to perfect. The Perfect Buoyancy Specialty will teach you advanced buoyancy skills and techniques, so you can master your buoyancy faster and enjoy more relaxed diving adventures. In this fascinating program, you'll also learn new skills that protect the environment and work in all diving situations. Upon completion of this course, you'll earn the Perfect Buoyancy SSI specialty certification. With improved buoyancy skills, you'll soon be able to glide with ease and take the underwater photos you've been dreaming of!

Divers often find themselves alone on a dive, accidentally or otherwise. Nautilus' SSI Independent Diving course teaches how to dive independently, without relying on the traditional buddy system. As one of the most popular courses for dive professionals, the Independent Diver course focuses on dive planning, knowing your limits and accident prevention, as well as the benefits, risks and procedures of solo diving. You'll also learn how to use and correctly assemble the additional equipment required for solo diving. This course is ideal for underwater photographers and videographers, as well as for divers wishing to deepen their knowledge and gain confidence while diving.

The Diver Stress and Rescue SSI specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You'll learn how to identify stress, prevent accidents and receive practical techniques for performing rescues and providing emergency care. Through a combination of practical pool and open water sessions, you'll become well prepared and confident in handling emergency and rescue situations. At the end of the course, you'll receive Diver Stress and Rescue SSI specialty certification.