Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

SSI's Perfect Buoyancy specialization is the best way to improve your buoyancy and get the most out of every dive. Buoyancy is a fundamental diving skill, but any diver will tell you that perfecting it takes time. The Perfect Buoyancy specialization will teach you advanced buoyancy skills and techniques to master buoyancy and enjoy more relaxing diving adventures. In this fascinating program, you'll also learn new skills that protect the environment and work in every diving situation. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty certification. With better buoyancy control, you'll float with ease and take the underwater photos you dream of!

This specialty program will provide you with the knowledge and advanced skills you need to navigate safely and confidently underwater. You will learn how to properly use a compass, natural navigation techniques, distance estimation, leaving and returning to a specific point, and simple navigation patterns. You will also learn how to combine navigation techniques to optimize your diving experience. All of this will contribute to improving your underwater observation skills, increasing your safety while diving and getting the most out of every dive. Upon completion of the course, you will be certified as an SSI Navigation Specialty.

The Assistant Instructor qualification is the next step after earning the Divemaster award on the diving instructor pathway. It will allow you to gain valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach theory lessons and lead in-water training. To continue your journey as a diving professional, simply complete the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Become professionals with all the right stuff and expand our ranks. Divemaster is a comprehensive course that consists of the Dive Guide and Science of diving courses. The course will take you significantly further in your diving, both in terms of confidence and in dealing with emergency situations. Upon completion, you will be able to assist in the training and supervision of certified divers. Contact us for advice

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 drysuit diver, you can dive in cold waters all year round in warmth and comfort. Only drysuit diving can give you access to unique cold-water underwater landscapes, such as glaciers in the remote Arctic or fascinating places teeming with life despite the cold. Dry suits are also great when doing several dives a day, as the dry diver doesn't have to take off the cold and wet dive suit after each dive, but keeps the dry suit on. The best way to become a dry diver is through the SSI Dry Suit Diver Specialization Program. Here you will gain the necessary knowledge and learn all the skills to dive safely and comfortably in a dry suit. This includes handling special equipment as well as procedures for dealing with difficult situations and problems with the dry suit. At the end of the course you will be certified as an SSI Dry Suit Diving Specialty.

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.

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.

React Right SSI is a first aid course that provides you with the training and knowledge needed to provide first aid in the event of a medical emergency. In this flexible diving program, you can choose which topics you want to learn, including primary assessment, first aid, CPR and primary stabilization techniques. You can also learn about administering oxygen in diving emergencies and the basics of using an automated external defibrillator (AED). With a combination of theoretical sections and practical training scenarios, this program will give you the tools and confidence you need to respond in emergency situations. By the time you gain certification, you will be able to act as a paramedic, provide first aid and CPR, administer oxygen and provide AED support in a medical emergency. Earn certification for the SSI React Right specialty. Get started today!

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.

Night diving requires different skills than daytime diving. SSI's 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 gain all the knowledge and skills you need to dive safely and comfortably at night or in limited visibility. Through a combination of online instruction and open water training dives, you will learn how to enter and exit the water, use special equipment, and how to easily communicate with your dive buddy at night or in limited visibility. Upon completion, you'll earn your SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialization certification and be ready to go night diving with confidence.

The world's oceans are home to thousands of species of fish, and you will encounter many of these fascinating creatures on your dives! In this course, you'll learn all the skills and concepts you need to identify common families of reef fish.

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to:

• Conduct academic sessions
• Lead confined water training
• Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more
• Develop student management and communication skills

Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more.
Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.