SSI Extended Range (45 m) — Full Course and XR Nitrox Upgrade

Instructor Team: Led by SSI Instructor Trainer Dain McParland & The Oceanauts CrewMASTERCLASS: BLOCK 2Three weeks. Three essential kit systems. One journey from daylight into night diving.9 September — Masks & Underwater ConfidenceFind the right fit, prevent leaks and fogging, and practise the skills that make mask problems feel manageable.16 September — BCDs & Buoyancy ControlExplore different BCD styles, improve your setup and build smoother, more confident buoyancy control.23 September — Torches & Night DivingCompare dive lights, learn night-diving signals and procedures, and discover how to plan and enjoy a dive after sunset.Practical coaching, hands-on kit and skills designed to help newer divers feel more capable underwater.Masterclass: Block 2 starts Wednesday 9 September. Places are limited—book your spot!

The SSI Try Scuba program is the best way to try scuba diving for the first time. You will be in confined water and well looked after by your instructor, so you can enjoy those first unforgettable breaths underwater and experience the magic of scuba diving. At the end of this short course, you will have earned your SSI Try Scuba recognition card and undoubtedly want to go diving again. Endless scuba diving adventures are waiting for you and this course is where it all begins. Start today!

Your Open Water certification taught you how to dive. The Advanced course teaches you how to dive well.Designed to build your confidence and expand your underwater capabilities, this course is entirely hands-on. There are no heavy classroom sessions, endless quizzes, or pool drills—just five specialized open-water dives that introduce you to new environments, greater depths, and advanced techniques under the direct guidance of our expert instructors.Whether you are looking to unlock deeper wreck sites, master your trim, or feel more comfortable in dynamic UK conditions, this course is your gateway to elite recreational diving.What You Will ExperienceYou will complete five distinct training dives, logging real underwater time while mastering new skill sets.The Core Foundation (Mandatory):Deep Diving: Safely plan and execute a dive beyond your 18m Open Water limit, unlocking access to deeper wrecks and reefs (up to 30m).Underwater Navigation: Stop relying solely on the dive guide. Learn advanced compass skills, natural navigation, and distance estimation to always know exactly where you are.Your Chosen Specialties (Choose 3): Customize the rest of your course to fit your specific diving goals. Popular choices include:Perfect Buoyancy: Dial in your weighting, master your trim, and drop your air consumption.Wreck Diving: Learn the protocols for safely navigating and mapping sunken vessels.Night & Limited Visibility: Discover how the underwater world transforms after dark and learn specialized communication and light-handling skills.Drysuit Diving: (Highly recommended for our waters) Stay warm and extend your diving season year-round.

Build elite awareness and find your way in any conditions.Master navigation and build confidence in low-light and limited-visibility conditions.Take your underwater awareness to the next level with Oceanauts’ Night & Sight bundle. This package combines two complementary SSI specialties—Night & Limited Visibility and Navigation—to help you plan your route, maintain your bearings and dive confidently when visibility is reduced.Courses IncludedSSI Night & Limited VisibilitySSI NavigationCompleting both courses also brings you closer to earning the SSI Specialty Diver recognition. This rating requires two completed SSI specialties and at least 12 logged dives.Package PriceIndividual course price: £475Bundle price: £435You save £40What You’ll LearnDuring your training, you’ll develop practical skills including:Planning and conducting night divesUsing dive lights effectivelyCommunicating in darkness or limited visibilityMaintaining buddy contactNavigating with a compassUsing natural underwater navigation techniquesEstimating distance underwaterImproving situational awareness and dive confidenceWhat’s IncludedSSI digital learning materials for both specialtiesRequired practical training sessionsPool or confined-water training where applicableRequired open-water training divesInstruction from an SSI professionalDigital certification for each successfully completed specialtySSI Specialty Diver recognition once all eligibility requirements are metSupport arranging your training scheduleImportant InformationA suitable entry-level scuba certification is required.Minimum age and specific eligibility requirements may apply.Certification is subject to successfully completing all knowledge, skill and training requirements.Personal diving equipment, equipment rental, dive-site entry fees and transportation may not be included unless stated during booking.Night-diving sessions depend on suitable weather, water and site conditions.Booking ProcessSelect your preferred booking date or request an available start date.Complete your booking through the platform.An Oceanauts team member will contact you within 24–48 hours to discuss your experience, confirm course eligibility and arrange the remaining training dates.Once your booking is confirmed, your SSI digital learning materials will be activated through the MySSI app.Complete the theory and practical training to earn your certifications.SchedulingThe date selected during booking may represent your course start date or initial training session, rather than every session included in the bundle. The remaining dates will be arranged directly with the Oceanauts team according to availability, conditions and your schedule.Book the SSI Night & Sight Specialty Bundle today and learn to find your way—even when visibility disappears.

Experience one of our favourite local dive sites in a completely different way.We’ll meet at Greencastle Shore at 7:00pm, getting kitted up as daylight begins to fade before heading underwater as the dive transitions from sunset into darkness.Once the torches come on, Greencastle transforms. Marine life behaves differently, familiar parts of the site take on a completely new atmosphere, and your torch beam reveals details you might swim straight past during the day.Expect a relaxed, social evening dive with the Oceanauts community and a chance to experience Greencastle after dark.Location: Greencastle ShoreMeeting Time: 7:00pmDive: Sunset into Night DiveDiver RequirementsDivers attending the fun dive must be certified as Night & Limited Visibility Divers, Advanced Open Water Divers, or higher.Divers who do not yet meet these requirements may still take part when completing the appropriate course with Oceanauts.Never dived Greencastle at night? Get the torch charged — this is a completely different side of one of our favourite dive sites.

It is easy for dive skills to get rusty and to lose confidence when you have not dived for a while. With the SSI Scuba Skills Update, we will get you back in the water and diving with ease in no time. This scuba refresher course allows you to review and practice scuba skills you learned in your Open Water Diver program, under the guidance of an SSI Professional. This is a great course to take just before a dive holiday, so you spend less time worrying about your skills and more time admiring the marine life. If you are a non-certified Open Water Diver student, a Scuba Skills Update is ideal for practicing your dive skills before your open water training dives. With no fixed course duration, you can take your time and focus on the skills you need help with.

Master the Art of Effortless Diving Buoyancy is the hallmark of a great diver, but as any professional will tell you, it takes dedicated training to truly perfect. The SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty is the ultimate way to refine your trim, reduce your air consumption, and get the absolute most out of every minute you spend underwater.In this fascinating program, you’ll move beyond the basics and master advanced techniques that allow you to hover with total precision. Whether you want to glide over fragile reefs without a trace, stay perfectly still for the ultimate underwater photograph, or simply enjoy a more relaxed, weightless experience, this course is the key. Master your buoyancy today and start diving like a pro.PrerequisitesMinimum Age: 12 years old.Certification: Must be a certified Open Water Diver (SSI or equivalent).Medical: Must be in good physical health (standard medical questionnaire provided).What’s Included?✅ 2 Specialized Training Dives: Focused entirely on trim, position, and control.✅ SSI digital learning materials (Advanced Buoyancy Theory).✅ SSI Perfect Buoyancy Digital Certification Card.✅ Comprehensive student insurance.What You Need to Bring???? Swimwear and a towel.???? Thermal layers/Drysuit (if diving in the sea).???? Your Dive Logbook.⚖️ Your personal weight belt/integrated weights (if you own them).???? A light snack and water.When & Where????? Location: Can be conducted in a heated pool for skill refinement or at Greencastle Shore/ Markethill Quarry for real-world practice.⏳ Duration: Approximately 5–10 hours (usually 1 full day).???? Scheduling: Book your date above. Once booked, we will contact you to discuss your current experience level and whether pool or open water is best for your session.???? The Secret to Better PhotosMost divers think they need a better camera, but they actually need better buoyancy. This specialty is the single best investment you can make if you want to improve your underwater photography or video—allowing you to stay perfectly still while you line up the perfect shot.

Beneath the rugged shores of Greencastle, where the Mourne Mountains sweep down to the sea, lies a world of legend waiting to be explored. Inspired by the myths and folklore of this ancient coast, Giant Underwater Adventure invites you to take your first breath underwater and experience the ocean like never before. Guided by Dain McParland, who grew up exploring these waters, and a team that knows the tales of the selkies, sea giants, and lost kingdoms, this adventure is more than just a dive—it’s your first step into the deep-rooted stories of Northern Ireland’s coast. During this half-day experience, you’ll learn the essential skills needed to explore up to 12 meters deep under the guidance of an SSI Professional. You’ll complete a diving skills session before venturing on a guided coastal dive, where the whispers of the past meet the thrill of discovery.

Step into an extraordinary world and discover the thrill of scuba diving with our Discover The Depths Experience. Guided by expert instructors, you’ll take your first breath underwater in the sheltered waters of Greencastle Shore, surrounded by the natural beauty of Northern Ireland’s coastline. Feel weightless, explore beneath the surface, and experience the magic of the sea in a way you’ll never forget. By the end of this unforgettable two-hour adventure, you’ll earn your SSI Try Scuba recognition card—your first step into a lifetime of underwater exploration. The ocean is calling. Are you ready to answer?

The winter XR track starts here.You bought the drysuit. You want to keep diving through winter. Now is the time to build the skills that will make the most of your kit.SSI Extended Range Foundations — Twinset runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026 at Markethill Scuba Quarry. Across four focused training sessions, we’ll take you from your first twinset setup through buoyancy, trim, precise finning, valve drills, gas sharing and team communication.Never dived a twinset? You’re welcome here. This is the starting point for experienced recreational divers who want to move towards XR training. You’ll learn in shallow, controlled water, with a maximum of four divers in the group.£595 per diver, including tuition, SSI registration, quarry entry, twinset hire and air fills. Bring your own other diving equipment; additional rental can be arranged. Private 1:1 training is also available for £1,050.You’ll need an Open Water certification (or equivalent) and at least 24 logged dives. Message Oceanauts to discuss your kit and reserve a place.Build the foundation this winter. Dive the twinset with confidence next season.

Take the next step after Foundations. Extended Range Nitrox develops the planning, gas-switching and team skills needed for limited decompression diving. Training takes place in a twinset with a stage cylinder. On successful completion, the SSI certification permits dives to a maximum of 40 metres, using decompression gas mixtures up to 100% oxygen and no more than 15 minutes of accumulated required decompression, with an equally or more qualified buddy.The planned training dives use a 50% stage gas. Certification depends on meeting every academic and in-water requirement; it is not awarded simply for attending.Who can join?You must be 18 or older, have at least 24 logged dives, and hold Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox 40 certifications, or recognised equivalents. You should already be comfortable and in control in your twinset. We’ll complete the required medical screening before training and advise you if physician clearance is needed.The three-day courseDay 1 — Markethill Scuba: Equipment configuration, theory and at least one hour of confined-water skills, including stage handling and gas-switching drills.Day 2 — Markethill Scuba: The first two open-water training dives, planned within no-decompression limits.Day 3 — Portroe Quarry, Tipperary: Two qualifying dives in one full day. Both include staged-decompression training; at least one must reach approximately 35 metres. The course limit is 40 metres and no more than 15 minutes of required decompression per dive.You’ll also complete the SSI academic work and final exam, and independently prepare a dive plan using the Extended Range Dive Planning sheets. The group is limited to four divers.Price and inclusionsGroup course: £995 per diver, VAT-inclusivePrivate 1:1 course: £1,695, VAT-inclusiveThe course price includes instruction, SSI registration and digital certification on successful completion, two days of Markethill entry, use of an Oceanauts stage cylinder, one planned 7 L 50% stage fill, and the planned twinset back-gas fills. Your Portroe entry is paid directly to the quarry and is currently €30 per diver.Bring your own twinset, drysuit and thermal protection, other personal diving equipment, logbook and suitable multi-gas dive computer. Additional equipment rental can be arranged and quoted separately. Travel, food and any accommodation are your own costs; accommodation arrangements can be discussed case by case.Portroe is around three hours’ drive from Rostrevor, so the final training day will be a long one. The training locations and conditions will be confirmed when arranging your course.Contact Oceanauts to discuss your twinset setup or arrange training.

Build on your technical diving skills and learn to plan and conduct staged-decompression dives in a twinset. On successful completion, the SSI Extended Range certification permits dives to a maximum of 45 metres, using decompression gas mixtures up to 100% oxygen and no more than 25 minutes of accumulated required decompression, with an equally or more qualified buddy.Already certified in SSI XR Nitrox? Your four training dives may count towards Extended Range dives 1–4 when they meet SSI’s credit requirements. That gives you a shorter upgrade route focused on the remaining skills, assessments and two qualifying dives.PrerequisitesYou must be 18 or older, have at least 50 logged dives, and hold Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox 40 certifications, or recognised equivalents. You should be proficient in the twinset configuration you’ll use for training. XR Nitrox certification provides possible dive credit; it does not replace the 50-dive requirement.We’ll complete the required medical screening before training and advise you if physician clearance is needed.Choose your routeFull Extended Range course — four teaching daysTraining begins with equipment configuration, academics, the XR Water Fitness Evaluation and at least two hours of confined-water skills. You’ll complete six open-water training dives: the first two at Markethill Scuba, followed by four dives over two consecutive days at Portroe Dive Centre. The final two dives include staged-decompression training, must total at least 90 minutes, and include at least one dive to 40 metres.Upgrade from XR Nitrox — two teaching daysWe’ll review your XR Nitrox training record and equipment configuration to confirm which dives can be credited. You’ll complete any outstanding Extended Range academic, fitness and confined-water requirements at Markethill, then complete dives 5–6 at Portroe. The upgrade route depends on your previous dives meeting SSI’s credit conditions and your readiness for the final dives.Certification is awarded only after all academic and in-water requirements are met. Additional training may be needed if skills, dive times or conditions do not meet the required standard.