Sunken Dreams' Expedition The Philippines

DOSSIER: THE WORLD'S GREATEST INDOOR DIVE EXPERIENCES... A unique concept, but the world of indoor diving has arrived! Europe has now opened its aquatic, architectural masterpieces to scuba divers. Blessed with four unique environments in Belgium and Germany divers can now develop their dive skills year round whilst soaking up the culture of two of Europe's most spectacular cities.

In the SSI Freshwater Ecology specialty program, you will explore how aquatic species interact with each other and their freshwater environments. You will learn about freshwater ecosystems, food chains, predator-prey relationships, and the delicate balance that sustains life beneath the surface. This programme deepens your understanding of biodiversity, species adaptations, and habitat protection — giving you the knowledge to recognize and identify aquatic wildlife with confidence. With your new ecological insight, every dive becomes a discovery. Start online today and earn your SSI Freshwater Ecology certification.

This SSI specialty equips certified divers to actively engage in coral reef conservation and restoration. The course covers coral ecology, the importance of these ecosystems, and the threats they face. You'll learn essential restoration techniques, including coral outplanting and potentially Biorock® technology. Practical skills for conducting coral health assessments and participating in reef surveys are also included. This program empowers divers to make a tangible difference in protecting and rebuilding these vital underwater habitats. Upon completing this specialty, along with Invasive Species Management, you'll earn the SSI Ocean Guardian Digital Card, recognizing your commitment to ocean conservation. This course enhances your understanding of coral reefs and provides the knowledge to identify healthy versus degraded corals. You'll gain skills to contribute to increasing coral cover and improving the resilience of these crucial ecosystems. The program emphasizes responsible interaction with reefs and promoting sustainable practices. Ultimately, the SSI Coral Reef Restoration Specialty is for divers passionate about playing an active role in preserving the beauty and biodiversity of our oceans for future generations.

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.

Choose Your Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty Training PathwayThis programme offers two pathways depending on your experience and goals. Please select the pathway that applies to you when booking.Recreational Diver — SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty DiverDesigned for certified divers who want to expand their knowledge of marine mammals, marine ecosystems, and conservation. You will complete the SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty programme and earn your SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty Diver certification.This specialty can also contribute towards your SSI Master Diver progression, expanding your knowledge and experience while preparing you for future expeditions, marine-life encounters, and a deeper connection with the underwater world.Professional Diver — SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty InstructorThe SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty Instructor pathway is designed for eligible SSI professionals who want to develop their knowledge, teaching skills and ability to conduct the Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty programme.The professional pathway includes the applicable SSI Marine Mammal Ecology Specialty Diver programme and professional materials, allowing you to develop your knowledge of marine mammal identification, behaviour, ecology and conservation before progressing through the applicable Specialty Instructor certification method.Depending on the applicable certification method and SSI requirements, you may complete a Specialty Instructor Seminar or undertake the co-teaching pathway alongside an appropriately qualified, active-status SSI Specialty Instructor.Professional applicants must meet all applicable SSI prerequisites. For the co-teaching pathway, this includes the required logged dives and completion of the applicable Training Completion Record, with final certification subject to SSI requirements and QMS approval.Safeguarding: Where a professional candidate participates in co-teaching a programme attended by under-18s, Sunken Dreams will assess the safeguarding requirements applicable to the candidate's role before approval.Alternative Dates & Times: If you require an alternative training date or time, please contact Sunken Dreams Scuba Diving Academy before booking. We may be able to arrange an alternative session subject to instructor availability and minimum participant requirements.

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

An exciting alternative to a standard SCUBA regulator and mask is an Integrated Dive Mask! (IDM). Using an FFM is easy, a lot of fun and offers some great advantages to a standard Scuba regulator and mask, such as keeping saltwater out of your eyes and mouth, keeping your entire face warm during those cold dives in the spring or below the thermocline. There is no jaw fatigue, fogging or water against your face. You can add a communications unit so that you can talk to each other during the dive. IDM Diving will likely change the underwater diving technique radically in upcoming years and a must for aspiring marine biologists, engineers, photographers and conservationists working on a range of intricate projects in underwater environments.

The SSI Open Water Referral Diver Programme is the perfect pathway for students who want to begin their scuba diving certification with Sunken Dreams Scuba Diving Academy at home and complete it later in open water — either with the Academy locally, on an Academy Expedition or with their families on holiday.This course includes all the academic learning and confined water (pool) training required for the full Open Water Diver certification, allowing students to build skills and confidence under the guidance of Academy instructors.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. Once you complete the referral programme and the required open-water dives, you will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.Once the referral course is completed, divers can complete the 4 open water dives with the Academy or receive a referral form which they can take to any SSI-affiliated dive centre worldwide to complete their open water dives and become fully certified Open Water Divers.

SSI recognizes the urgent need to address the threats posed by invasive species to ocean biodiversity. The Invasive Species Management specialty is designed to train divers in identifying, safely removing, and managing invasive species, particularly in sensitive marine environments. Divers will play a crucial role in preserving native species and restoring ecological balance. The SSI Invasive Species Management specialty is a scuba diving certification that trains divers to identify, safely remove, and manage invasive species in aquatic environments. This program is part of SSI's commitment to environmental education and the Blue Oceans Initiative, focusing on preserving native species and restoring ecological balance. Divers who complete this specialty, along with the Coral Reef Restoration specialty, can earn the Digital Card as recognition for their marine conservation efforts. The program specifically addresses the threats posed by invasive species to aquatic ecosystems. Divers learn practical skills in identifying, removing, and managing invasive species, particularly in sensitive areas. The program promotes sustainable diving practices and encourages divers to become active participants in marine conservation.

Become the diver every team wants on a Search. The Search & Recovery specialty develops the skills, discipline, and confidence needed to locate, document, and recover submerged objects safely and efficiently. Whether supporting investigative diving, environmental surveys, archaeological projects, or public safety operations, this course teaches divers how to work methodically and effectively underwater.In this specialty programme, you will learn how to plan and conduct search operations using recognised search patterns, underwater communication techniques, and team procedures. You will develop the skills required to locate target objects, assess recovery options, and safely use lifting equipment where appropriate.The course enhances problem-solving, situational awareness, teamwork, and underwater observation skills while providing practical experience in structured search operations. These are essential capabilities for divers interested in investigative diving, public safety diving, underwater archaeology, and environmental fieldwork.

In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

SSI designed the Computer Diving program to help certified divers become familiar with the features and benefits of using a dive computer. By understanding and knowing how to use all the functions of a dive computer, you will not only increase your dive safety but also make planning and executing your dive easier. The SSI Computer Diving program explores the functions and capabilities of different dive computers and explains how to use these functions before, during, and after your dive. Often, divers purchase a computer and only use it for its basic information. Get the most out of your investment by learning to use your dive computer to its full potential. Start your SSI Computer Diving specialty online today!

Choose Your Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty Training PathwayThis programme offers two pathways depending on your experience and goals. Please select the pathway that applies to you when booking.Recreational Diver — SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty DiverDesigned for certified divers who want to expand their knowledge of manta rays, rays, marine ecosystems, and conservation. You will complete the SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty programme and earn your SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty Diver certification.This specialty can also contribute towards your SSI Master Diver progression, expanding your knowledge and experience while preparing you for future expeditions, marine-life encounters, and a deeper connection with the underwater world.Professional Diver — SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty InstructorThe SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty Instructor pathway is designed for eligible SSI professionals who want to develop their knowledge, teaching skills and ability to conduct the Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty programme.The professional pathway includes the applicable SSI Manta & Ray Ecology Specialty Diver programme and professional materials, allowing you to develop your knowledge of manta and ray identification, behaviour, ecology and conservation before progressing through the applicable Specialty Instructor certification method.Depending on the applicable certification method and SSI requirements, you may complete a Specialty Instructor Seminar or undertake the co-teaching pathway alongside an appropriately qualified, active-status SSI Specialty Instructor.Professional applicants must meet all applicable SSI prerequisites. For the co-teaching pathway, this includes the required logged dives and completion of the applicable Training Completion Record, with final certification subject to SSI requirements and QMS approval.Safeguarding: Where a professional candidate participates in co-teaching a programme attended by under-18s, Sunken Dreams will assess the safeguarding requirements applicable to the candidate's role before approval.Alternative Dates & Times: If you require an alternative training date or time, please contact Sunken Dreams Scuba Diving Academy before booking. We may be able to arrange an alternative session subject to instructor availability and minimum participant requirements.

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. 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 try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Choose Your Sea Turtle Specialty Training PathwayThis programme offers two pathways depending on your experience and goals. Please select the pathway that applies to you when booking.Recreational Diver — SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty DiverDesigned for certified divers who want to expand their knowledge of sea turtles, marine ecosystems, and conservation. You will complete the SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty programme and earn your SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty Diver certification.This specialty can also contribute towards your SSI Master Diver progression, expanding your knowledge and experience while preparing you for future expeditions, marine-life encounters, and a deeper connection with the underwater world.Professional Diver — SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty InstructorThe SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty Instructor pathway is designed for eligible SSI professionals who want to develop their knowledge, teaching skills and ability to conduct the Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty programme.The professional pathway includes the applicable SSI Sea Turtle Ecology Specialty Diver programme and professional materials, allowing you to develop your knowledge of sea turtle identification, behaviour, ecology and conservation before progressing through the applicable Specialty Instructor certification method.Depending on the applicable certification method and SSI requirements, you may complete a Specialty Instructor Seminar or undertake the co-teaching pathway alongside an appropriately qualified, active-status SSI Specialty Instructor.Professional applicants must meet all applicable SSI prerequisites. For the co-teaching pathway, this includes the required logged dives and completion of the applicable Training Completion Record, with final certification subject to SSI requirements and QMS approval.Safeguarding: Where a professional candidate participates in co-teaching a programme attended by under-18s, Sunken Dreams will assess the safeguarding requirements applicable to the candidate's role before approval.Alternative Dates & Times: If you require an alternative training date or time, please contact Sunken Dreams Scuba Diving Academy before booking. We may be able to arrange an alternative session subject to instructor availability and minimum participant requirements.