Shark Data Collection & Beach, Underwater Clean Up

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.

Embark on a lifelong journey of underwater discovery by earning your SSI Open Water Diver certification.This globally recognized program is your official entry into the captivating world of scuba diving. We’ve designed a comprehensive and personalized training experience to ensure you are fully prepared and confident for every dive.A Pathway to Confident DivingOur program is structured to provide you with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to become a skilled and safe diver. You’ll progress through a clear and supportive learning path:Tailored Training: Our approach focuses on personalized instruction, ensuring you receive the guidance you need to master essential skills.Hands-on Practice: The program combines theoretical knowledge with extensive hands-on practice. You’ll begin in a controlled environment, like a pool, before applying your new skills in open water.Essential Skills Mastery: You will learn crucial diving techniques and safety procedures, building the confidence and competence required to explore the underwater world comfortably.Upon successful completion, you will receive your SSI Open Water Diver certification—a credential respected and accepted at dive centers around the globe.This certification is more than a card; it’s your key to a lifetime of adventure.

The ocean undergoes a radical transformation the moment the sun slips below the horizon. Familiar reefs become alien landscapes, and creatures you’d never see during the day emerge from the shadows.But let’s be real: diving in the dark isn’t just “day diving with a flashlight.” It requires a specific mindset and a refined skill set.The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is designed to bridge that gap, turning “spooky” into “spectacular” by giving you the tools to handle low-viz environments like a pro.What You’ll MasterThis program blends convenient online theory with hands-on open water training. You won’t just be floating in the dark; you’ll be learning the logistics of the night:Light Handling & Gear: Mastering your primary and backup lights (and what to do if one fails).Communication: Learning how to “talk” to your buddy using light signals when hand signals are invisible.Navigation: How to find your way back to the boat or shore when the usual landmarks vanish.Entry & Exit: Safely getting in and out of the water when depth perception is tricky.The PayoffOnce you wrap up your training, you’ll earn your SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty certification. More importantly, you’ll have the genuine confidence to explore the underwater world 24/7. Whether it’s a murky lake or a midnight reef, you’ll be ready.

In the SSI Shark Ecology program, you will learn how to interpret shark behaviours, why they are often misunderstood and how dive with sharks. This is a perfect course for shark fans and for divers who are nervous about sharks but want to overcome their fear. Upon completion of this program, you will earn your SSI Shark Ecology Specialty certification and no doubt become an avid shark diver. Start today!

Drysuit diving opens up a world of opportunities, including diving remote Arctic destinations and exploring cold-water dive sites teeming with life. Dry suit diving also keeps you warm on multi-dive days when you do not want to spend your time getting in and out of a cold wetsuit. The SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty program is the best way to become a dry suit diver and teaches you all the knowledge and techniques you need to dive safely and comfortably in a dry suit. You will learn how to use specialized equipment, like dry suits and BCs, the benefits of dry suits and how to deal with dry suit emergencies – which are unique to this type of diving. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty certification.

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.

Why spend your dive trip waiting on the boat when you could be back on the reef?Enriched Air Nitrox is the “secret weapon” for divers,by increasing the oxygen content in your mix, you reduce the amount of nitrogen absorbed into the tissues compared to breathing standard air.This can translate to longer bottom times, shorter surface intervals, and an increased safety margin for every dive.In this program, you’ll move beyond the basics of air and master the skills needed to safely plan and execute dives using enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen.You will learn how to analyze your own tanks, understand your depth limits, and use your dive computer to maximize your time in the water.Enriched Air Nitrox is the superb choice for your repetitive day holiday dives.

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!

Diving with Purpose: Our Recent Citizen Science AdventuresAt Divexplore, we believe that every dive is an opportunity to protect the marine environments we love. Recently, our teams have been pulling double duty as adventurers and citizen scientists, turning incredible underwater excursions into vital conservation missions for the Shark Trust.Here is a look at what we’ve been up to beneath the waves:1. Unexpected Discoveries at Lundy IslandOur team recently headed out to Lundy Island with one main goal in mind: to enjoy some quality time diving with the island's iconic, playful seals. However, nature had a few even better surprises in store for us.While exploring, we stumbled across an abundance of shark egg cases—affectionately known as Mermaid’s Purses. Proving that the best dive plans are the flexible ones, we instantly shifted gears. We couldn't pass up the chance to contribute to vital marine conservation, so we went with the flow and spent our time collecting and logging this unexpected data for the Shark Trust's database.2. Mapping Nursery Grounds in West WalesBuilding on that momentum, we just wrapped up our first official weekend down in West Wales acting as dedicated citizen scientists. This time, we went in with a clear, targeted mission: to locate and document shark eggs to help map critical local nursery grounds.The trip was a massive success! In one small area alone, at a nice, easy depth of just 5 to 8 meters, our team recorded over 10+ shark eggs. Seeing that kind of density in such a concentrated spot is a fantastic, encouraging sign for our local shark populations.Making Waves for Marine ConservationRecording data and capturing high-quality photographic evidence while managing buoyancy and current isn't always easy, but our community did a stellar job.Our Impact: We successfully mapped a high-density shark nursery and logged spontaneous ecological data to aid shark protection.The Big Takeaway: Citizen science plays a massive role in protecting our oceans, and our divers are proving that we can dive for fun and for a purpose.

Divexplore is taking part in the Shark Trust's Great Shark Snapshot 2026!We are incredibly excited to team up with @TheSharkTrust for this year's ultimate citizen science event!From July 18th to July 26th, 2026, we are calling on all ocean lovers and divers to dive with a purpose.What is the Great Shark Snapshot?It’s an amazing week where the global diving community comes together to gather crucial data for shark and ray conservation. Taking part is easy, all you have to do is what you love most: go diving! Just take note of any sharks, rays, or skates you spot during your dives and record them using the Shark Trust app or website.Every single sighting (or even a dive with no sightings!) provides vital data that helps scientists protect these magnificent species and their habitats.We will also be underwater and beach cleaning during surface intervalsLet’s make a real wave of change together. Whether you're a seasoned diver or just looking to get back in the water, your contribution matters!Ready to make your dives count? Learn more and sign up here:https://www.sharktrust.org/forms/great-shark-snapshot-2026Let us know in the comments if you’re joining us, and what shark or ray species you're most hoping to spot!Share far and wide that your taking part to help our Sharks