An SSI Divemaster is a recognition level for an SSI Dive Guide who also has the theoretical diving knowledge of the SSI Science of Diving Specialty to back up their practical leadership skills.

SSI Dive Guide:

This program gives you the skills and experience required to safely lead groups of certified divers and is the first step towards an exciting career as an SSI Dive Professional without requiring you to complete an instructor program. Professional Dive Guides can work for SSI Dive Centres, guiding dives in a variety of environments and conditions. You will earn the SSI Dive Guide certification after completing this program.

Minimum Age: 15 / 18 for Professional active status
Certification Prerequisites: Diver Stress & Rescue certification, 40 logged Dives,
Certification or equivalent experience: Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility, Deep Diving.
Academic Sessions: Varies
Pool/Confined Water Sessions: Varies
Open Water Dives: 10 or at least 50 total
Maximum Training Depth: 40 meters / 130 feet
Suggested Duration: 35 - 45 hours

The SSI Dive Guide can be taken as an SSI Recreational Specialty in its own right or as the first program on the Dive Professional career path.

The Recreational Specialty is perfect for the diver who naturally finds themselves as the one others look to to lead a dive. This will equip you with the knowledge and skills to accept the role. You do not have to take the Active Status if you do not wish to be a professional.

The Recreational Specialty can also be taken from the age of 15. We know from experience some of our younger members who have completed all other specialties are in limbo until they turn 18 and can become a Dive Pro. Now they can complete the course at 15 and upgrade to Professional status as soon as they turn 18.

You will be sent an e-mail allowing access to the SSI online academics. You can use a computer or any digital device to login, update your profile and start the learning process. The multimedia academics with videos and multiple-choice questions keep learning fun and ensure you are perfectly prepared for your water sessions and academic sessions.

Usually, our Dive Guide candidates complete the course with us as an internship with progress led by your availability and commitment. However, we are also able to offer the course as an intensive 5-day program.

There are academic sessions at our Dive Centre learning the role of a Dive Guide, such as how to be an effective group leader, legal and safety applications, identifying and managing stress, the components of a controlled dive briefing, dive plan, and executing that dive. There is a final exam requiring a 90% pass score.

Pool sessions are at Harvey Hadden Sports Village on Friday evenings. This is where we will develop your dive skills, rescue skills as well as the logistics of leading divers and dive site set up.

Open water is conducted at Stoney Cove or another location You will show that you can perform all the skills you mastered in the classroom and the pool in a real Open Water environment. You will set up a dive site, cater to the needs of a group of divers, plan, brief, and lead a dive.

All sessions are followed by thorough debriefing and discussion about your performance helping you learn. On successful completion, you will be issued a certificate of completion and a digital recognition rating (via MySSI App).

Active status Professional Dive Guides may also:

Guide certified divers on recreational scuba dives.
Teach the SSI Snorkelling program
Qualify for the SSI Divemaster rating on completion of the SSI Science of Diving Specialty Program.

SSI Science of Diving:

Home study, as well as classroom sessions at the dive centre, will ensure you have all the theoretical knowledge to become an SSI Dive Professional, as well as it generally being really interesting. This program provides an in-depth and detailed study of physics, physiology, decompression theory, the aquatic environment, and diving equipment. It is required training for most SSI Dive Professional programs, as well as some Extended Range programs. On successful completion, you will be issued a certificate of completion and a digital recognition rating (via MySSI App).

On successful completion of the Divemaster program, Active status Professional Divemasters may:

Teach the SSI Snorkelling program
Assist during open water training dives.
Qualify as a Training Specialist for the SSI Ecology Specialty Programs
Enroll in an SSI Assistant Instructor program.

As with all Divemaster Scuba Professional Programs

Certification lasts for life however you must maintain Active Status requirements
As a Dive Professional, you should have your own Total Diving System
All Pool fees are included
All Air fills are included
We are committed to your success, if you require more help we are there for you.

Notes:-

Dive professional registration and course learning fees are payable to direct SSI.

Physical materials for the course are available through the dive centre:

Candidates must have the SSI Professional Base Package for this course.

The SSI Instructor Package is not required although candidates might choose to have it ready for career development.