Can You See the Scuba Training Standards Before Your Course?

Can You Ask to See the Scuba Training Standards Before Your Dive Course?. Yes, you can—and you absolutely should. When you sign up for a scuba course, you’re not just paying for fun. You’re paying to learn critical safety skills that could one day save your life. That’s why it’s so important to know exactly what your scuba course training standards require—before you even get in the water.

Why Training Standards Matter

Every dive course has a defined list of skills, dives, and theory you must complete before you’re certified. These minimum standards ensure you can dive safely and confidently. Unfortunately, not every instructor follows them properly. Some might rush you through, skip skills, or even issue certifications they aren’t qualified to give. While it’s not common. You should protect against it anyway to avoid any issues.

Knowing the scuba course training standards helps you protect yourself. It also allows you to hold your instructor accountable and ensure you’re getting the full training you deserve.

With SSI, You Can Access Standards Yourself

Unlike some other agencies, SSI (Scuba Schools International) makes its course standards fully available to students.

Here’s how to find them:

• Open the MySSI app
• Tap the “Courses” button at the bottom
• Scroll down to “Scuba Training Standards and Procedures”
• Open the document and read the specific course you’re taking

This gives you full visibility of the required dives, skills, and knowledge for your certification.

Check Your Instructor’s Credentials

You can also check if your instructor is active and authorised to teach your course:

• For SSI, visit Consumer Protection on SSI’s Website or scan the QR code on their SSI card
• For PADI instructors, use the PADI Pro Chek Tool

More info on what to look for here:

👉 Why You Should Always Ask to See a Scuba Instructor’s Card

Review the Paperwork—Don’t Skip It

At the end of your course, your instructor should go through your performance and complete your paperwork. This checklist confirms that you’ve met all the required standards. If anything is missing, you must complete it before certification.

No shortcuts. No skipped skills.

Minimum Standards Are Just the Start

Scuba course training standards represent the bare minimum. You should feel confident and competent in every skill—not just pass because it’s “good enough.” If you need more time, more practice, or more support, that’s okay. A good instructor will guide you, not rush you.

So yes—ask to see the scuba course training standards. Check your instructor. Read the course requirements. And make sure your certification is earned properly, with safety and confidence built in.