WELCOME TO THE OCEAN TRIBE ONLINE DIVE THEORY LEARNING CENTRE
This is your go-to hub for understanding scuba theory. We’ve gathered clear explanations, expert tips, and top videos from across the diving world. Everything is designed to help you learn faster and smarter.
Browse each category to explore detailed topics. Watch helpful videos. Review key concepts. Reinforce your dive knowledge.
Whether you’re just starting or preparing for your SSI Instructor Training Course, this is the place to build confidence and clarity.
Your path to becoming a dive professional starts here. Let’s dive in.
The SSI Classified Diving program has been created to enable persons with disabilities who might not be able to earn full certifications the ability to dive and get certified with different safety parameters. Learn to work with disabled divers.
Amboseli National Park – Kenya’s Majestic Wildlife Haven
Amboseli National Parkis one of Kenya’s most iconic safari destinations. Nestled at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, the park spans 392 square kilometers and offers stunning views of Africa’s highest peak.
Amboseli is famous for its large elephant herds, which roam freely across the vast plains. Visitors also spot lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, and over 600 bird species. The park’s diverse ecosystems, including wetlands, savannahs, and swamps, make it a unique wildlife sanctuary.
The Observation Hill provides panoramic views, making it a perfect spot for photography. Additionally, the park’s swamps attract an abundance of wildlife, especially during the dry season when animals gather for water.
For those seeking adventure, Amboseli offers excellent game drives and guided nature walks. As you drive through the park, you’ll have the chance to see animals up close in their natural environment. The park is also home to several Maasai villages, where visitors can experience the rich local culture and traditions of the Maasai people.
Amboseli is easily accessible from Nairobi and Mombasa, making it a popular choice for those looking to experience wildlife up close. Whether you’re here to see the elephants, enjoy breathtaking landscapes, or immerse yourself in Maasai culture, Amboseli delivers an unforgettable safari experience.
Tsavo West National Park – Kenya’s Scenic Wilderness
Tsavo West National Park is one of Kenya’s most captivating wildlife destinations. Covering over 9,000 square kilometers, the park is a diverse landscape of savannah, volcanic hills, and wetlands. It’s home to the Big Five and hundreds of other wildlife species.
As you explore, you’ll encounter elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos, all roaming freely in their natural habitat. The park is also famous for the stunning Mzima Springs, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, and fish up close.
The Sheldrick Falls and Chyulu Hills offer breathtaking views and perfect spots for photography. Additionally, Taita Hills provides panoramic vistas of the surrounding savannah and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tsavo West is easily accessible from Mombasa and Nairobi, making it a great addition to your dive and safari adventure. With fewer crowds and incredible wildlife sightings, Tsavo West guarantees an unforgettable experience.
Tsavo East National Park – Kenya’s Untamed Wilderness
Tsavo East National Park, one of Kenya’s largest and most iconic wildlife reserves, offers a raw and authentic safari experience. Spanning 13,700 square kilometers, this vast landscape is home to the famous red elephants of Tsavo, lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, and over 500 bird species.
As you embark on game drives across the park, you will discover endless savannahs, rugged rock formations, and winding rivers that sustain Kenya’s diverse wildlife. Furthermore, the Galana River, which cuts through the park, attracts herds of animals, while predators lurk nearby, creating thrilling safari moments.
Top Attractions in Tsavo East
Mudanda Rock – Towering rock formation where elephants and other wildlife gather at the waterhole below.
Aruba Dam – This is a hotspot for hippos, crocodiles, and countless bird species.
Lugard Falls – A breathtaking series of rapids along the Galana River, perfect for photography.
Come to Kenya and Become a Diving Instructor in Paradise
Become a diving Instructor by taking your SSI Instructor Training Course (SSI ITC) in Kenya. We teach the SSI ITC to the most up-to-date curriculum.
This incorporates SSI Digital Learning. Thus enabling you to complete many of the presentations before arrival at the IDC.
The ITC is conducted by Award-Winning SSI Instructor Trainer Mark Slingo and a team of Assistant Instructor Trainers
The program lasts 8-16 days depending on the style you wish to do.
When you are not on the ITC you can go diving. When it comes to scuba diving coral reefs, Kenya is up there with the best of them.
Ocean Tribe’s dive base in Diani Beach is located on one of the world’s top 10-rated beaches.
Diani is consistently-rated the best beach in Africa. The palm tree-lined white powder sands run down to azure waters, where the fringing coral reefs can be found only 100m offshore.
The Ocean Tribe SSI Instructor Training Course incorporates the Assistant Instructor Course and the main dive Instructor Training Course.
The whole program takes place over 8-12 days, followed by a 2-day instructor exam, conducted by an incoming SSI Instructor Certifier.
DURATION
You complete the SSI Instructor Training Course over 12 days. This incorporates classroom workshops, class presentations, pool training, and presentations. Plus the Open Water presentations and workshops. You will also complete some digital learning in your own time in the MySSI app.
Unlimited tank refills and pool access for practice
TRAINING MATERIALS INCLUDED
SSI Instructor Training Course Digital Learning
SSI Recreational Scuba Pro Wetnotes
SSI Professional Mask Strap
Dive Briefing & Dive Guide Evaluation Slate
WHAT OTHER INCLUSIONS ARE THERE?
Free water, tea and coffee, and daily lunch
We can give you visa assistance with your eVisa application to Kenya
Ocean Tribe Dive Club membership for the year (free diving & other benefits)
We include a Team teaching module is included following a successful ITC/IE. This allows you to ease into teaching with a professional alongside you.
Career development assistance
We give special discounts on dive equipment in-store. These can include full gear packages.
ITC Polo Shirt/ T-Shirt
Ocean Tribe Mask Strap Cover
MEDICAL INFORMATION
You must meet medical questionnaire requirements. Some conditions or medications may prevent you from diving. You should take the RSTC Diver Medical: Participant Questionnaire to a doctor to have your medical for submission to SSI.
Kenya’s scuba diving is one of its best kept secrets. Over the years we have been mystified why more divers don’t come from around the world to experience the wonders of Kenya’s coral reefs and other dive sites. So we have put together 10 reasons to scuba dive Kenya to assist divers in making their decision to travel to Kenya to dive and also to alert some of you Kenyan’s out there, the wonders that are right here on your doorstep.
[two_third]1. Coral reefs in pristine condition
In comparison to some of the more famous diving locations around the world and the well publicised problems of reef damage from over fishing, boat anchors, and bleaching, Kenya’s reefs are remarkably untouched. From the fringing reefs of the South Coast to the islands around Lamu, Kenya has a fantastic array of coral reefs supporting thousands of species of reef fish.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]2. Wide range of scuba diving sites suitable for all levels of diver
While Kenya has many fabulous coral reef dive sites, it is not limited to these alone. Both the North and South Coasts offer purpose-sunk shipwrecks for divers to explore with the MV Fungao off Diani, the MV Dania off Bamburi and MV Fish Eagle off Kilifi. There are also the Vuma caverns near Kilifi with a wide array of rock formations in addition to the coral reef there. There is shore diving at several locations in Kenya and opportunities to dive in the mangroves to explore the life there. At all locations in Kenya there are dive sites suitable for all levels of diver from beginner Try Scuba Divers, right up to advanced levels of deep diver.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]3. Range of Marine Life
The coral reefs and waters of Kenya make a home to a wide range of marine life ranging from the giants of the ocean right down to a great range of macro creatures. It is possible to encounter sharks, turtles, rays, whales, dolphins and more in the waters around Kenya. Lovers of smaller critters will delight in the reef life with nudibranchs, frogfish, blennies, lionfish and more to see and of course most of the cast of the Disney animation Finding Nemo.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]4. Chance to encounter giants
At certain times of the year in Kenyan waters it is possible to dive with the giants of the ocean, manta rays and the biggest fish in the ocean whale sharks. The ‘Papa Shillingi’ can be seen from November through to March making it a thrilling experience for both divers and snorkelers as these 6m long fish glide past them.[/two_third] [one_third]
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[two_third]5. Dive site location
One of the big problems with diving for some participants is the amount of time it can take out of a holiday or short break. Often in many parts of the world it can take several hours to reach a dive site by boat. Multiple dives coupled with surface intervals can mean that a dive trip takes up the whole day. Not so in Kenya where most of the dive sites sit 15 minutes or less from the dive boat launch sites. With the exception of specialist dive trips you can do a morning 2 tank dive day and be back in time for lunch at your beach resort followed by an afternoon of relaxation and other activities.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]6. Safari opportunities on land
No visit to Kenya would be complete without seeing some its world famous wildlife on a Kenyan safari. Encounter the big five, see the amazing Kenyan national parks and treasures such as the great Rift Valley, the peak of Mt Kenya, the forests of the Aberdares and there is too much already to write about. Where else in the world could you conceivably encounter a whale shark in the morning and lion and an elephant in the wild in the afternoon? An experience not to be missed. [/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
With visibility regularly being over 20m in Kenyan waters and the wide array of marine life, both giant and macro and different diving locations, this can be a great location for underwater photographers. You will have many opportunities to capture great shots.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]8. Muck diving
For divers who like to explore and really find macro marine life, there are also plenty of opportunities to muck dive in Kenya. Nearby to the main coral reefs, these sites offer real chances to find more small critters including many species of nudibranch and more. [/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]9. Protected marine parks
Kenya has in general a successful wildlife management policy and this extends to its waters. There are a number of marine parks in Kenya which play haven for marine life with fisherman unable to access them. Even in the areas outside of the marine parks, the coral is in good condition and the waters are not drastically overfished.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
[two_third]10. Swahili sightseeing
After diving it can be a wonderful experience to take in the Swahili culture of the Kenyan coast. With a history dating back hundreds of years, there are many things to see and do on the Kenya coast. Take in the architecture of the Omani occupation in Lamu and Mombasa old town. Visit a Swahili market to barter for and purchase trinkets and souvenirs. Take part in other watersports such as the incredibly popular kite boarding. Visit snake parks and other wildlife attractions. There really is something for everyone.[/two_third] [one_third][/one_third]
The SSI Master Diver rating is awarded to divers who have taken big steps to gaining experience through dive courses and logging dives. As such here at Ocean Tribe we have put together a package to enable you to gain enough of the required certifications. Added to this specialty courses that increase your dive skills. All at a massive discount as opposed to buying the courses separately.
As mentioned above the SSI Advanced Adventurer is the equivalent rating to the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course. The SSI rating is earned by completing 24 dives and 4 SSI Specialty Instructor courses. It is therefore a higher rating than its PADI namesake.
The SSI Advanced Adventurer card will be accepted as an “Advanced” Card the same as the PADI one in dive centers around the world (but make sure you complete the deep and navigation dives on the advanced adventurer course for this to be the same).
The Open Water and Advanced package includes 2 diver courses getting you the ideal start in your scuba certification journey. It includes the entry level SSI Open Water Diver Course. As well as the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course. As well as training the courses include 10 dives. You will have log some dives and get your first certifications. You will also be introduced to the possibilities offered by specialty courses. If you do the deep dive on the Advanced Open Water Diver course. You will increase your depth limit to 30m rather than 18m.
More people become scuba divers in this way than any other. Once you have the Open Water Certification you can use the diving license to go diving with a buddy anywhere in the world.
At the end of the course, you will be qualified to dive with a buddy to a depth of 18m. Your first scuba diving certification card.
And what better place to learn than Kenya? From the dive base in Diani, we have sheltered dive sites that are perfect for allowing beginners to get comfortable in the water and complete the skill training as well as a chance to take in the wonders of the thousands of different marine species on the coral reefs and exciting local dive sites such as wrecks.
We break the course down into three segments, knowledge development, confined water (in a swimming pool) training, and open water dives.
ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE OVERVIEW
The SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course is where you can begin to take part in dives that interest you and increase your depth range as a diver.
On the course, you will do 5 introductory dives from the specialty dives of your choice (permitted by local diving conditions).
At the end of the course, you will be qualified to dive with a buddy to a depth of 30m. Your first advanced scuba diving certification card.
And what better place to learn than Kenya? From the dive base in Diani, we have a large range of dive sites which include wrecks, fantastic coral reefs, and flat areas for practicing search patterns. This is perfect for skill training as well as a chance to take in the wonders of the thousands of different marine species on the coral reefs and exciting local dive sites such as the popular Alpha Fungao wreck which sits at 30m.
The course is broken down into two segments, knowledge development, and open-water dives.
Special dive and stay offers now available from Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach at our base. Guests can stay in the luxury Swahili Beach Resort, one of Kenya’s top hotels. Discounted packages for accommodation and diving are available. Take advantage of these special dive and stay offers and book today! Contact Us for more information.
Bikinis and Rash Guards Now Available from Ocean Tribe. Ocean Tribe are delighted to announce that our very own range of swimwear and dive wear is now available from our shop in Swahili Beach Resort, Diani Beach, here on the website or from Choc & Nilla Fashions in Nairobi.
The rash guards are the ideal accessory for any diver or water sports enthusiasts while the bikinis and monokinis embrace the Kenyan spirit both in the national flag design and the Kanga patterns. All items are available in a wide range of sizes. Contact us for more info or visit us at the dive store.
SPECIAL OFFER LEARN TO DIVE COMBO PACKAGES Get extras on top of your Open Water Diver course for less (All materials and fees included)
Open Water Course on its own (3 Days)- $499 Open Water & Perfect Buoyancy (4 Days)- $550 Open Water & Enriched Air Nitrox (3 Days)- $540 Open Water & Advanced Open Water (6 Days)- $750 Open Water + Enriched Air + Deep Diving + Navigation Diving (6 Days) - $750 Open Water & Sea Turtle Ecology (3 Days)- $540 Open Water & Any Ecology Specialty (3 Days) - $540
Get better buoyancy and your first specialty diver rating
Get certified to use Nitrox as well as learn to dive
Get your Open Water and Advanced courses
Do full Advanced Packages once you have learned to dive