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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.
The knowledge development section of the SSI Divemaster course consists of the SSI Dive Guide Digital Learning where you will read the chapters and answer the knowledge reviews. Your SSI Instructor will go through these with you and fill in any gaps in knowledge.
You will also study the SSI Science of Diving Specialty and SSI Computer Diver Specialty for the remainder of your dive theory before completing a final exam. During your studies, your SSI Instructor will be happy to explain anything you are finding hard to understand and make sure you know it.
It is a great idea to get as much out of the knowledge development section of the SSI Divemaster course as possible. You will acquire knowledge that you will use throughout your dive career, but most practically if you choose to continue up the professional ladder. You will use it on the SSI ITC exams, the ITC presentations, the SSI Instructor Evaluation, the SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer exams, and even the Instructor Trainer entrance exam.
To assist our dive go pro candidates in understanding as much dive theory and concepts as possible, we have put together a study resource. The Ocean Tribe ITC Online Learning Centre has videos, quizzes, and other explanations to help you understand concepts. You will also get links to our online classroom sent to you after you sign up for the PADI Divemaster course.
On the SSI Divemaster course, you will be going a lot deeper into dive theory than you have previously.
You will expand up the knowledge that you have acquired on the Open Water Diver Course, Advanced and Specialty courses, and Diver Stress & Rescue Diver courses.
You will also learn a lot more in knowledge development about:
As well as the presentations in the SSI Digital Learning, there will be several workshops with your SSI Instructor to go over concepts.
Yes, you must complete the Science of Diving course in addition to the Dive Guide course to become an SSI Divemaster. You must be proficient in dive theory to be able to answer questions from students and explain concepts in diving. You have all of the SSI Digital Learning in your MySSI app as a backup library whenever you need it. This enables you to stay current and on top of all of your dive theory.
One of the major roles of an SSI Divemaster is to act as an assistant in training to an SSI Instructor. This can consist of many roles including control, demonstration assistance, course logistic preparation, dive guiding, equipment troubleshooting, and more. During the SSI Divemaster course, you will be frequently assisting Ocean Tribe SSI Instructors during real SSI dive courses (if there is not a required course happening at that time then simulations will substitute).
A Divemaster’s key role is to assist the SSI Instructor in controlling the dive group. When the instructor works with a student on a mobile exercise, the Divemaster supervises the rest of the group. In larger classes, SSI standards require additional professionals in the water. This ensures safety, organization, and effective training.
SSI skills like air sharing are easier to demonstrate with a Divemaster assisting. When the Divemaster joins the demonstration, all students get a clear view. This eliminates the need for multiple demonstrations, making training more efficient.
Assisting in training roles often requires the Divemaster to make sure that all the course logistics are in place. This can include packing the spare box, gearing up student divers, and making sure a ESA or descent line is available. SSI Divemasters help ensure tanks are filled, ready, and loaded onto the boat. They assist with course logistics in many ways, so staying alert is essential.
A Divemaster might be called upon to lead the tour section of SSI courses, while the SSI Instructor pays close attention to the students and their reactions, meeting performance requirements. Dive guiding is also a job that is frequently performed by SSI Divemasters with certified divers.
On a dive boat, nothing is more disappointing than a canceled dive. Nothing is more worrying to an inexperienced student than a malfunctioning piece of dive equipment. An SSI Divemaster assisting in training should make sure that they have the knowledge and spares to ensure that dives do not get canceled and minor equipment adjustments can be made.
It is often the case with student divers that they seem to ask the SSI Divemasters for advice, hints, and tips during diver training. This is rather than approach their SSI Instructor who they find not as approachable as the friendly Divemaster. The key is in the title! DiveMASTER….
Embarking on the SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) with Ocean Tribe in Diani Beach, Kenya, is a significant step in your diving career. To ensure a smooth journey, it’s crucial to complete the Digital Learning component effectively. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you navigate this process.
First, create a profile on the MySSI platform. Once your profile is set up, Ocean Tribe will assign the ITC Digital Learning materials to your account.
After the assignment, you can access the materials through the MySSI app or website. This flexibility allows you to study at your own pace, whether on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The ITC Digital Learning is divided into ten comprehensive sections:
Each section includes review questions and assessments to reinforce your understanding.
It’s essential to complete all ten sections, including the reviews and assessments, before the start of your ITC sessions. This preparation ensures you’re ready for the practical applications and evaluations that follow.
After completing the sections, you’ll take a final exam. Achieving a passing score is necessary to proceed with the in-person components of the ITC.
Remember, thorough preparation through the different modules sets the foundation for your success as an SSI Instructor. Dive in, study diligently, and get ready to inspire the next generation of divers.
What should you expect to happen at the SSI Instructor Evaluation (also known as the IE)? You’ve completed your SSI ITC and are now ready for the final verification by SSI that you are a diving instructor.
We often comment that IE stands for “It’s Easy”. It should be if you have prepared right over the ITC and working with your SSI Instructor Trainer.
The SSI Instructor Evaluation in Kenya is normally spread over two days and is conducted by a SSI Instructor Certifier from the SSI office.
The SSI Instructor Exam is split into 4 components:
The written exam is a 100-question multiple choice exam split between SSI training standards and dive theory. This includes knowledge of dive physics, dive physiology, dive equipment, ecology, dive skills and decompression theory, tables, and planning. The training standards part is an open book, meaning you get to use your SSI Instructor Manual. This is because as an SSI Instructor, you should know where to locate training standards and can teach properly. You don’t need to memorize every standard just need to know where to find it in the instructor materials.
You will give a classroom presentation, demonstrating how to use SSI materials to help students struggling with a concept in their dive course knowledge section. During the IE Orientation, evaluators will assign you a question from an SSI course exam or quiz to answer.
You will use the SSI teaching materials including lesson guides, manuals, and digital products such as the SSI app and Digital Learning to teach your fellow IE candidates. Your presentation will last 10-15 minutes, depending on the depth of the content you need to teach. You will use SSI materials to explain the concept, interact with students, and provide real-life examples of how they will apply the information.
During the SSI ITC, YOUR Instructor Trainer will teach you the best strategies to prepare for this presentation, ensuring you can achieve a high score.
If you don’t pass on your first attempt, you can try again with a new question.
The confined water teaching section of the SSI IE is split into two sections.
The first is that you will teach a skill in confined water from an SSI Course. You will brief and then demonstrate the skill then evaluate your “students” performance of it. The students will be assigned deliberate problems for you to identify and correct. Once you are happy they’ve done it correctly you end the water session and debrief them. During the Ocean Tribe SSI ITC you will run through many presentations to get you familiar with the scoring system and format to use.
The second section of confined water teaching on the SSI IE is to assess whether your dive skills are of demonstration quality. You will be assigned 3 skills from the Open Water Diver course including an emergency skill to demonstrate.
The Open Water teaching section of the SSI IE is split between an Open Water teaching presentation.
In the open water teaching presentation, you will teach two skills from the SSI open water diver course. You will set up the training site and brief your divers and assistants about the way the session will operate. The students will be assigned deliberate problems for you to identify and correct. Once you are happy they’ve done it correctly you end the water session and debrief them. During the Ocean Tribe SSI ITC, you will run through many presentations to get familiar with the scoring system and format to use.
You will also complete an expert level demonstration of a rescue bringing the diver up and assisting and unconscious diver on the surface.
In the unlikely event of failing one or more of the segments described above, you would only have to return to a later IE to retake the segment/s you failed. The approx cost of retaking a segment is 250 euros
The whole SSI IE costs 500 euros and this fee is included in your Instructor Training Course package.
If in the unlikely event, you do have to retake a module of the Instructor Evaluation then it is 250 for a repetition
During the SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC), you will take part in several workshops to learn the art of teaching students and setting up your teaching scenarios for safety and accomplishing the skills.
Expect to attend presentations led by our SSI Instructor Trainer, Mark Slingo, alongside SSI Assistant Instructor Trainers. These sessions will cover essential topics such as teaching techniques, marketing, and professional growth within the scuba diving industry.
During the course, you’ll also participate in multiple pool sessions, where trainers will assess your ability to teach diving skills in realistic student scenarios. In addition, you’ll deliver short academic presentations on assigned topics to your Instructor Trainer, demonstrating your ability to communicate theory clearly and confidently.
Finally, you will spend a couple of days in the ocean, where trainers will assess how effectively you teach the open water segments of diver training courses.
There is also the option to complete the React Right First Aid and CPR Instructor program during the course which is necessary to be able to teach the Diver Stress & Rescue course when you are a certified instructor. Following on from the course we can look at getting you some Specialty Instructor ratings to move you up the SSI Instructional ladder towards Specialty Instructor and Divemaster Instructor.
The ITC workshops are build on the SSI Instructor Training Course Digital Learning and knowledge from previous courses. These workshops will develop your instructional skills through hands-on practice, staff guidance, and teamwork—preparing you for the practical elements of the ITC and your future dive career.
Ok no one likes exams. But the SSI ITC is preparing you to complete the SSI Instructor Evaluation. As such prior to the ITC you have been brushing up on your dive theory and familiarising yourself with the SSI Instructor Manual and other SSI teaching Materials. During the ITC we will practice with a couple of exams to prepare you for the IE and ensure that your study has been effective.
Part of being a good instructor is to have good dive skills. You will have been practicing the skills circuit prior to the ITC and there will be a dive skills workshop and evaluation session to ensure that your skills are ready to teach. There will also be an assessment of your Diver Stress & Rescue skills too, in preparation for teaching rescue courses and for the rescue assessment during the SSI Instructor Evaluation.
Instructor candidates give knowledge teaching presentations during the ITC to demonstrate their ability to use SSI materials effectively in a teaching environment. You will use the SSI materials including lesson guides, manuals, and digital products such as the MySSI apps and Digital Learning to teach your fellow IE candidates, to answer questions assigned by your SSI Instructor Trainer from the Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Diver Stress & Rescue, Dive Guide and more.
To prepare you to be able to teach SSI dive courses in the pool and other confined water locations, you will give several confined water presentations during the SSI ITC. These will include practicing using your wetnotes to brief the skills, before giving demonstrations and correcting student diver problems, simulated by your fellow candidates. Teaching presentation skills are normally from the SSI Open Water, SSI Advanced Open Water and Diver Stress & Rescue courses.
During the ITC, you will practice teaching two skills at the same time in open water. This is to simulate if you were teaching multiple courses at once. On our ocean training site, you will practice setting up the dive site before conducting the skills. This will focus on diver safety, supervision, and making sure your “students” meet the performance requirements. This will prepare you for the open water section of the IE of course and real-life when planning open water training for your dive students.
During the ITC, you must act as a role-model dive professional. Trainers will assess your appearance, behaviour, knowledge of the SSI system, and understanding of the SSI Diver Diamond. They will also evaluate your punctuality, equipment presentation, and diving skills.
Being properly ready for your ITC will make it so much easier to complete in a stress-free manner and enable you to go to the IE all set. Below we include the best way to prepare for your SSI ITC including:
The SSI Instructor Training Course digital learning component provides access to comprehensive training materials anytime, anywhere. It includes interactive lessons on dive theory, teaching techniques, and safety procedures. You’ll find videos, quizzes, and knowledge reviews to reinforce learning. This self-paced approach allows you to study at your convenience and be well-prepared for practical sessions. You need to complete this before the ITC to best prepare yourself.
Locate the SSI Scuba Training Standards in the “Courses” section of your MySSI app or through the MySSI website on a browser. You can also download a PDF file of the latest standards from the MySSI website in the “Downloads” section. Read the standards and familiarise yourself with where things can be found in the manual.
Study your SSI Science of Diving Digital Learning and answer questions in the app. You can also use our dedicated ITC Learning Centre. This has informative videos, tips, and quizzes to help you prepare your dive theory. On booking the ITC you will receive access to our Online Classroom which has further preparation aids.
As an SSI Instructor, you will be required to demonstrate skills very slowly. This is so that the key attributes of the skill are easy to see and exaggerated.You should practice the following skills as much as possible to get them to demonstration level. SSI tips for this can be found in our online learning center and the Scuba Skills Review in the SSI Digital Learning on the SSI app.
The SSI React Right CPR & First Aid Instructor Course equips you with the skills to teach life-saving techniques to both divers and non-divers. Throughout the course, you’ll learn essential emergency response methods, including CPR, first aid, AED use, and oxygen administration. As a result, you’ll be fully prepared to handle any diving or non-diving emergency with confidence.
✅ Gain professional-level first aid training
✅ Teach essential CPR and emergency response skills
✅ Open new career opportunities inside and outside the dive industry
✅ Help make diving safer for everyone
✔ How to assess emergency situations
✔ Proper CPR techniques and first aid response
✔ Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
✔ Administering emergency oxygen
✔ Teaching skills to certify new first responders
This course is perfect for:
🔹 Divemasters and Instructors who want to enhance their teaching skills and combine them with Diver Stress & Rescue training.
🔹 Rescue Divers ready to take the next step in their professional journey.
🔹 Anyone passionate about emergency response training and eager to learn life-saving skills.
No matter your background, this course helps you grow, gain expertise, and make a difference!
As a React Right Instructor, you’ll be qualified to train divers, professionals, and everyday people in emergency response. This skill is valuable anywhere in the world, making you a more versatile and in-demand instructor.
Take the first step in your professional dive career and become an SSI React Right CPR & First Aid Instructor today!
You need to know the required scuba diving equipment for the SSI ITC and indeed throughout your scuba diving career.
SSI Instructors are required to wear specific equipment (not missing any) when they are teaching SSI programs. They are also required to have teaching items.
During the SSI ITC and SSI IE you will be expected to have the required scuba diving equipment when you are giving your teaching presentations.
While it is possible to hire the required dive gear from Ocean Tribe, as a dive professional you really should invest in your own set of scuba equipment. As the tools of the trade and something you will be working with day-in-day-out. We offer extreme discounts on dive gear from X-Deep, Shearwater, Oceanic, Hollis, Aqualung, Scubapro, Fourth Element, and Beaver to our go-pro dive students. We can also advise on the best equipment to get as a dive professional starting out.
Being properly prepared for your instructor training course includes having the SSI ITC required materials. You don’t want to have to waste time and effort during the ITC searching for things you need to complete it. Below is a list of the SSI required materials as well as other things you will definitely need during the program to complete it and be prepared for the SSI IE and your future dive instructor career.
We include all of the SSI ITC materials in our ITC packages so you do not have to worry if you will be missing anything. One thing that you do need will be a laptop or tablet. It is too hard to access everything quickly from a mobile phone.
In addition to the required scuba equipment which you can find the complete list of here. You should also bring standard study materials, power points, water bottle and anything else you think you might need. You will need all of your certification details (and copies of any from other training agencies). You should also have a current medical signed by a doctor.
Ocean Tribe are extremely excited to announce that we are launching a new loyalty scheme,Ocean Tribe Rewards to reward frequent divers, who book multiple courses or dive trips withOcean Tribe. Every time you make a booking withOcean Tribe you can accumulateOcean Tribe Doubloons.
Once you have saved enough doubloons you can redeem from a list of Kenya dive trips to the national marine parks and PADI dive courses. We don’t limit who can use the doubloons either, you can use the credit to make a booking for anyone for example a family or friend. Want to pay for a PADI Discover Scuba Dive for a family member to try scuba diving? Use yourOcean Tribe doubloons to pay for it. Check out the full list of Ocean Tribe Rewards on the portal page.
Sound good? Register as an Ocean Tribe crew member today and start earning doubloons for diving rewards.
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