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Navigation Diving Course

Navigation Diving
🧭 SSI Specialty Course • Diani Beach

Never just follow. Know the way.

Master underwater navigation using a compass, natural landmarks and distance-estimation techniques. Explore confidently, conserve air and finish your dives exactly where you planned.

Ask about Navigation Explore the course ↓
⏱️ 1 day Course duration
🤿 2 dives Open-water training
🎂 Age 10+ Minimum age
📱 Digital learning Learn in the MySSI app
SSI Navigation Diving specialty certification card
Find your way underwater

Turn every dive into a confidently planned adventure.

Great underwater navigation is about much more than watching a compass. It combines precise compass use with awareness of reef formations, sand patterns, depth, light, currents and other natural clues.

During two instructor-led ocean dives, you will practise navigating planned routes and returning to your intended destination without unnecessary searching or stress.

Better navigation can mean a more relaxed dive, improved air management and more time enjoying the reef.
  • Build confidence at unfamiliar dive sites
  • Navigate more effectively with your buddy
  • Combine compass headings with natural clues
  • Develop skills useful for advanced and professional training
Your underwater toolkit

What you’ll learn

Practical skills that help you plan routes, maintain direction and recognise where you are underwater.

🧭

Compass precision

Set headings, maintain a course and use reciprocal bearings to return along your route.

△

Navigation patterns

Practise reciprocal, square and triangular routes while maintaining buoyancy and buddy contact.

🐠

Natural navigation

Read reef contours, depth, light and distinctive underwater features to support your compass work.

📏

Distance estimation

Estimate underwater distance using kick cycles, elapsed time and other practical techniques.

🗺️

Dive-site awareness

Build a mental map and identify useful reference points before and during the dive.

💡

Problem-solving

Learn how to pause, assess and reorient if visibility, currents or conditions change.

Your route to certification

How the course works

Complete your theory and then put your new knowledge into practice with an SSI Instructor.

01

Digital learning

Complete the SSI Navigation digital learning and knowledge reviews in the MySSI app before your training dives.

02

Instructor briefing

Review compass use, route planning, distance estimation and natural navigation techniques.

03

Two ocean dives

Practise navigation patterns and real-world orientation techniques at suitable local dive sites.

04

SSI certification

Complete the knowledge and performance requirements to earn your SSI Navigation Diver certification.

Simple and inclusive

What’s included

We take care of your learning, diving logistics and equipment so you can focus on developing your navigation skills.

✓ SSI Navigation digital learning
✓ Two instructor-led ocean dives
✓ Standard scuba equipment
✓ Air fills and weights
✓ Fruit, drinking water and snacks
✓ Transfers within Diani
Before you start

Who can join?

🤿

Entry requirements

You must be at least 10 years old and hold an SSI Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent entry-level certification from another recognised training organisation.

🩺

Medical requirements

Participants must meet the diver medical questionnaire requirements. Certain medical conditions or medications may require clearance from a doctor before diving.

SSI advanced specialty diving programme
Want to go further?

Choose the Advanced Alternative Programme

Combine Navigation with the complete SSI Deep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox specialty courses. Instead of receiving one general advanced certification, you complete three full specialty programmes.

The package includes six training dives over three days and can qualify eligible divers to dive to 40 metres after completing the Deep Diving programme.

3 days 6 training dives Deep Diving Navigation Enriched Air Nitrox Maximum training depth 40m
Good to know

Navigation course FAQs

Do I need to own a compass?

Standard course equipment is included. Contact Ocean Tribe if you would also like advice about choosing your own dive compass.

Is navigation only useful in poor visibility?

No. Navigation helps you follow efficient routes, locate features, return to an exit point and avoid unnecessary swimming even in clear water.

Is the course difficult?

The skills are introduced progressively. Your instructor will help you combine compass techniques with natural reference points until navigating feels comfortable.

Can a Junior Open Water Diver join?

The course is available from age 10 for divers with the required entry-level certification. Junior depth and supervision limits still apply.

Where will the training dives take place?

Training takes place at suitable local reefs or dive sites selected according to the conditions on the day.

Ready to find your way?

Speak to the Ocean Tribe team about completing your SSI Navigation Diver specialty in Diani Beach.

Contact us on WhatsApp Email Ocean Tribe

Search & Recovery Diving Course

search add recovery
SSI Specialty Course · Diani Beach

Lost below? Know how to find it.

Turn an underwater search into a planned mission. Learn effective search patterns, accurate navigation, rigging and controlled lift-bag techniques with Ocean Tribe.

Ask to Book Explore the Mission ↓
📅 2 Days Practical specialty training
🌊 4 Dives Training plus a fun dive
🧭 Open Water+ Or equivalent certification
💻 Digital Learning Complete theory in advance
Your underwater mission

Search smarter. Recover safely.

Dropping straight down and hoping for the best is not an effective underwater search. Visibility, currents, depth, bottom composition and the size of the missing object all influence how a search should be planned.

The SSI Search & Recovery program teaches you to assess the scene, select an appropriate search pattern, work accurately with a compass and recover objects without losing control of your buoyancy or the load.

This is a hands-on course for divers who enjoy navigation, problem-solving, teamwork and learning practical underwater skills.
SSI Search and Recovery specialty course certification card
Mission skills

Build a complete recovery toolkit

Finding an object is only half the challenge. You also need to plan, communicate, rig and lift it without creating a new problem.

01

Mission Planning

Assess the object, last known position, depth, conditions, team roles and possible hazards before entering the water.

02

Search Patterns

Choose and perform organised patterns designed for the search area, visibility and likely object location.

03

Compass Navigation

Maintain headings, measure distance and keep a search controlled when visual references are limited.

04

Knots & Rigging

Create secure attachment points and prepare an object so it remains stable during a controlled recovery.

05

Lift-Bag Control

Select, attach and manage a lifting device while controlling the ascent and remaining clear of the load.

06

Team Communication

Coordinate with your buddy, use clear signals and respond calmly when the plan or conditions change.

Follow the clues

One missing object. Different ways to search.

No single pattern suits every mission. You will learn how the shape of the search area, available reference points and visibility affect the technique you choose.

Expanding Square

Useful when the approximate position is known and the search can begin close to a reliable central point.

Circular Search

A controlled radius search that can work well around an established central reference point.

Jackstay or U-Pattern

A systematic back-and-forth search suited to covering a defined area without leaving large gaps.

How the course works

From the plan to the lift

The sequence may be adjusted for weather, sea conditions and student progress, but your training combines knowledge, confined-water practice and real ocean scenarios.

01

Complete Your Digital Learning

Work through the SSI learning materials before or during the course, then review the key concepts with your instructor.

02

Planning & Equipment Workshop

Examine search strategies, compass work, lines, knots, rigging options, lift bags and the hazards involved in a recovery.

03

Confined-Water Practice

Develop the essential techniques in controlled conditions before applying them during your ocean dives.

04

Ocean Search Missions

Plan and conduct search patterns, locate target objects, rig a load and practise controlled recovery techniques.

05

Fun Dive & Certification

Put your improved navigation and awareness to use on an additional fun dive before completing the course.

Controlled recovery

Lift it—without letting it take control.

A lifting device creates a powerful buoyant force. Correct rigging, positioning, air control and team awareness are essential throughout the recovery.

✓

Stay clear of the load

Maintain a safe position and never attach a lifting device to yourself.

✓

Add air progressively

Use controlled input and monitor the load as it becomes lighter.

✓

Expect the unexpected

Be ready to release, vent or abort if the recovery stops being controlled.

Included in your course

We supply the training setup

Arrive ready to learn. Ocean Tribe provides the core course materials, equipment and local support needed for the program.

📱 SSI Digital Learning
🤿 Scuba Equipment
🫧 Air Fills & Weights
🏊 Pool Training
🧑‍🏫 SSI Instructor Training
🍍 Fruit, Water & Snacks
🚐 Diani Transfers
🏅 SSI Certification
Before you join

Course requirements

Entry Requirements

  • Minimum age of 10 years
  • Open Water Diver certification or equivalent
  • Comfortable basic buoyancy and mask skills
  • SSI paperwork completed before training

Medical Fitness

All participants must complete the required diver medical questionnaire. Some medical conditions or medications may require clearance from a doctor before diving.

Check Medical Information
Leave only bubbles

Recovery should always be responsible.

Search and recovery training does not mean removing anything interesting from the ocean. Ownership, permission, local regulations, protected sites and environmental impact must all be considered.

Get Permission

Confirm that you are authorised to search for and recover the object before beginning the dive.

Protect the Reef

Plan lines, finning and lifting carefully to avoid damaging coral or disturbing marine life.

Leave History in Place

Do not remove archaeological, protected or culturally significant objects from a dive site.

Good to know

Search & Recovery FAQs

Do I need to be an experienced diver?
You need an Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent qualification. Good buoyancy and basic compass confidence will help, but the course is designed to develop these skills further.
Will I lift a very heavy object?
Training loads are selected to suit the student, conditions and learning objective. The focus is safe planning and control—not lifting the heaviest possible object.
Where will the training dives take place?
Ocean dives are conducted at suitable Diani reef or wreck sites. The final location depends on weather, visibility, current and the training needs of the group.
Is equipment included?
Standard scuba equipment, air fills and weights are included. Ocean Tribe also provides the specialist training equipment used during the search and recovery exercises.
Can this specialty count towards another recognition level?
Specialty certifications may contribute towards SSI recognition levels such as Advanced Open Water Diver or Master Diver when the relevant SSI requirements have also been completed.
Your mission starts here

Ready to find what others miss?

Contact Ocean Tribe for upcoming Search & Recovery course availability in Diani Beach.

Course prices from US$299
Ask to Book on WhatsApp Call +254 700 934854

Deep Diving Course

SSI Deep diving course
SSI Deep Diving Specialty · Diani Beach

Go Deeper. Dive Smarter.

Develop the planning, gas-management and emergency skills needed to explore safely beyond 18 metres and down to a maximum depth of 40 metres.

Check Availability
40m Maximum depth
📅 2 Days Focused specialty training
🤿 3 Training Dives Below 18m and up to 40m
🎁 1 Free Fun Dive Apply your new skills
🎂 Minimum Age 15 Medical requirements apply
📱 Digital Learning Complete through MySSI
Scuba diver exploring deeper blue water
DEPTH DEMANDS A PLAN
Explore with confidence

More depth. More planning.

Deeper dives can reveal dramatic reefs, wrecks and underwater landscapes that are beyond the normal Open Water Diver range.

Depth also increases gas consumption, nitrogen exposure and task loading. The SSI Deep Diving Specialty teaches you how to plan these dives properly and respond to the challenges of deeper recreational diving.

  • Plan and conduct dives to a maximum of 40 metres.
  • Understand and manage nitrogen narcosis.
  • Calculate and monitor increased gas consumption.
  • Use a dive computer for deeper dive planning.
  • Review redundant air and emergency equipment options.
  • Practise controlled ascents and safety-stop procedures.
Understand the changing environment

What changes as you descend?

The deeper you go, the faster you consume gas and the less time you have available within no-decompression limits.

18m

Beyond the Open Water range

This is where Deep Diving training begins. You will strengthen planning, communication, buoyancy and awareness while working beyond standard Open Water Diver limits.

30m

Gas use and narcosis become more significant

Gas consumption rises as ambient pressure increases. Careful monitoring, turn pressures and reserve planning become essential.

40m

The recreational training limit

Forty metres is the maximum depth for this recreational specialty. Dives remain within no-decompression limits and your personal experience, conditions and instructor assessment.

Your deep-diving toolkit

Skills you will develop

🗺️

Deep-dive planning

Plan depth, time, ascent, safety stops, reserve gas and contingency options before entering the water.

⛽

Gas management

Understand how pressure affects gas consumption and establish appropriate turn and reserve pressures.

🧠

Nitrogen narcosis

Recognise possible symptoms, understand their effect on judgement and respond by reducing depth when necessary.

⌚

Dive-computer use

Monitor depth, no-decompression time, ascent rate and safety-stop information throughout the dive.

🛟

Emergency procedures

Review air-sharing, redundant-gas options, controlled ascents and responses to changes in the dive plan.

⚖️

Buoyancy and control

Maintain stable buoyancy, controlled descents and precise ascents in deeper water.

Who can join?

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 15 years.
  • SSI Open Water Diver certification.
  • Equivalent certification from a recognised agency accepted.
  • Comfortable completing boat dives in open water.
  • Meet all diver medical requirements.
Safety before depth

Medical information

Every course participant must meet the requirements of the diver medical questionnaire before entering the water.

Some medical conditions, previous health issues or medications may require written clearance from a qualified doctor. Review the form before booking so there is time to obtain approval if necessary.
Check “Can I Dive?” Ask Ocean Tribe
Your course package

What is included?

📱

SSI Digital Learning

Complete your Deep Diving theory through the MySSI app before the practical training.

🤿

Three training dives

Three progressive instructor-led dives below 18 metres and up to the course maximum of 40 metres.

🎁

One free fun dive

Apply your new planning, gas-management and buoyancy skills during an additional recreational dive.

🛠️

Dive equipment

Standard required scuba equipment, cylinders, air fills and weights during scheduled training.

🍉

Boat refreshments

Fruit, drinking water and light snacks during scheduled boat diving.

🚐

Diani transfers

Scheduled course transfers within the Diani area.

See the adventure

Take a Look Beneath the Surface

Discover what it feels like to venture beyond the shallows and explore the deeper reefs of Diani.

Your training progression

From theory to forty metres

BEFORE
Complete before the course

Digital learning

Complete the required SSI Deep Diving Digital Learning through the MySSI app. Use the in-app notes to record questions for your instructor and finish all required section reviews.

Study at home Knowledge reviews In-app notes
DAY 1
Orientation · Planning · Dives

Build the foundations

Review the digital theory, prepare equipment and complete the first deep-training dives on a suitable local reef or wreck.

Gas planning Equipment checks Descent control Depth awareness
DAY 2
Deeper application

Plan and execute

Apply deep-dive planning, gas management, computer monitoring, controlled ascent and emergency procedures during the remaining training dive.

Narcosis awareness Turn pressure Ascent control Safety stops
EXTRA
Included free fun dive

Apply what you have learned

Complete an additional recreational dive and use your new skills in a less assessment-focused environment.

Experience dive Enjoy the reef Build confidence
Where will you dive?

Diani’s reefs and wrecks

Training takes place by boat on the most suitable Diani reef or wreck for the day’s course objectives, weather, visibility and ocean conditions.

The final site and maximum depth are selected by the instructor according to conditions and candidate performance.

3 Training dives
1 Free fun dive
40m Maximum depth
Explore Diani Dive Sites
Available throughout the year

Ready to go deeper?

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty is offered daily, subject to instructor availability and suitable ocean conditions.

Use the live booking calendar to select a date or contact Ocean Tribe if you need help checking prerequisites.

SSI Deep Diving Specialty
Book Your Course
  • Two days of training
  • SSI digital learning
  • Three instructor-led deep dives
  • One additional free fun dive
  • Equipment, air fills and weights
  • SSI certification after completion
Build your diving pathway

Course and package options

Take Deep Diving as an individual specialty or combine it with other training to work towards higher SSI recognition levels.

SSI Deep Diver Specialty Course certification card

Deep Diving Course

Focus specifically on planning and conducting recreational dives to a maximum depth of 40 metres.

SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Package certification card

Advanced Open Water Package

Combine Deep Diving with other specialties and build a broader, more versatile set of advanced skills.

Explore Advanced Package →
SSI Master Diver Package certification card

Master Diver Package

Work towards SSI Master Diver recognition through specialty, rescue and logged-dive experience.

Explore Master Diver →
Discover what lies below

Your next level is deeper

Learn to manage depth, gas, narcosis and no-decompression time while exploring Diani’s deeper reefs and wrecks.

Chat on WhatsApp Email Ocean Tribe

Diani Beach, Kenya · +254 700 934 854 · info@oceantribe.co

Wreck Diving Course

Wreck diving course, MV Alpha funguo Kenya
⚓ SSI Specialty Course • Diani Beach

Every wreck has a story.

Learn to plan and conduct responsible non-penetration wreck dives. Explore the history, structure and marine life of the MV Alpha Funguo while developing stronger awareness and dive-planning skills.

Explore the course ↓
⏱️ 1 day Course duration
🤿 2 wreck dives Instructor-led training
🎂 Age 15+ Minimum age
📱 Digital learning Learn in the MySSI app
SSI Wreck Diving specialty certification card
History meets adventure

Learn to explore wrecks safely and responsibly.

Shipwrecks attract marine life, preserve fascinating pieces of history and create some of the most memorable dive sites in the world. They also introduce hazards that ordinary reef dives may not.

The SSI Wreck Diving Course teaches you how to assess a wreck, identify potential hazards, plan your route and explore the outside of the structure while maintaining safe limits.

This is a non-penetration wreck course. You will explore the outside of the wreck rather than entering an overhead environment.
  • Plan safer and more organised wreck dives
  • Recognise entanglement, sharp-edge and structural hazards
  • Map important wreck features and possible routes
  • Improve buoyancy and awareness around fragile structures
Your wreck-diving toolkit

What you’ll learn

Build the planning, awareness and control needed to explore the exterior of wrecks with confidence.

⚠️

Hazard awareness

Identify sharp metal, fishing line, unstable structures, restricted areas and other wreck-specific hazards.

🗺️

Wreck orientation

Observe the wreck’s layout, identify recognisable features and build a mental map of the dive site.

📋

Dive planning

Plan depth, time, gas, buddy positioning and an appropriate route around the wreck.

⚖️

Buoyancy and trim

Maintain control close to the wreck without making contact or disturbing sediment and marine life.

🧭

Navigation techniques

Use the wreck’s structure, natural references and navigational tools to remain oriented.

📸

Responsible exploration

Observe and photograph wrecks without removing artefacts, damaging growth or disturbing wildlife.

Know your limits

Wreck Diver or Advanced Wreck?

These programmes teach different levels of wreck exploration. Understanding the distinction is essential for safe diving.

This course
🚢

SSI Wreck Diving

Teaches you to plan and conduct dives around the exterior of a wreck. You learn wreck orientation, mapping, hazard awareness and responsible non-penetration exploration.

You remain in open water with direct access to the surface rather than entering enclosed wreck passageways.

Next-level training
🔦

SSI Advanced Wreck Diving

Adds specialised training for wreck penetration and overhead environments, including guideline use, line-laying techniques, gas planning and emergency procedures.

Divers must complete the required experience and prerequisite certifications before taking part.

Your route to certification

How the course works

Prepare online, review the dive plan with your instructor and complete two training dives on a real wreck.

01

SSI digital learning

Complete the Wreck Diving theory and knowledge reviews in the MySSI app before your practical training.

02

Wreck briefing and planning

Review wreck hazards, environmental conditions, gas planning, buddy procedures, communication and the planned route.

03

Training dive one: orientation

Become familiar with the wreck, practise controlled descent and ascent procedures and identify its major external features.

04

Training dive two: exploration

Build on your first dive with improved route planning, navigation, mapping and responsible exterior exploration.

05

Certification

Complete the required knowledge and performance standards to earn your SSI Wreck Diving specialty certification.

Everything you need

What’s included

✓ SSI Wreck Diving digital learning
✓ Two ocean wreck training dives
✓ Training with an SSI Instructor
✓ Standard scuba equipment
✓ Air fills and weights
✓ Fruit, drinking water and boat snacks
✓ Transfers within Diani
✓ SSI specialty certification on completion
✓ Real-world wreck diving experience
Your underwater classroom

Meet the MV Alpha Funguo

Your training dives take place on Diani’s signature wreck, the MV Alpha Funguo. Now covered in marine growth, the wreck provides a dramatic environment for learning exterior wreck-diving techniques.

● Located off Diani Beach
● Approximately 28 metres deep
● Rich marine life and coral growth
● Suitable for structured wreck training
Discover the MV Alpha Funguo
Before you start

Course requirements

🤿

Diving experience

You must be at least 15 years old and hold an Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent recognised qualification.

Because the MV Alpha Funguo lies deeper than the standard Open Water depth limit, you must also hold an Advanced Open Water/Advanced Adventurer or Deep Diving qualification, or take the required Deep training alongside the Wreck course.

🩺

Medical requirements

All participants must complete the required diver paperwork and meet the medical questionnaire requirements.

Certain medical conditions or medications may require clearance from a doctor before taking part in the course.

SSI Advanced Wreck Diving course card
Want to explore further?

Continue to Advanced Wreck Diving

Complete exterior wreck training and then develop the specialist skills needed for carefully planned wreck-penetration dives.

Advanced Wreck training introduces guideline use, line laying, lost-line procedures, overhead-environment gas planning and specialised emergency techniques.

2 days 4 training dives Line and reel techniques Gas planning Wreck penetration Small-group instruction
Good to know

Wreck Diving FAQs

Will I enter the wreck during this course?

No. The SSI Wreck Diving Course focuses on exploring and mapping the exterior of the wreck. Penetration requires additional Advanced Wreck training and the appropriate prerequisites.

Why do I need advanced or deep-diving experience?

The MV Alpha Funguo lies at approximately 28 metres. This is deeper than the normal 18-metre depth limit of an entry-level Open Water Diver certification.

What makes wreck diving different from reef diving?

Wrecks may have sharp metal, entanglement hazards, unstable structures, fishing lines and confusing layouts. The course teaches you to identify and manage these additional risks.

Do I need my own scuba equipment?

Standard scuba equipment, air fills and weights are included. Contact Ocean Tribe if you intend to use your own equipment or need advice about specialist wreck-diving equipment.

Can I take Deep Diving and Wreck Diving together?

Yes. Divers who do not yet hold the required depth qualification may be able to combine Deep Diving training with their wreck programme. Contact Ocean Tribe to confirm the appropriate route.

Can I take underwater photographs on the wreck?

Photography may be possible, but training requirements, conditions and safety take priority. Strong buoyancy control is important before adding a camera to a wreck dive.

Does Wreck Diving count towards SSI recognition levels?

Wreck Diving is an SSI specialty certification and can contribute towards SSI diver recognition levels when combined with the required certifications and logged dives.

Explore what the ocean remembers.

Learn to approach wrecks with the planning, control and respect these extraordinary dive sites deserve.

Ask us on WhatsApp

Perfect Buoyancy Course

perfect buoyancy course
⚖️ SSI Specialty Course • Diani Beach

Less effort. More control.

Fine-tune your weighting, trim, breathing and movement. The SSI Perfect Buoyancy Course helps you glide more smoothly, use less energy and become a calmer, more environmentally aware diver.

Explore the course ↓
SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty certification card
⏱️ 1 day Course duration
📱 Digital learning Learn in the MySSI app
🏊 Practical workshop Instructor coaching
📅 Available daily Subject to availability
Transform the way you dive

Find your balance and let the ocean do the work.

Excellent buoyancy is one of the clearest differences between a diver who is fighting the water and one who looks completely at home underwater.

This course gives you focused time with an SSI Instructor to examine your weighting, body position, breathing and equipment setup. Small changes can make a huge difference to your comfort and control.

Perfect buoyancy is not about staying completely still. It is about being able to choose your depth and position without unnecessary effort.
  • Hover comfortably without excessive movement
  • Maintain a more streamlined horizontal position
  • Use breathing for precise depth adjustments
  • Avoid accidental contact with reefs and the seabed
Feel the difference

What better buoyancy can do for you

These skills improve almost every part of your diving, whatever your experience level or future diving goals.

🫁

Improve air efficiency

Reduce unnecessary movement and effort so that you can breathe more calmly and make better use of your gas.

⚖️

Fine-tune your weighting

Review how much weight you use and where it is positioned to improve balance, comfort and control.

➖

Develop better trim

Work towards a more streamlined body position that reduces drag and makes movement feel easier.

🐢

Protect marine life

Improve awareness and control so that your fins and equipment stay clear of coral, sand and delicate marine habitats.

📷

Take steadier photos

Hold your position more easily while composing photographs or filming marine life without chasing your subject.

😌

Dive more calmly

Feel more comfortable at depth and spend less time correcting your position or adjusting your equipment.

Your route to better control

How the course works

Learn the principles, examine your setup and practise with focused feedback from your instructor.

01

SSI digital learning

Complete the Perfect Buoyancy theory in the MySSI app before your practical training.

02

Equipment and weighting review

Examine your exposure protection, cylinder, BCD configuration and weight placement with your instructor.

03

Practical buoyancy workshop

Practise hovering, trim, breath control, controlled ascents and descents, finning and precise positioning.

04

Personal coaching

Receive focused feedback and simple adjustments you can continue practising on future dives.

05

SSI certification

Complete the required knowledge and performance standards to earn the SSI Perfect Buoyancy specialty certification.

Everything you need

What’s included

Come ready to learn. Ocean Tribe provides the training, equipment and support needed for the programme.

✓ SSI Perfect Buoyancy digital learning
✓ Classroom or instructor briefing
✓ Practical buoyancy workshop
✓ Personal instructor feedback
✓ Standard scuba equipment and weights
✓ Transfers within Diani
Who will benefit?

This course is not just for beginners

Buoyancy can always be refined, especially when changing equipment, exposure protection or diving environments.

🌱 New divers

Build good habits early and gain confidence maintaining a stable depth and body position.

🫧 Air-hungry divers

Reduce unnecessary movement and learn techniques that may help you dive more efficiently.

📷 Photographers

Improve your ability to hold position without touching the reef or disturbing your subject.

🚀 Advancing divers

Create a stronger foundation for Deep, Wreck, Sidemount and professional-level training.

Choose your route

Refine your skills or start strong

Take Perfect Buoyancy as a specialty or combine it with your Open Water Diver training.

SSI Perfect Buoyancy course card
For certified divers

Perfect Buoyancy Specialty

Focused training for divers who want better trim, weighting, breathing control and underwater movement.

  • SSI digital learning
  • Instructor-led practical training
  • Equipment and weighting review
  • SSI specialty certification
SSI Open Water Diver certification card
Beginner package

Open Water + Perfect Buoyancy

Learn to scuba dive and add focused buoyancy coaching so that you begin your diving journey with stronger control and trim.

  • SSI Open Water Diver Course
  • Perfect Buoyancy programme
  • Digital learning and equipment
  • Internationally recognised certification
Good to know

Perfect Buoyancy FAQs

Is Perfect Buoyancy only for new divers?

No. Experienced divers can benefit when changing equipment, exposure suits or diving environments, or when preparing for photography, wreck, deep or professional training.

Do I need to own scuba equipment?

No. Standard rental equipment is included. If you own equipment, using it during the course can help you refine its setup and weight distribution.

Will the course reduce my air consumption?

Better trim and buoyancy can reduce unnecessary movement and effort. Air consumption also depends on factors including fitness, breathing habits, depth, conditions and experience.

Does Perfect Buoyancy count towards SSI recognition levels?

Perfect Buoyancy is an SSI specialty certification and can help towards SSI recognition ratings when combined with the required specialties and logged dives.

Can I combine it with another course?

Yes. Perfect Buoyancy complements Open Water, Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, Photo & Video and many other recreational programmes.

Do I need to meet medical requirements?

Participants must complete the required diver paperwork. Certain medical conditions or medications may require clearance from a doctor before taking part in in-water training.

Stop fighting the water.

Discover how much easier diving feels when your weighting, trim, breathing and movement work together.

Ask us on WhatsApp

Science of Diving Course

Science of diving specialty course
SSI Specialty Course · Diani Beach

Master the science. Understand the sea.

Go beyond simply following your dive computer. Discover how pressure, gases, physiology, decompression theory and the aquatic environment shape every dive you make.

Ask to Book Explore the Science ↓
📚 2 Days Knowledge development
💻 Digital Learning Study through MySSI
🧑‍🏫 Instructor Workshop Review and discussion
🤿 No Dives Required Theory-based specialty
Dive beneath the surface

Know why—not just how.

Every dive is shaped by physics, physiology and the aquatic environment. Pressure changes the volume and density of gas. Your body absorbs and releases inert gas, while temperature, current, visibility and workload influence how you feel underwater.

The SSI Science of Diving program connects these ideas to real diving decisions. It helps you understand your equipment, interpret information from your computer and plan dives with greater awareness.

Ideal for curious recreational divers and anyone preparing to progress towards SSI Divemaster or other professional training.
SSI Science of Diving specialty certification card
Inside the course

Six ways to understand your dives

Science of Diving brings together the core knowledge that helps divers make sense of what happens to their bodies, equipment and environment beneath the surface.

⚛️

Diving Physics

Explore pressure, volume, density, buoyancy, light, sound and the gas laws that affect divers and their equipment.

🫁

Diving Physiology

Understand how breathing, circulation, temperature and pressure affect the human body underwater.

🫧

Decompression Theory

Examine inert-gas uptake, elimination, ascent control, decompression models and decompression illness.

⚙️

Diving Equipment

Learn how regulators, cylinders, buoyancy systems and other life-support equipment function.

⌚

Dive Planning

Better understand tables, dive computers, gas management, repetitive diving and safer ascent practices.

🌊

Aquatic Environment

Discover how water, weather, waves, tides, currents and marine ecosystems influence diving.

The pressure laboratory

Depth changes everything.

Water pressure increases rapidly as you descend. This changes gas volume, density, consumption and the way your equipment behaves.

0 m
1 ATA Surface pressure and full relative gas volume.
10 m
2 ATA Twice the surface pressure; gas volume is halved.
20 m
3 ATA Gas is denser and breathing-gas use increases.
30 m
4 ATA Four times surface pressure and greater planning demands.
P₁V₁ = P₂V₂

Boyle’s Law

As pressure increases, the volume of a flexible gas space decreases. This helps explain equalisation, buoyancy changes and why divers must never hold their breath.

Pgas = Ptotal × Fgas

Dalton’s Law

The total pressure of a gas mixture is made up of the partial pressures of its component gases—important when considering oxygen exposure and nitrogen narcosis.

Gas ↔ Tissue

Henry’s Law

The amount of gas dissolving into a liquid changes with pressure. This principle helps explain inert-gas loading and controlled ascents.

Pressure Buoyancy Gas Density Oxygen Exposure Nitrogen Narcosis Thermal Stress Decompression Dive Computers
The diver beneath the equipment

Your body is part of the dive system.

Depth, pressure, breathing gases, workload and temperature all influence human performance. Understanding those effects helps you identify problems earlier and make more informed decisions.

✓

Gas exchange

Understand how oxygen and inert gases move through the lungs, blood and body tissues.

✓

Pressure-related effects

Explore equalisation, barotrauma, gas expansion and safe ascent behaviour.

✓

Temperature and workload

See how cold, exertion, breathing resistance and stress can affect a dive.

✓

Diver awareness

Connect physical signs and symptoms with appropriate prevention and response.

More than a number on a screen

Understand the shape of your dive.

Dive computers continuously calculate a theoretical model of inert-gas loading. The course helps you understand the concepts behind the display, including depth, time, ascent rate, safety stops and repetitive diving.

DESCENT BOTTOM TIME SAFETY STOP SURFACE
How the course works

Learn at home. Explore it together.

This is a theory-based specialty with no required dives. You will combine flexible digital study with an instructor-led review and knowledge assessment.

01

Activate Your MySSI Learning

Access the SSI Science of Diving materials through the MySSI app and begin studying in your own time.

02

Work Through the Core Theory

Explore physics, physiology, decompression, equipment, dive planning and the aquatic environment.

03

Meet Your SSI Instructor

Connect the digital learning to real-world diving through explanations, examples, calculations and discussion.

04

Review & Assessment

Resolve any remaining questions and complete the required knowledge assessment for the program.

05

Earn Your SSI Certification

Once all academic requirements are complete, receive your digital SSI Science of Diving specialty certification.

Included

Your complete knowledge program

📱 SSI Digital Learning

Interactive course materials available through the MySSI platform.

🧑‍🏫 Instructor-Led Sessions

Review the subjects and apply them to real diving situations.

🏅 SSI Certification

Your digital specialty certification following successful completion.

🧠 Knowledge Assessment

Check your understanding and identify any topics needing review.

🚐 Diani Transfers

Local transfers within Diani for the scheduled classroom sessions.

♾️ Long-Term Access

Keep the learning materials in your MySSI account for future revision.

Who is it for?

For divers who keep asking “why?”

You do not need years of diving experience. Curiosity and a desire to understand diving more deeply are what matter.

🌱

Newer Divers

Build strong theoretical foundations early in your diving journey.

🧭

Experienced Divers

Refresh, expand and connect knowledge gained through experience.

🎓

Future Divemasters

Complete an important knowledge component on the professional pathway.

🔬

Curious Minds

Explore the physics, biology and technology behind scuba diving.

Thinking professionally?

A foundation for Divemaster training

A dive professional needs more than strong in-water skills. You must be able to understand diving theory, apply it to changing situations and explain important concepts clearly to other divers.

Science of Diving develops the academic knowledge used throughout professional-level training and helps prepare you for the theory requirements of the SSI Divemaster pathway.

Explore Professional Courses

From diver to dive professional

Science of Diving is a major knowledge milestone, but professional qualification also requires practical ability, logged experience and completion of the relevant SSI professional program.

Good to know

Science of Diving FAQs

Do I have to make any dives during this course?
No. Science of Diving is a knowledge-based specialty combining SSI digital learning with instructor-led academic sessions.
Is it only for Divemaster candidates?
No. It is valuable for any diver who wants a deeper understanding of physics, physiology, decompression, equipment and dive planning. It is also particularly useful for future dive professionals.
Is there much mathematics?
The program includes scientific principles and some calculations, but your instructor will explain how the concepts relate to practical diving. You can ask questions and review difficult sections together.
Can I complete the course online?
You can complete the digital-learning portion online through MySSI. Ocean Tribe also provides instructor-led review and assessment as part of the complete certification program.
Will this make me a better diver?
Knowledge does not replace practice, but understanding the reasons behind diving procedures can help you plan more effectively, recognise risks earlier and make better-informed decisions.
Take your knowledge deeper

Ready to understand every dive?

Contact Ocean Tribe for upcoming SSI Science of Diving course availability in Diani Beach.

Course prices from US$249
Ask to Book on WhatsApp Call +254 700 934854

Photo & Video Diver Course

photo and video course
SSI Photo & Video Specialty

Don’t just see it. Capture it.

Learn to create sharper, brighter and more engaging underwater photographs and videos while protecting the incredible marine life you came to capture.

Ask About Course Dates Explore the Course
1 Day Focused training
2 Dives Practical sessions
Age 10+ Minimum age
Any Camera Action, compact or advanced
Turn dives into stories

Bring home more than memories

Underwater photography is about much more than pointing a camera and pressing a button. Light behaves differently, colours disappear with depth, subjects move and you must maintain excellent control without disturbing the reef.

The SSI Photo & Video Specialty helps you understand your camera, improve composition, work with underwater light and capture marine life responsibly. You will practise the techniques during two dives with an SSI professional.

You do not need an expensive professional camera. The techniques can be applied to action cameras, compact cameras and advanced systems.

SSI Photo and Video Specialty certification card
Your underwater subjects

Real wildlife. Real encounters. Better images.

Learn how to approach marine animals calmly, choose a strong composition and capture their natural behaviour without chasing, touching or crowding them.

Sea turtle swimming underwater in Diani
Wide-angle subject

Sea turtles of Diani

Practise patient approaches, natural-light photography and framing your subject within the reef environment.

Clownfish photographed underwater
Marine-life portrait

Colourful reef residents

Work on focus, colour, composition and capturing behaviour without disturbing the animal.

What you will learn

Build the complete underwater shot

From dive control to post-production, every part of the course is designed to help you create stronger photographs and smoother video.

Camera setup

Prepare your camera and housing, understand essential settings and reduce the risk of floods, fogging or missed shots.

Buoyancy control

Maintain a stable shooting position while protecting coral, marine life and the seabed.

Composition

Use subject placement, perspective, negative space and backgrounds to create images with greater impact.

Light and colour

Understand how depth changes colour and how sunlight, video lights and strobes can improve your results.

Marine-life technique

Approach subjects slowly, anticipate behaviour and capture wildlife without stressing or disturbing it.

Editing workflow

Review your work and explore practical approaches to colour correction, selection and post-production.

Near the surface Warm colours fade Blue becomes dominant Artificial light restores colour
Work with underwater light

Put the colour back into your pictures

Water absorbs light and colour. Red tones disappear first, followed by orange and yellow, which is why underwater images can quickly develop a strong blue or green appearance.

  • Use natural light more effectively in shallow water.
  • Understand when to use lights, strobes or colour correction.
  • Reduce backscatter by improving your position and lighting angle.
  • Choose the best distance and direction for your subject.
  • Create more consistent photographs and video footage.
Bring your camera

The techniques work with your equipment

Simple and versatile

Action cameras

Improve stability, positioning, lighting and shot planning for smoother, more watchable underwater footage.

Flexible choice

Compact cameras

Learn how to move beyond automatic settings and get more control over exposure, white balance, focus and composition.

Greater control

Advanced systems

Develop better control of manual settings, lenses, strobes and the complete underwater photography workflow.

Your course day

Learn it, dive it, review it

1

Digital learning and briefing

Complete your SSI digital learning, discuss equipment and settings, and create a practical plan for your underwater shoot.

2

Camera preparation

Prepare the housing, check controls and seals, organise accessories and set up the camera for local conditions.

3

First practical dive

Practise buoyancy, subject approach, composition, camera positioning and controlled shooting under instructor supervision.

4

Review and refine

Review your results, identify improvements and adjust your technique or camera setup before the second dive.

5

Second practical dive

Put the feedback into practice and focus on creating a more deliberate, consistent collection of photographs or video clips.

Included in your course

Everything needed for a brilliant training day

SSI digital learning through the MySSI app

Two practical dives with an SSI Instructor

Standard scuba equipment, cylinders and weights

Photography and video coaching throughout the dives

Fruit, drinking water and snacks during the dive day

Local transfers within the Diani area

Who can join?

Course requirements

10+ Minimum age
Certified Open Water Diver or equivalent
Medical Complete the diver medical questionnaire
Questions answered

Photo & Video course FAQ

Do I need an expensive underwater camera?

No. You can develop your skills using an action camera, compact camera or more advanced underwater system. Tell Ocean Tribe what equipment you have when enquiring.

How long is the course?

The course normally takes one day and includes digital learning, briefings, camera preparation, two practical dives and image or footage review.

Where will the dives take place?

Training can take place in a pool or confined-water environment and at a suitable local reef or wreck. The final plan depends on conditions and the training needs of the group.

Do I need excellent buoyancy?

Comfortable buoyancy control will make photography much easier and help protect the reef. If you want to improve first, ask about combining your training with the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty.

Will I learn how to edit my images?

The course introduces image and footage review, colour correction, selection and post-production principles. The emphasis remains on capturing the strongest possible material in the water.

Will the course teach responsible wildlife photography?

Yes. You will learn to maintain control, avoid contact with the reef and approach marine animals without chasing, touching, feeding or changing their natural behaviour.

Create your next underwater story

Ready to take better underwater photographs and video?

Contact Ocean Tribe for upcoming course availability and tell us which camera system you would like to use.

Message Us on WhatsApp Email Ocean Tribe

Recreational Sidemount Diver Course

SSI Sidemount Diver
Reconfigure your diving

Recreational
Sidemount Diver

Move the cylinders from your back to your sides. Build a streamlined, balanced and adaptable setup across three hands-on days in Diani.

Download Brochure
Duration3 days
Water timePool + 4 dives
Minimum age15 years
PrerequisiteOpen Water Diver
Two cylinders. One refined system.

What is sidemount diving?

Instead of carrying a single cylinder on your back, sidemount places cylinders alongside your body and connects them to a purpose-built harness using clips, bungees or straps. The configuration began in cave diving and is now used in recreational, technical and overhead-environment diving.

You normally attach the cylinders in the water, making the walk to the entry point easier. Underwater, each cylinder can be adjusted or removed when appropriate, creating an exceptionally adaptable system.

  • Learn to configure and fine-tune a sidemount system
  • Develop balanced trim and precise buoyancy control
  • Manage two independent gas supplies correctly
  • Complete three training dives and one included fun dive
Sidemount diver underwater
Designed around the diverAdjustable, removable and ready for a different way to explore.
Why divers make the switch

A different kind of freedom

Sidemount is not simply moving the tanks. Correct setup changes how you prepare, move and manage gas throughout the dive.

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Adjustable trim

Fine-tune cylinder position and harness fit to create a balanced, streamlined profile.

⛽

Independent gas

Learn disciplined gas management across two separate cylinders and regulators.

⚙

Flexible equipment

Cylinders can be attached, adjusted or removed in the water when the situation permits.

➜

A route to tech

Create the foundation for SSI Technical Sidemount training and multi-cylinder configurations.

Three focused days

Your course roadmap

Complete the digital learning before arrival, then turn the theory into repeatable skills with your SSI Instructor.

Digital learning

Work through SSI theory at home and record questions to discuss during your instructor workshops.

Equipment workshop

Build, adjust and understand the harness, bungees, clips, regulators and cylinder positioning.

Pool session

Master the setup, entries, exits and core sidemount procedures in confined water.

Ocean diving

Complete three training dives, earn certification and enjoy an included sidemount fun dive.

Build the system

Skills you will practise

Assembly & adjustmentConfigure the harness and cylinders
Entries & exitsManage equipment at the surface
Gas managementUse two independent supplies
Buoyancy & trimCreate control and balance
NavigationNavigate in sidemount configuration
Regulator recoveryRespond calmly and correctly
Emergency proceduresPractise essential responses
Equipment handlingAdjust the system underwater
Everything lined up

What is included?

01

SSI digital learning

Recreational Sidemount theory and knowledge development.

02

All dive equipment

Sidemount equipment, air fills, tanks and weights.

03

Pool training

A confined-water session to configure and practise safely.

04

Three training dives

Instructor-led open-water dives on suitable Diani sites.

05

One fun dive

Put your newly developed sidemount skills into practice.

06

Boat refreshments

Fruit, drinking water and snacks during the boat trip.

07

Diani transfers

Course transfers within Diani are included.

08

SSI certification

Certification after all performance requirements are met.

Where can it lead?

Build toward technical sidemount

Recreational Sidemount establishes the equipment awareness, gas discipline and in-water control needed for future progression. SSI Technical Sidemount training develops the configuration further and introduces the use of at least four cylinders for technical diving.

Your course dives take place on Diani’s coral reefs and wreck at sites selected for the day’s conditions and training goals.

Explore Diani Dive Sites
Ready to start?

Requirements and preparation

Prerequisites

Age 15+ and certified

You must be at least 15 years old and hold an Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent rating from another recognised training organisation.

Medical fitness

Complete the questionnaire

All participants complete a self-assessed medical declaration. A “yes” response may require medical clearance from a physician before training begins.

Check the medical guidance →
What to bring

Come ocean-ready

Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen and a reusable water bottle. Camera hire, extra refreshments and Ocean Tribe merchandise may be available separately.

Quick answers

Sidemount course FAQs

How long does the course take?

The course takes three days, with SSI Digital Learning completed in advance. It includes equipment workshops, pool training, three instructor-led ocean training dives and one included fun dive.

Do I need previous sidemount experience?

No. You do need an Open Water Diver certification or recognised equivalent, but the course teaches you how to assemble, adjust and dive the configuration.

Is the equipment included?

Yes. The course includes the required dive equipment, cylinders, air fills and weights.

Where are the open-water dives?

Training takes place by boat on suitable Diani coral reefs and wreck sites. The instructor selects sites according to sea conditions and course objectives.

When is the course available?

Ocean Tribe offers the Recreational Sidemount Diver course daily, subject to instructor and trip availability. Book online or contact the team to confirm your dates.

Change your configuration

Ready to dive sidemount?

Book your SSI Recreational Sidemount Diver course in Diani and learn to build, balance and control a completely different scuba system.

Ask on WhatsApp

Waves, Tides & Currents Course

Kids Scuba Diving for the School Holidays in Nairobi

scuba diving for kids

scuba simbas kids club kenya logoThe Christmas school holidays are just around the corner here in Kenya and Ocean Tribe are delighted to announce a range of kids scuba diving programs of different ages groups to get involved in and learn to dive in their school holidays.

Programs will be conducted in various locations around Nairobi and for courses such as the PADI Open Water Diver program which require open water dives, these will be finished at the coast (we can adjust to family holiday schedules).

For our younger divers aged between 8-10 we have the PADI Bubblemaker Try Dive and the PADI Seal Team and Master Seal Team programs. These are PADI bubblemaker logo kenyaconducted in pool environments and are a great introduction to scuba diving with basic training and fun filled “Aqua-missions” over the holiday. We will also be running an after-school kids scuba diving club the Scuba Simbas in the new year.

For kids aged 10+ there is the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience, which introduces them to the world of scuba diving in a pool or confined ocean environment. There is also the opportunity to earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certificate, the first scuba diving certificate enabling kids to dive in the beautiful waters of the Indian Ocean and around the world.

paid seal team kids activitiesContact Mark at Ocean Tribe for more information on 0700-934-854 or mark.slingo@oceantribe.co and check out the video links below. Happy Diving.

PADI Seal Team in Kenya brochure
Download the PADI Seal Team Brochure

 

 

 

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