Silver diver

The Silver Diver is an advanced level for scuba diving in the 0-6m range. It enables the young diver to progressively integrate mixed groups (with teenagers or adults N1 and above). They become increasingly autonomous in the use of their equipment. They learn different techniques for getting in and out of the water. Manages balance during immersion. Empty mask without stress. Familiar with procedures in the event of an incident (air failure, loss of a group).

Prerequisites for certification: bronze diver certification, medical certificate less than one year old.

Gold diver

The Gold Diver certification opens the door to scuba diving in the 0-12m (10-12 years) and 0-20m (12-14 years) ranges. The young diver is therefore able to carry out exploration dives as part of a guided group, taking charge of equipment and progress. The skills expected correspond to those of Level 1, including specific skills enabling safe progress (in particular, relaying with the divemaster).

Prerequisites for certification: silver diver certification, medical certificate less than one year old.

Level 2

Level 2 divers are autonomous at 20m (PA20) and supervised at 40m (PE40). They are able to carry out exploration dives up to 40m, as part of a group, with a dive guide in charge of the dive.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold Level 1 or equivalent certification.

Level 3

The 60 m autonomous diver (PA60-Level 3) can make autonomous dives without a dive director (DP) to 40 m under the same conditions as the PA40 and to 60 m in the presence of a dive director (DP).

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold Level 2, PE40 or equivalent certification and RIFA diving certificate.

Nitrox Diver

Divers holding the Nitrox Diver qualification are able to use a mixture containing up to 40% oxygen, under the prerogative conditions defined in the French Sports Code, according to their level or aptitude as “air” divers.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold Level 1 or equivalent training.

Confirmed Nitrox

Holders of the Confirmed Nitrox Diver (PN-C) qualification are able to use all current Nitrox mixes, as well as pure oxygen for decompression, in accordance with the prerogatives defined in the French Sports Code, depending on their level or aptitude as “air” divers.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold Level 2 or equivalent, have completed at least 10 air dives to 30-40m, have completed at least 6 Nitrox dives, including 4 during training.

20m autonomous diver (PA 20)

The 20 m autonomous diver (PA20) is able to carry out exploration dives to 20 m, as part of an autonomous group, with one or two team members having at least the same skills.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving,

40m autonomous diver (PA 40)

The 40 m autonomous diver (PA40) can make autonomous dives to 40 m as part of a group with one or two team members with at least the same skills, under the responsibility of a dive director.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold Level 2 or equivalent certification.

60m supervised diver (PE 60)

The 60 m supervised diver (PE60) can dive to a depth of 60 m, under the responsibility of a dive director (DP), as part of a group supervised by at least an E4 for dives between 40 and 60 m.

Prerequisites for certification: hold a valid FFESSM license, present a medical certificate stating that there are no contraindications to diving, hold a PE40 certificate and have completed at least 20 logged dives in the natural environment, including 5 at a depth of between 35 and 40 m.

Scuba diver

Using online learning, confined and open water dives, the SSI Scuba Diver program is a perfect foundation to become a confident and safe diver. You will learn all you need to scuba dive in open water up to 12 meters deep with an SSI Professional. In this program, you will complete almost half of the Open Water Diver course training and can upgrade your certification easily. You just need to complete the remaining academic and confined water sessions, plus two open water training dives.

Certification prerequisites: Able to swim, no prior certification required

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Open water diver

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Certification prerequisites: Able to swim, no prior certification required.

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Advanced adventurer

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Adventurer program! With this program, you can try a variety of specialties before committing to full specialty programs. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures.

During the Advanced Adventurer Program, you will try out 5 different specialties. You will complete one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor.

With this trial program in specialty diving, you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full specialty programs any time in the future and credit your Advanced Adventurer training towards them.

Certification prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification.

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Stress & rescue

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers.

You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations.

Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Certification prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification, valid First Aid certification (less than 2 years old).

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Sidemount

In this sidemount diving course, you’ll learn all you need to go single or two-cylinder recreational sidemount diving up to a maximum depth of 30 meters or to your certification depth, whichever is deeper.

Sidemount diving is already common practice for wreck, mine, and cave divers, but now the benefits are being discovered by more recreational divers. With no heavy tank on your back, you’ll be more comfortable in the water and find your streamlining and trim improve effortlessly. By using less energy you may reduce your gas consumption so you can make the most of your dive time. With better buoyancy control, easier access to your valves and more redundancy as well, sidemount diving offers safety and peace of mind.

This is the best sidemount diving course to discover and enjoy the enticing advantages of this dive style. You learn all the skills and knowledge you need to safely and comfortably dive with a single or two-cylinder sidemount equipment configuration.

Certification prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification.

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Deep dive

The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives.

You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives.

Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education.

Certification prerequisites: open water diver certification.

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Dive master

The Divemaster program is the first step on an exciting journey. Earn the respect of your teammates and become a diving ambassador by completing the Divemaster program. All you need to get started is 40 logged dives and certification in Deep Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility or at least 5 logged dives in each, plus Diver Stress & Rescue. You will be certified as a Dive Guide after successfully completing the Divemaster program. If you’d like to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, teaching ecology programs, assisting instructors or even becoming an instructor yourself, the next step is to upgrade to Divemaster with a minimum of 60 logged dives. You can upgrade to Divemaster right away, or later by studying the Science of Diving support course and passing the digital final exam that makes you an SSI professional.

Certification prerequisites: At least 60 logged dives (total 40 hours of diving), Professional Dive Guide certification, Science of Diving.

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SSI Instructor 

You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide.

For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps – Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Certification prerequisites: Completion of Instructor Training Course, Open Water Diver certification at least 6 months old.

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First aid – React right 

React Right is SSI’s emergency first response course and provides you with the training and knowledge you need to act as a first responder in a medical emergency.

In this flexible dive program, you can choose which subjects you want to learn about, including primary assessment, first aid, CPR and primary stabilization techniques. You can also learn about oxygen administration in diving emergencies and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) basics.

Using a combination of academic sessions and practical training scenarios, this program will give you the tools and confidence you need for emergency response. By the time you are certified, you will be able to act as an emergency first responder, provide first aid and CPR, administer oxygen and provide AED support in a medical emergency.

Certification prerequisites: no prerequisites.

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Extended range foundations

The SSI Extended Range Foundations program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your advanced diving skills in a workshop environment. Learn more about using tec diving gear with any total diving system you are certified to use and build upon your basic skill set to master buoyancy, trim, finning techniques, positioning, and communication.

The Extended Range Foundations program provides supplementary training to existing certifications to increase your confidence and in-water control. All in-water sessions are completed in a pool/confined water environment at depths less than 12 meters. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.

Certification prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification, at least 24 logged dives.

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Sidemount extended range

Exploring overhead environments like caves and wrecks is an exciting endeavor. However, squeezing traditional dive equipment into the tight spaces found within these areas can be challenging. Improving your diver trim and streamlining by using a sidemount configuration allows you to explore more constricted places than ever before.

The Extended Range Sidemount program trains you to dive in a sidemount configuration, and the techniques required to use multiple stage cylinders carried for decompression diving efficiently and effectively. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Sidemount certification after completing this program and can then apply that configuration to all other extended range programs.

Certification prerequisites: Open Water Diver certification.

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Extended range nitrox

The SSI Extended Range Nitrox program provides a thorough introduction to the concepts, techniques, and procedures required for decompression diving with nitrox. Designed as either a stand-alone program or a stepping-stone to become an SSI Extended Range Trimix diver, this enriched air diving program provides foundational skills that are the basis for all future technical programs.

Using either a sidemount or twinset configuration, this program prepares you to plan and conduct limited decompression dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters. In addition, this advanced program will teach you the techniques and procedures for using breathing gases up to 100% oxygen for decompression.

Certification prerequisites: Deep Diving certification, Enriched Air Nitrox 40 certification, at least 24 logged dives, Recreational Sidemount Diving certification.

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Technical extended range

The SSI Technical Extended Range Trimix diving program builds upon skills and techniques learned as an SSI Extended Range Trimix Diver. During this Extended Range diving program, you will go beyond the no-decompression limit by increasing your dive depth and duration. Using either a sidemount or twinset configuration, the Technical Extended Range Trimix gas diving program provides avid underwater explorers with the training necessary to independently plan and conduct mixed gas unlimited decompression dives to a maximum depth of up to 60 meters.

Certification prerequisites: at least 70 logged dives, 20 dives over 30m.

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Hypoxic trimix

Get ready to push your technical diving skills to the limit. SSI’s Hypoxic Trimix program will use all the knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience you have gained from your previous advanced dive training to take you on a journey to the depths of the ocean.

You will learn how to safely conduct the ultimate decompression dive by using trimix diving techniques and procedures. Learn how to carry and properly use a minimum of three stage-cylinders for travel and decompression gas alongside your twinset diving configuration. Using hypoxic trimix breathing gases, you will plan and conduct dives to a maximum depth of 100 meters. You will earn the coveted SSI Hypoxic Trimix certification after completing this program.

Certification prerequisites: at least 100 logged dives, 30 logged dives to a depth of over 30 meters.

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Gas blender

Correctly mixing gasses is essential to being able to breathe safely underwater. The SSI Gas Blender program teaches you the skills and concepts required to safely blend nitrox and helium-based trimix gases. This non-diving program is open to certified and uncertified divers and teaches proper usage of mathematics, gas blending software, physics, and techniques required to blend breathing gases safely.

Upon completing this program, you will earn either the SSI Nitrox Gas Blender or SSI Trimix Gas Blender certification.

Certification prerequisites: none.

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