- Independently plan and conduct decompression dives in a recreational or sidemount Total Diving System,
- An active status Decompression Diving Instructor may conduct the Decompression Diving specialty program.
- They may use a Sidemount Total Diving System as outlined in the SSI Training Standards if they have the Extended Range Sidemount Instructor certification.
Note | SSI recommends that students earn the Science of Diving certification prior to beginning this program.
Students participating in this program must use at least one of the following equipment configurations:
- A complete recreational Total Diving System as outlined in the Recreational Scuba General Training Standards with appropriate D-rings for stage cylinder attachment.
- A single stage cylinder (minimum volume 5.7 liters) with a delivery system and submersible pressure gauge.
- An active status SSI Professional certified to conduct the program must directly supervise all academic and in-water activities.
- During in-water skill evaluations, the students must remain under direct supervision of the SSI Professional so that physical contact can be made at any time.
- Complete all academic sessions and assessments outlined in the instructor manual for Decompression Diving.
- Complete at least one (1) pool/confined water session as outlined in the instructor manual for Decompression Diving.
- Complete at least three (3) open water training dives as outlined in the instructor manual for Decompression Diving.
- Open Water Training Dive 1 must be planned within the no-decompression limits of the student’s dive computer or dive planning software.
- The total time for all required decompression stops on the back gas profile must not exceed 15 minutes per dive.
- Pool/Confined Water Session 1 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes the equipment configuration session.
- Open Water Training Dive 1 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes Pool/Confined Water Session 1.
- Open Water Training Dives 2 and 3 may only be conducted after the student successfully completes all academic sessions and Open Water Training Dive 1.