The SSI Specialty Instructor program provides candidates with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to conduct SSI specialty programs.
| Program | Minimum Required Certification | Specialty Instructor Seminar | Co-Teaching | Verification/Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude Diving | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Boat Diving | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Cavern/Cenote Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Computer Diving | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| DPV Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Decompression Diving | OWI | Y (1, 2) | ||
| Deep Diving | OWI | Y | Y | Y (1) |
| Dry Suit Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Enriched Air Nitrox | OWI | Y | ||
| Equipment Techniques | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Full Face Mask Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Underwater Communications | OWI | Y (1, 3) | ||
| Ice Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Independent Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Navigation | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Night & Limited Visibility Diving | OWI | Y | Y | Y |
| Perfect Buoyancy | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Photo & Video | AI | Y | Y | Y |
| Recreational Sidemount Diving | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| River Diving | OWI | Y | Y | Y (1) |
| Science of Diving | OWI | Y | Y | Y |
| Search and Recovery | OWI | Y (1) | ||
| Waves, Tides & Currents | OWI | Y | Y | Y (1) |
| Wreck Diving | OWI | Y | Y | Y |
| Advanced Wreck Diving | OWI | Y (1) |
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Provide proof of an SSI diver-level certification or an equivalent certification from a recognized training agency.
Have the following active status SSI Specialty Instructor certifications or equivalent certifications from a recognized training agency:
Demonstrate the ability to plan and conduct Open Water Training Dive 3 as outlined in the instructor manual for Decompression Diving.
Have the Full Face Mask certification or equivalent certification from a recognized training agency.
An active status Assistant Instructor Trainer, certified as an instructor in the applicable specialty, may conduct the seminar.
- Successfully complete the Specialty Instructor Seminar as outlined in the instructor manual for the Specialty Instructor program.
- The candidate may co-teach the applicable specialty program with an active status Specialty Instructor who is certified to teach that specialty.
- The lead instructor must have issued a minimum of five (5) certifications in the applicable program before they can co-teach.
- Successfully co-teach at least one complete specialty program as outlined in the instructor manual for the Specialty Instructor program.
- Have at least ten (10) logged dives in the applicable specialty prior to the start of the co-teaching program.
- Have the Training Center QMS Manager of the affiliated SSI Training Center sign off the Specialty Instructor Training Completion Record.
- For non-diving specialties, provide proof of experience (example | manufacturer’s technician certificate for Equipment Techniques). | manufacturer’s technician certificate for Equipment Techniques).
- Complete the applicable student materials, including digital learning, review questions, and final exam.
- Have the Training Center QMS Manager of the affiliated SSI Training Center sign off the Specialty Instructor Training Completion Record.
Note | The responsible SSI Service Center may have additional completion requirements based on local laws and regulations.
Once all requirements are met, verify that the candidate’s training record and required documentation are complete, and process the candidate’s certification in MySSI.
Qualified Specialty Instructors from other training agencies may earn the equivalent SSI Professional certification.
- They must provide proof of the equivalent certification from an SSI-recognized training agency for each certification they are applying for, prior to issuing the SSI Specialty Instructor certification
- To qualify for more SSI Specialty Instructor certifications, use one of the three certification methods in this standard to complete the candidate’s training.
SSI materials are written in English and follow U.S. spelling and punctuation.