The SSI Advanced Adventurer provides certified divers an introduction into five (5) different SSI specialty programs under the direct supervision of an SSI Professional.
The first open water training dive from the following specialty programs can be counted toward the Advanced Adventurer program:
Note | This certification program is intended to give new divers a variety of unique diving experiences that will hopefully fuel their passion for diving and dive education.
Note | Adventure Dives are supervised experience dives only, and should not be confused with the Advanced Open Water Diver recognition rating. See: Diver Recognition Ratings.
The instructor must have direct knowledge of the required equipment and skills for any Adventure Dive they conduct.
Required pool/confined water sessions must be completed for all Dedicated Equipment Specialty Adventure Dives.
The QMS Manager of the training center is responsible for verifying that the instructor has the applicable student-level certification or at least five dives in the applicable specialty prior to conducting training.
Have at least one (1) of the following SSI certifications or an equivalent from a recognized training agency:
Note | This program is designed to be completely focused on practical diving skills. The total number of hours is determined by the individual instructor based on student needs, student ability, and environmental conditions.
- Maximum open water depth limit for 12- to 14-year-old students during the Deep Diving Adventure Dive is 21 meters.
- The student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1 if any student uses a dry suit without a dry suit certification.
- No more than two (2) participants per instructor or certified assistant may be under the age of 12, and none of the remaining participants may be under the age of 15.
- An active status SSI Assistant Instructor or higher must directly supervise all in-water activities for Adventure Dives from programs that may be taught by an Assistant Instructor (e.g. Boat Diving and Perfect Buoyancy).
- An active status Open Water Instructor must directly supervise all in-water activities for Adventure Dives from programs that may be taught by an Open Water Instructor (e.g. Deep Diving and Dry Suit Diving).
Note | Students younger than 15 years old must be directly supervised by an SSI Dive Professional or paired with a certified adult.
Note | Students who have already completed the Enriched Air Nitrox Adventure Dive may use nitrox mixes up to EAN32 and the no-decompression limits for EAN21 during additional Adventure Dives. They must be directly supervised by a qualified SSI Professional who personally verifies the gas mix, their computer settings, and their dive.
- Complete any academic sessions and assessments as outlined in the instructor manual for Advanced Adventurer.
- Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, an Open Water Instructor may issue the Advanced Adventurer digital certification card.
- Certified Advanced Adventurers can dive with an equally- or more-qualified buddy in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits.
- Students younger than 15 years old will be certified as a Junior Advanced Adventurer and can dive under the direct supervision of a dive professional or with a certified adult in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits.
- Students may apply the dives completed in their Advanced Adventurer program toward the first training dive of the individual specialty programs.