Intent

Minimum Instructor Rating

Student Prerequisites

• Minimum age: 10 years old.

• Referral Diver

Duration

• Recommended hours for completion: 10-15.

Depth Limitations

• Maximum open water depth limit: 30 meters.

• Maximum open water depth limit for 10- to 14-year-olds: 18 meters.

In-Water Ratios

• The student-to-instructor ratio is 4:1.

Proximity

• 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.

Requirements For Completion

• Complete all academic sessions and assessments outlined in the instructor manual for Dry Suit Diving.

• Complete the program’s final exam.

• Complete at least one (1) pool/confined water session as outlined in the instructor manual for Dry Suit Diving.

• Complete at least two (2) open water training dives as outlined in the instructor manual for Dry Suit Diving.

Sequence

• A pool/confined water training session is mandatory prior to any training dives in open water.

• The purpose of this session is to assess the general skill level of the student, and to train them in the use of the specialty equipment prior to any open water training.

Certification

• Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, the SSI Professional may issue the program’s digital certification card.

• Certified SSI divers can dive with an equally- or more-qualified buddy in environments equivalent to their training and within the recommended depth limits of their certifications.

• Students younger than 15 years old will be certified as an SSI Junior Diver in the applicable program, 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.

Credit

• Students may earn the Dry Suit Diving certification in combination with the Open Water Diver certification by completing at least one pool/confined water session and two open water training dives from the Open Water Diver program while wearing a dry suit.

• They must also complete all the pool/confined water and open water requirements for the Dry Suit Diving program prior to certification.

• The instructor who directly supervises the students during the dry suit training dives must be an active status Dry Suit Diving Specialty Instructor.