What's required to get started?
You should be in good health and of reasonable fitness. You must be at least 10 years of age.
How long will it take to be come Open Water Certified?
Open Water Classes are approx two weeks. Two classroom sessions a week for two weeks, one weekend of pool work and a second weekend of open water dives.
How cold is the water in the Puget Sound?
The Puget Sound's water gets between 42-52 degrees. Therefore we recommend no less then a 7mm wetsuit. Ideally though, a diver should think about a dry suit in these conditions.
What is the visibility like in the Puget Sound?
The visibility in the Puget Sound area is generally 10-15ft. Although, visibility gets up to about 30 ft on occasions.
What can I expect to see in the Puget Sound area?
The variety of life in the Puget Sound area is amazing. You can see everything from Starfish, Sea Perch, Cabezon, and Ling Cod, to Stubby Squids, Red Octopus, and the Giant Pacific Octopus.
Why an SSI Open Water Course?
With all the Training Agencies on the market why should a professional dealer choose to work with SSI???
Here you will find enough reasons why SSI must be the choice of
any professional diving operation...
SSI's Systems
Our Business and Education Systems have been built to help
dealers combine running a scuba school with the rest of their
diving business. This innovative systematic approach helps you
run your business even teaches you how to acquire and retain
loyal customers and shows you how to apply the best training
methods available on the market today.
Quality Dealers
SSI Authorized Dealers are carefully selected to meet our high standards. We only work with full service, reputable retailers and resorts who run a professional scuba school, sell and service equipment, and offer additional services to meet all a customer's diving needs.
Quality Instructors
SSI is the only agency that requires instructors to affiliate with a full-service Authorized Dealer. SSI Instructors are monitored on-site for adherence to the SSI Training Standards, professional
conduct, and performance to ensure courses are taught correctly.
The Leader in Home Study Training
Home study is the hottest thing in dive training because it allows customers to spend more time in the water developing ability and comfort. In 1990, SSI pioneered this technique, and we’re still the leader today.
The most flexible Educational System in the Industry
The SSI Total Teaching System is the most flexible training system in the market. The possibility to adjust the standards to environmental needs entitles SSI Facilities to offer real life programs in order to teach safe and responsible divers.
State-of-the-Art Training Materials
The SSI Teaching System supports the SSI Facilities by State of the Art Training Materials. All SSI training materials reinforce the value of own equipment and by that they automatically support the equipment sales.
The Full Range of Diving Programs
SSI offers the entire range of programs from children´s diving up to technical diving. Due to the variety of programs SSI Facilities can offer competitive program combinations and make their
personal goals in diving become true.
ODiN - Online Divers Network is the most sophisticated Service Portal in the Industry
SSI offers the most sophisticated Internet Portal which is recognized to be “State of the Art” inside the diving industry. SSI Facilities have access to all important information and training
tools anytime and anywhere. In addition to that SSI Facilities get provided with a personalized “Customer Relationship Management System” to raise their Customer`s Retention.
SSI - The Business Support Company in The Diving Industry
Professional Dive Retailers must implement and establish policies and standards in their facility in order to be successful. SSI is “The Business Support Company” of the diving industry. SSI
offers modular support seminars covering the business aspects of diving. The SSI Sales Representatives are well trained in Business Strategies as well in order to support the SSI Facilities effectively in the day-to-day operation.
SSI is not “just another training agency.” We are dedicated to the total success of each and every SSI Dealer. Let us assist in what be are best at - SSI and you...a recipe for success!
About SSI
Scuba Schools International is a worldwide diver certification agency and educational support organization. Recognized as an innovative leader in diver education, we create state-of-the-art
training programs, training standards and materials for all levels of diver education.
SSI Quality
The SSI Organization is set up to deliver quality. SSI Instructors can only teach at SSI Training Facilities, which are carefully screened to ensure they meet our standards. SSI Instructors use
our highly-effective water training method called Comfort Through Repetition. Scuba skills become second nature, so you can relax and enjoy yourself when you go diving. SSI is the only organization in the industry with this level of quality control and accountability. This means you can have confidence in everyone associated with Scuba Schools International. With
more than 2000 facilities in more than 110 countries your certificate will be recognized where ever you want to dive. Due to that fact SSI C-cards are entitled to carry the EUF Quality Logo for the certified ratings as only a few certification cards in the industry are allowed to.
As well as being a leader in the scuba industry, SSI was one of the founding members of the
Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The Membership in the RSTC and the Certification
after the European Standards represent a high level of quality.
The SSI Mission
SSI’s mission is to get people excited about diving as a lifetime of adventure. The key to a lifetime of diving is that people must have fun diving or they will choose to do something else. Our belief is that proper training has a lot to do with fun. This is why we take training so seriously, because we take our fun so seriously. And that is why SSI Divers have such a longstanding reputation for being confident, competent, comfortable, outstanding divers — and they have the most fun too!
The SSI Network
Our worldwide network is made up of five types of members.
Divers
Certification gives you lifetime access to diving services, dive boats, diving activities and travel opportunities worldwide. Since certification is for life, it is the diver’s responsibility to maintain
proficiency with their knowledge and skills, keep their equipment serviced, and dive within the limits of their comfort and ability.
Instructors
SSI has certified tens-of-thousands of instructors worldwide. These instructors teach and certify divers through SSI Training Facilities. Instructors are responsible for meeting SSI Training
Standards, using current materials and renewing their active status with SSI annually. Instructor performance is monitored by their training facility.
Authorized Dealers
SSI Training Facilities include professional retailers, resorts, liveaboards, clubs and colleges all over the world. Training facilities operate a scuba diving school for diver and dive leader training;
sell, rent and service high-quality equipment; sell compressed gas; and run trips, activities and boats for diving.
Regional Centers
SSI Regional Centers support Divers, Instructors and Training
Facilities in key areas around the world. Their role is to:
• Ensure all Training Facilities meet SSI Standards.
• Certify Instructors to train divers.
• Distribute SSI products and produce certification cards.
• Implement a quality assurance system to enforce SSI Training Standards.
• Implement education and business support programs to help their Training Facilities and Instructors be more successful and professional.
International Headquarters
International Headquarters writes SSI Training Standards and creates the skills and techniques for SSI courses. We produce education materials and, with the help of our Regional Centers,
translate them into many languages
SSI History
Over 35 Years of Experience
Scuba Schools International is a worldwide diver certification agency and educational support organization. Recognized as an innovative leader in diver education, we create state-of-the-art training programs, training standards and materials for all levels of diver education.
Company History
SSI was founded in 1970 and is the largest school-based training agency in the world.
In the Spring of 1999, SSI merged with the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS founded in 1967) and created a new synergy in the dive industry. The sales and marketing expertise of NASDS, when joined with the re-knowned educational products of SSI, created a stronger company that is in a better position to serve dealers, instructors, and ultimately, divers. Together, SSI and NASDS are responsible for a remarkable list of
innovations and consequently have been recognized with the highest honors in the diving industry. Some of our most noteworthy accomplishments include:
• To require open water classes for certification.
• Integrated teaching systems.
• To require six open water dives for certification.
• To create a sales and marketing program to benefit retailers.
• To require visual inspections of cylinders.
• To introduce a buoyancy compensator device.
• To introduce an alternate second stage.
• Full-motion video training system.
• Equipment inspection program.
• Risk awareness video.
• To develop a Total Dive Log and Recognition System.