SSI Courses in Ireland
SSI (Scuba Schools International)
Since 1970, SSI has taken a leading role in professional dive training. The organisation was founded by some enthusiastic divers, who wanted to make diving accessible to everyone. SSI offers courses which can see you through from your first try dive to instructor, all at the highest training level. According to SSI, they are present in over 110 countries and in over 2500 dive centres and resorts worldwide. Complete details of SSI courses can be found on the SSI website.
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SSI Dive Guide Program
The SSI Dive Guide program is based on a lot of practical application, background information and flexibility. Dive Guides can guide dive trips and excursions for certified divers. They can also carry out snorkelling instruction if they have been through the snorkelling instructors program.
- Must be at least 18 to have active status and work as a dive guide
- Must have completed the Advanced Adventurer program or higher or the achieved the equivalent certification with another recognised sports diving association.
- Must have at least 40 logged dives with at least 25hours of dive time
- Must have completed the following speciality program or have proof of experience through at least five logged dives in each of the following speciality programs:
- Navigation
- Night/Limited Visibility
- Deep Diving
- Price: on request
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Advanced Open Water Diver
SSI awards the Advanced Open Water Diver certification in recognition of your achievements, experience and formation. Minimum requirements for achieving this are completing four speciality courses and having 24 logged dives.
Once all requirements have been met and the students profile has been updated on OdiN (including an up to date photo), the digital Advanced Open Water Diver certification card will be issued free of charge.
Certified Advanced Open Water Divers can dive alone with another diver who is certified to the same level or higher, of course taking into consideration the conditions and keeping to the depth which your training dictates.
Students under the age of 15 will be certified as Junior Advanced open Water Divers: they can dive under the direct supervision of an SSI dive professional or a certified adult, always taking into consideration the conditions and depth stipulated by their training.
SSI Speciality Diver
The SSI Speciality Diver is a recognition program, which means you get this certification automatically and for free when you fulfil the following requirements:
having completed at least two Speciality Programs and have at least 12 logged dives
Advanced Adventurer Diver
The Advanced Adventurer Diver Program is designed for certified divers who, under direct supervision of one of our SSI dive professionals, will receive an introduction to five different SSI Speciality programs.
The first open water dive of the following speciality programs can count towards the Advanced Adventurer program: Boat Diving, Deep Diving, Dry Suit Diving, Enriched Air Nitrox, Navigation, Night/Limited Visibility, Perfect Buoyancy, Photo and Video, Search and Recovery, Waves, Tides and Currents
- Theory
- 5 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Discover Bubbles
Our cool dive program for kids aged 8 and 9. Fun and adventure guaranteed. The course takes place in the pool and the sea and limited to a maximum of 2.5 meters.
The program is taught in a fun way, to give kids an unforgettable underwater experience. They can try out the dive equipment and have their first opportunity to breathe underwater. Exciting!
- Course time: around 1.5 hours
- Child friendly approach to putting dive gear on
- Constant supervision from a qualified instructor
- Fun, fun, fun!
- Price according to our current pricelist
Children under the age of 18 need permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate
Snorkeling
A snorkeling course for children and adults. When you snorkel, you stay on the surface of the water and look down into the depths. We start with a short theory section, then go into the pool and then into the open water. After the course you are ready to explore the world of snorkeling. Whether in the sea or in lakes: new and exciting viewing angles are guaranteed.
- Course Duration: 1.5 hours
- Minimum age: 8 years
- Course content: use of fins, mask and snorkel, entry into the water, controlling buoyancy, swimming on the surface, removal of water from the snorkel
- Permanent supervision and training by qualified instructors
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Discover Scuba
An introduction for (as yet) non-divers, who really want to know what all the fuss surrounding diving is about. You will learn something about how to use dive gear in shallow water and what you need to take into consideration when exploring the underwater world.
You will breathe for the first time underwater. You will need a certain amount of time to get used to the feeling. Then the biggest problem for dive instructors is to get people out of the water again. Nobody wants to come out, as it’s just way too much fun!
- Course length: 2-3 hours
- Minimum age: 10 years
- One theory module, practice in the pool and then an open water dive
- You can also do an additional open water dive
- The content is the first module of the SSI Open Water Diver Course
- The course can be counted towards the Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver course
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Scuba Diver
The Scuba diver course is designed for people who don’t have enough time to complete their Open Water Diver course, but would like to have a qualification. At the end of the course you will obtain a Scuba Diver certification. The course includes three theory modules from the OWD, pool practice and two open water dives. As a scuba diver, you are allowed to dive under supervision, have your tanks filled and rent dive equipment – you can continue your training to become an Open Water Diver at a later date, the scuba diver certification counts towards it. Dive in!
- Course length: 2 days
- Minimum age: 10 years
- 3 theory modules, pool practice, 2 dives (open water)
- Learning topics: buoyancy, descent and ascent techniques, breathing under water, dive techniques, buddy system, knowledge of underwater life, avoiding problems underwater, introduction to boat diving. On completion you will receive the internationally recognised Scuba Diver certification plus a logbook. The course can then be counted towards the Open Water Diver course.
- On completion you will receive the internationally recognised Scuba Diver certification plus a logbook.
- The course can then be counted towards the Open Water Diver course.
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Open Water Diver
The Open Water Diver course gives you the basis for independent diving: your first dive certification! During the Open Water Diver course our dive instructors will teach you the basics of theory and practice. You will undertake extensive training in the pool and four dives at our dive sites in the open water.
- Course length: 3-4 days
- Minimum age: 10 years
- Requirements: doctors certificate stating you are fit to dive
- Extensive training and four open water dives
- Course content: choice of diving equipment, handling basic dive equipment including a dive computer, planning and undertaking a dive, prevention and solution of problems underwater.
- On completion of the course you will obtain an internationally recognised SSI Open Water Diver certification and logbook
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Refresher Course
The refresher course is the right thing for you if you haven’t been in the water for a while and you are not sure if you are completely clear on what you have been taught. When you complete the course you will have all the tools you need to be a diver.
Course length: 1-2 hours
Price according to our current pricelist
Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
EAN Nitrox
You want to be able to stay under water longer, lengthen your zero time and shorten your decompression stop? Or maybe you want more safety in relation to decompression while diving? Then with our Nitrox courses you are in the right place.
When you learn to dive with enriched air (NITROX), you can spend more time under water: to take photos or discover more of the underwater world. In this way you increase your safety in relation to decompression and at the end of the course you will be able to safely plan and execute a Nitrox dive.
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Deep Diving
To explore the deep underwater world, there are some things you must take into consideration. In order to be equipped to dive to depths of between 18 and 30 meters, you need special techniques – and you learn these on this course, so that your dives are stress and danger free. Discover the fascinating depths!
- Theory
- 3 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Peak Performance Buoyancy
To be perfectly balanced is very important-both for you and the underwater world. If you are neutrally buoyant, you can take better photos underwater and use less air. You move without effort, safely and effectively. This means you can protect corals for example and avoid moving sediment. Buoyancy is an art that is well worth learning. Successful experiences guaranteed!
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Night Diving
Night diving is a very special experience. The pale circle of light in the middle of the dark underwater world creates an exhilarating feeling of excitement and adventure. A completely different atmosphere, a new animal world is waiting to be discovered. There is a high level of coordination and preparation required to enjoy this adventure safely. Learn everything about planning, equipment and navigation for night dives and enjoy the fascinating underwater world by night.
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate
Search and Recovery
Finding objects underwater and bringing them to the surface. It doesn’t necessarily sound exciting, but it can be lots of fun and important. You’ve either lost something or are a real treasure hunter? During this course you will learn the techniques you need to do this. You learn search patterns and how to navigate in bad visibility. We will bring big, small and irregularly formed objects to the surface. This is even more fun with a sack. This is the way professional divers earn a living. Interested?
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Navigation
How it is possible, when you are underwater, to reach the exact spot you are aiming for?
Through precise navigation. On this course we will teach you about a variety of navigation techniques. You will learn navigation patterns, natural navigation, navigation with a compass, making an underwater map, estimating distances underwater and much more. Practical exercises are at the forefront, this means a bit of theory on land and lots of time in the water.
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Children under the age of 18 need permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate
Equipment and Techniques
As an equipment specialist you are expert in the care, evaluation and repair of your equipment, making you your own safety expert. The knowledge that you gain during this course makes you more confident in the handling of your equipment. You learn the exact function and can carry our small repairs independently. A broken O-ring or a torn fin strap are no longer problems for you. You not only save money, but will never again have to miss a dive due to a minor equipment issue. Of course we will also show you when you need to seek professional help with a problem!
- Theory
- Practical exercises
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Under 18’s need permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Dry Suit Diving
Use the winter to go dry suit diving! With the special suits, cold temperatures can be well handled. On this course you learn how to use dry suits and about the special wintertime underwater conditions. Incidentally: in the winter the water is particularly clear. The excellent visibility guarantees special encounters. Great if you have booked an underwater photography course!
- Theory
- Pool and 2 dives
- Learning material
- Minimum age: 12 years
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate.
Diver Stress and Rescue
If you are prepared to handle problems, you can often prevent them. The Diver Stress and Rescue Program tackles possible problems and shows you how to react correctly depending on the situation. You learn to identify problems both above and below water and how to solve them.
- Theory
- 3 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current pricelist
- Children under the age of 18 need permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate
- Requirements: Minimum 15 years of age and proof that you have completed a first aid course with CPR in the past two years.
- Under 18’s need permission from a parent or legal guardian to participate.
Boat Diving
The Boat diving course entails more than the title suggests. You learn how to correctly execute a boat dive and what you need to take into consideration when choosing a dive centre and dive boats. The course is also a good groundwork for planning your first diving holiday. You will complete two dives with us during the course.
- Theory
- 2 dives
- learning material
- Price according to our current priceless
- Children under the age of 18 need permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate
SSI Divemaster
The SSI-Divemaster converts you into a professional diver. On completion of the course you can function as an SSI Instructor’s assistant and be by their side as a competent aid during pool exercises or in the open water. We run this course on request. You are required to complete the SSI Dive Guide course before the SSI-Divemaster course.
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Price on request
SSI Dive Control Specialist
SSI-Divemasters or equivalent from other organisations can participate in this course. The advanced training prepares you to teach Scuba Skills Update, Snorkelling and the Try Scuba program in the pool. You can then continue to become qualified as a Training Specialist. We run this course on request.
- Price on request
