SSI Instructor Courses at Lagona Divers
SSI Instructor Courses- Would you like to teach others how to dive?
As a founding member of the RSTC and ISO-certified worldwide, SSI has a long history in the diving industry. It offers you, the professional, the perfect blend of marketing and teaching tools. Through the close cooperation of all SSI members with training centres and resorts around the world, you have access to global career opportunities in over 130 countries. If you’re already a member of SSI, you’re probably already familiar with the course structure and media system, if not, you’re in for a treat!
All courses typically consist of self-paced digital learning materials, academic sessions and practical applications. With your MySSI app, you as a professional have access to all standards, student materials, instructor manuals, cue cards and much more. All in one place, all up to date, all the time! From the first trial dive to the Instructor Trainer, all programmes follow the same structure. Lagona Divers is proud to offer the full line of SSI Instructor Courses.
Divemaster

After certification as an SSI Divemaster, you will have the knowledge and skills to accompany certified divers on dives, recognise stressful situations and deal with emergencies. You can also support the diving instructor as a certified assistant on various SSI training programmes. A divemaster can work in a diving centre and accompany certified diving groups on organised trips from a boat or from land. Divemasters are very valuable to dive centre owners and dive boat operators as they are often heavily involved in the customer experience.
In a resort, divemasters are often the staff who take care of the customer experience from the moment they arrive until they leave. In a land-based dive centre, dive guides assist in guiding dives and generate enthusiasm for excursions to local dive sites. After completion your next step is the SSI Instructor Course.
Prerquisits:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have completed at least 40 open water dives totalling 25 hours or more
Holds the following SSI certification, or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised diver training organisation:
- Diver Stress & Rescue
Holds the following SSI certifications, equivalent certification from a recognised association, or can provide proof of at least 5 experience dives in the following categories:
- Deep (deeper then 30m)
- Navigation
- Night & Limited Visibility
- Log at least 60 open water dives totalling 40 hours or more.
- Pass all requirements and assessments listed in the Divemaster Instructor Manual.
- Complete at least two (2) open water training dives as described in the Divemaster Instructor Manual.
- Meet the requirements for active SSI Professional status.
- Pass the Science of Diving Final Exam.
- Guided dives for certified divers.
- Act as a certified assistant for all SSI recreational diving programmes.
- Assist on open water training dives by accompanying no more than two (2) students at a time on underwater excursions.
- underwater excursions.
- Sign up for the Ecology Specialty Instructor training programme.
- Start SSI Instructor Training and participate in an SSI Instructor Course
Assistant Instructor

After the Divemaster, the Assistant Instructor is the next logical step on your way to becoming an instructor. It gives you the chance to gain valuable teaching experience, practise dive briefings, teach theory lessons and take over practical dive training. If you want to advance your career as an SSI Professional, you can complete the SSI Instructor Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation and qualify as an Open Water Instructor. This SSI Instructor Course offers you the opportunity to advance your career and expand your skills.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- At least 60 logged open water dives with a dive time of at least 40 hours.
Holds the following SSI certification in active status or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised diving organisation:
- Divemaster
- Enriched Air Nitrox 40
- At least 75 logged open water dives with a dive time of at least 50 hours.
- Read and complete chapters 1-6 of the Instructor Training Course digital learning, including review questions and assessments.
- Complete the theory lessons 1-6 as described in the Instructor Manual for the Instructor Training Course.
- Pass all requirements and assessments for the practical applications of lessons 1-7 as described in the Instructor Manual for the Instructor Training Course.
- Complete and pass the Assistant Instructor Final Exam.
In addition to the programmes taught by active status Divemasters, active status Assistant Instructors may teach, supervise and issue endorsement or certification cards for the following programmes upon completion of SSI Instructor Training:
- Try Scuba
- Scuba Skills Update
- Perfect Buoyancy
Assistant Instructors in active status may train the following programmes in addition to the authorisations as Divemaster in active status:
- Open Water Diver lessons in theory and pool/limited open water under the indirect supervision of an Open Water Instructor in active status.
- Monitor, evaluate and perform surface skills during open water training in the Open Water Diver programme (under the indirect supervision of an Open Water Instructor in active status).
- Qualify to become a Specialty Instructor for some SSI Specialty programmes.
- Participate in the Instructor Training Course.
- Complete free online upgrades for Computer Diving, Marine Ecology and SSI Explorer Specialty Instructor.
Assistant instructors are not allowed:
- Issue Open Water Certifiactions.
- Carry out independent open water training for entry-level courses.
- Carry out emergency ascent training.
Open Water Instructor

Open Water Instructors are the backbone of the diving industry as they teach new divers how to safely explore the underwater world. They offer introductory courses for those interested in diving, but also teach continuing education programmes and can create lifelong and enthusiastic divers. The SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) provides you with the knowledge and training necessary to organise and run these diver training courses. The SSI Instructor Course is also designed to prepare you to successfully complete an Instructor Evaluation.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- At least 75 logged dives in open water with a dive time of at least 50 hours.
Holds the following SSI certification, or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised diver training organisation:
- Enriched Air Nitrox 40
Holds the following SSI certification in active status or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised diving organisation:
- Divemaster
- At least 100 logged open water dives with a dive time of at least 65 hours.
- Read all content, successfully passed all review questions and tasks that are part of the Assistant Instructor digital training.
- All theory must be successfully completed as described in the Instructor Manual for the SSI Instructor Course.
- Complete the candidate’s water fitness assessment as described in the SSI General Training Standards if more than six months have passed since the candidate was assessed.
- Completed all prerequisites and passed all assessments as described in the Instructor Manual for the SSI Instructor Course.
In addition to the programmes taught by Assistant Instructors in active status, Open Water Instructors in active status may teach, supervise and certify the following programmes after completing the Instructor Evaluation:
- Try Scuba
- Basic Diver
- Referral Diver
- Indoor Diver
- Scuba Diver
- Open Water Diver
- Experienced Diver Test
- Scuba Skills Update
- Advanced Adventurer
- Perfect Buoyancy
- Diver Stress & Rescue
- Enriched Air Nitrox
- Science of Diving
- Dive Guide
Specialty Instructor

Lagona Divers is proud to offer a wide range of Specialty Instructor programmes, which we use to help our candidates improve their qualifications and offer a wider range of courses. This will give you a higher chance of employment and allow you to specialise in certain areas that interest you the most! SSI Instructor Training offers you the opportunity to further your career and expand your skills.
A Specialty Instructor Programme normally lasts one day. We also offer candidates the opportunity to sign up for a complete package of 5 Specialty Instructor Levels, which we then run over a period of at least 3 days. The SSI Instructor Training Programme is an excellent opportunity to enhance your qualifications and improve your career prospects.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
Have the following SSI certification and are in active status (no equivalence certification allowed):
- Assistant Instructor
Ecology Specialty Instructor
- Minimum age: 18 years
Have the following SSI certification and are in active status (no equivalence certification allowed):
- Divemaster
Each candidate must prove at least the following:
- Comprehensive instructor-level knowledge of the entire programme material.
- Teach at least one theory lesson from the Specialty programme using the SSI assessment criteria
- Teach and demonstrate at least one in-water skills lesson from the Specialty programme using the SSI assessment criteria (if required for the Specialty programme).
- Pass the final exam with a score of at least 90%.
Divemasters in active status can qualify as Ecology Instructors to teach the Ecology Specialty programmes.
In addition to the Ecology Specialty Programmes, Assistant Instructors can qualify to teach the following Specialty Programmes:
- Diving at Altitude
- Boat Diving
- Computer Diving
- Equipment Techniques
- Navigation
- Perfect Buoyancy
- Photo & Video
- Science of Diving
- Waves, Tides & Currents
Open Water Instructors can conduct all SSI Specialty courses with the appropriate qualification:
- Deep Diving
- DPV Diving
- Full face masks diving
- Dry Suit Diving
- Night and Limited Visibility
- Search and Recovery
- Wreck diving
Recreational Sidemount Instructor

Are you a dedicated sidemount diver and want to pass on your passion for this equipment configuration to your students?
All instructor trainers at Lagona Divers have many years of experience in sidemount diving and are happy to share their expertise with future instructor candidates. Despite industry standards, we offer our sidemount instructor course over a minimum duration of 2 days to ensure that instructor candidates have sufficient time to practice and discuss the teaching techniques and skills required to conduct this SSI Instructor Course in an appropriate manner.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Recreational sidemount diver (or equivalent)
Must have at least the following SSI certification(s) (no equivalences allowed):
- Open Water Scuba Instructor
Each candidate must prove at least the following:
- Comprehensive instructor-level knowledge of the entire programme material.
- Teach at least one theory lesson from the Recreational Sidemount programme using the SSI assessment criteria.
- Teach and demonstrate at least one in-water skills lesson from the Recreational Sidemount programme using SSI assessment criteria.
- Pass the final exam with a score of at least 90%.
Dekompression Diver Instructor

Do you want to teach your students safe deep diving practices beyond the no-decompression limit? Then the SSI Decompression Diving Instructor is the next step in your professional SSI career.
As a fully-fledged XR Instructor Training Centre, our trainers at Lagona Diver have extensive knowledge of decompression diving that goes far beyond the limits of this course. This enables us to prepare our candidates for this challenging course in the best possible way. Despite the industry standards set, we run this instructor course over a minimum of 2 days to ensure that the instructor candidate has sufficient time to practise and discuss the teaching techniques and skills required to complete this course properly
Prerequisits:
Holds the following SSI certification in active status or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised diving organisation:
- Deep Diving Instructor
- Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor
- Science of Diving Instructor
- Decompression Diver
Each candidate must prove at least the following:
- Comprehensive instructor-level knowledge of the entire programme material.
- Teach at least one theory lesson from the Decompression Diver programme using the SSI assessment criteria.
- Teach and demonstrate at least one in-water skills lesson from the Decompression Diver programme using SSI assessment criteria.
- Pass the final exam with a score of at least 90%.
- The ability to plan and conduct training dive 3 in open water as described in the Instructor Manual for Decompression Diving.
React Right Instructor

Want to take a break from teaching in the water? We believe the React Right programme is an essential programme that every SSI Instructor should be able to teach! It enables you to train safer divers who are prepared to help other divers in emergency situations. The React Right course is also a prerequisite for the Stress & Rescue course. Therefore, teaching this SSI Instructor Course enables you to prepare your students for a key course within the SSI system.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Complete the SSI Instructor Course Seminar
- Complete a React Right final exam with a passing score for each part of the programme you complete.
React Right instructors qualify to teach the following programmes:
- CPR/First Aid
- AED
- Oxygene Provider
Classified Diving Instructor

The SSI Classified Diving Instructor program provides candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to independently organise and conduct entry-level programs for Classified Diving students and Classified Dive Buddies. The student-centred SSI Classified Diving programme is specifically designed for individuals who may not be able to meet all of the autonomous diver skill requirements for SSI Open Water Diver certification.
The SSI Classified Instructor training programme offers you the opportunity to advance your career and expand your skills.
SSI Classified Diving Instructors know how to adapt the SSI Open Water Diver programme and training materials to the specific needs of their students. All Classified Diving students still complete every skills assessment from the Open Water Diver programme. However, depending on their abilities, certain techniques may change and assistance is allowed in performing the skills.
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Assistant Instructor
- Complete and pass all requirements and evaluations listed in the Instructor Manual for the SSI Instructor Course for the Classified Diving Programme.
- The final exam of the programme must be passed.
- Pass the aquatic fitness evaluation as described in the SSI Training Standards.
Classified Diving Instructors qualify to teach the following programmes:
- The Classified Diving and Classified Dive Buddy Programm.
Assistant Instructor Trainer

An Assistant Instructor Trainer prepares the Assistant Instructor for their theoretical lessons and practical training in the water. As an Assistant Instructor Trainer, you are also qualified to assist an Instructor Trainer in the SSI Instructor Course programme, which in turn allows you to benefit from valuable experience on your path as an instructor. Once you are ready, you can complete the Instructor Training Seminar and become an SSI Instructor Trainer. Start your journey today to train the instructors of tomorrow.
The Assistant Instructor Trainer course can either be taught as a stand-alone course or the candidate can assist during an ongoing ITC where they gain real-world experience in teaching the SSI Instructor Course!
Prerequisits:
- Minimum age: 18 years
Holds the following SSI certification in active status or an equivalent certification from an SSI recognised organisation
recognised diving organisation:
- Divemaster Instructor
Has issued at least 42 certifications, of which:
- 30 Open Water Diver
- 3 Diver Stress & Rescue
- 3 Dive Guide / Divemaster
- 6 Advanced Adventurer and/or additional speciality programme
- The entire theory as described in the Instructor Manual for the Assistant Instructor Trainer Seminar has been successfully completed.
- The final exam of the programme must be passed.
- Complete the candidate’s water fitness assessment as described in the SSI General Training Standards.
- Completed all prerequisites and passed all assessments as described in the Assistant Instructor Trainer Seminar Instructor Manual.
In addition to the programmes that a Divemaster Instructor in active status may instruct, the Assistant Instructor may
Instructor Trainer in active status may train, supervise and certify the following programmes:
- Assistant Instructor
- Specialty Instructor Seminar (if you have the appropriate Specialty Instructor certification).
- Dive Professional Crossover (up to Assistant Instructor level).
Assistant Instructor Trainers in active status may also:
- Assist an Instructor Trainer in the delivery of SSI Instructor Training at all levels.
Crossover

The SSI Professional Crossover Programme gives candidates from other diving organisations an overview of the SSI training philosophy and procedures. It provides the knowledge and skills to conduct SSI programmes equivalent to the existing qualification in a safe and enjoyable way for the customer.
- Must have an equivalent certification from a diving organisation at the cross-over level.
- Must meet all minimum qualifications for certification to the certification being cross-over.
- If a professional has been inactive with another agency for more than five (5) years, they must follow the standards for return to active status.
- The candidate should not currently be involved in a quality management case with another diving organisation. If they are part of an active quality management case, they must disclose all information about the case to SSI before participating in the crossover.
- Any candidate who has been disqualified from another diving organisation will automatically be disqualified from disqualified from participating in an SSI Professional Crossover
- All requirements met and all assessments passed as described in the Crossover Instructor Manual
- described.
- The final exam of the programme must be passed.