This specialty course focuses on the techniques and considerations involved in deep diving, typically beyond the Advance Adventurer course dive limit of 30 meters (100 feet).

The course includes self-study using the SSI Deep Diving digital learning materials. You’ll learn about the physiological and psychological effects of increased pressure, decompression sickness, gas management, dive planning, and emergency procedures specific to deep diving.

The course typically involves a minimum of three open water dives. Under the guidance of an SSI Instructor. Each dive is belove 18 meters. Usually you need two days, but the whole course is doable within one diving day – performing 3 dives.

SSI Deep Diving specialty from Lanta is performed mostly in Koh Haa when in front of Koh Haa Cathedral it is easy to reach 40 meters depth.

During the course you’ll learn how to plan deep dives using dive tables, dive computers, and other tools to ensure you stay within safe limits. Proper dive planning includes considerations for bottom time, gas consumption, ascent rates, and decompression obligations if applicable.

Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are fascinating windows to the past. Ships, airplanes and even cars are fascinating to explore and usually teem with aquatic life. Each wreck dive offers a chance for discovery, potentially unlocking a mystery or spying something others have missed. 

The SSI Wreck Diving course is popular because it teaches you how to dive safely around a wreck. If you’re at least 10 years old and have earned a  Open Water Diver certification or higher, you can enroll in the Wreck Diving Specialty course.

The SSI Advanced Wreck Diving course provides the knowledge and experience required to conduct limited penetration dives into wreck overhead environments. If you’re at least 16 years old, are certified for Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, EAN Nitrox, Advanced Open Water Diver, and have at least 24 logged dives, you can enroll in the Advanced Wreck Diving Specialty course.

What will you learn?

There are many different types of wrecks, some of which are protected by laws that guard their historical and cultural significance. Your training starts by reviewing guidelines for researching and respecting wrecks.

During the SSI Wreck Diving course, you will learn the skills and knowledge required to safely scuba dive above and around these underwater treasures. Also, the first dive of this Wreck Diving Specialty course may credit as an Adventure Dive toward your Advanced Adventurer certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.

During the SSI Advanced Wreck Diving course, you will learn how to use specialized buoyancy and finning techniques, lay safety line, and the proper use of lights, while wearing a standard or Extended Range equipment configuration. You will earn the SSI Advanced Wreck Diving Specialty certification after completing this program.

This program provides the skills and concepts required to safely plan and conduct search and recovery dives.

It happens, people accidentally drop things from docks, off boats or even while scuba diving. If you’ve ever lost something in the water and wanted to go find it, then the Search & Recovery course is for you. There are effective ways to search for objects underwater that increase your chances of success. And there are good and better methods to bring up small, large or just awkward items. 

Search & Recovery can be challenging, but a whole lot of fun. 

SSI (Junior) Advanced Adventurer who are at least 12 years old can enroll in the Search & Recovery course. SSI (Junior) Open Water Divers with a SSI Underwater Navigation certification can also qualify.

What will you learn?

You will learn about search patterns, specialized dive plans, underwater communication, and how to recover small to medium-sized objects using specialized equipment like lift bags. 

Gathering information and resources, then carefully planning a search are the first important steps you learn. During four scuba dives you’ll practice:

• Swimming search patterns using your compass and natural navigation.
• Locating large and small objects using various search patterns.
• Using a lift bag for large or heavy objects, plus other recovery methods.
• Planning a search operation based on facts gathered about a lost object prior to the dive.

You will earn the SSI Search and Recovery Specialty certification after completing this program. Also, the first dive of this SSI specialty course may credit as an Adventure Dive towards your Advanced Adventurer certification – ask your instructor about earning credit.

Developing excellent buoyancy control is beneficial for several reasons, including improved air consumption, reduced fatigue, and enhanced safety. The Perfect Buoyancy course helps you fine-tune your buoyancy skills, making your dives more enjoyable, efficient, and environmentally conscious.

The course includes self-study using the SSI Perfect Buoyancy digital learning materials. You’ll learn about the principles of buoyancy, how to achieve proper weighting, the effects of breathing and body position on buoyancy, and techniques for fine-tuning your buoyancy control.

The course usually includes two open water dives, during which you’ll apply the skills you’ve learned in real diving scenarios. You’ll practice buoyancy control while exploring underwater environments, avoiding contact with the bottom and marine life, and making precise adjustments to your buoyancy as needed.

What will you learn?

The SSI Perfect Buoyancy program teaches you the skills and techniques needed to maximize your dive experience, increase your comfort in the water, and get the most from your equipment. 

During two scuba dives, you’ll learn how to:

• Determine the exact weight you need, so you’re not too light or too heavy.
• Trim your weight system and scuba gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water.
• Streamline to save energy, use air more efficiently and move more smoothly through the water.
• Hover effortlessly in any position – vertical or horizontal.

You will earn the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty certification.

The SSI Drift Diving Specialty course teaches you how to enjoy going with the flow as you scuba dive down rivers and use ocean currents to glide along. It feels like flying – except that you’re underwater using scuba equipment. Drift diving can be relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. If this sounds like fun, then the Drift Diving course is for you.

If you’re a SSI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Drift Diving specialty course.

What will you learn?

Along with drift diving techniques and procedures, you will:

• Receive an introduction to drift diving equipment – floats, lines and reels.
• Get an overview of aquatic currents – causes and effects.
• Practice with buoyancy control, navigation and communication during two drift dives.
• Learn techniques for staying close to a buddy or together as a group as you float with the current.

Diving with enriched air can increase your no-decompression limits, increase your safety, and reduce the required length of your surface intervals when compared to air.

The SSI Enriched Air Nitrox course is the most popular specialty course. Why? Because scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression time, especially on repetitive scuba dives. If staying down longer and getting back in the water sooner sounds appealing, then don’t hesitate to become an enriched air diver.

If you’re a SSI (Junior) Open Water Diver who is at least 12 years old, you can enroll in the Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty course.

What will you learn?

The SSI Enriched Air Nitrox program will teach you how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. 

You will learn why diving with air that has higher oxygen and lower nitrogen content gives you more bottom time, along with enriched air equipment considerations. During a practical session, and two optional scuba dives, you will:

• Discuss managing oxygen exposure.
• Practice analyzing oxygen content in your scuba tank.
• Set your dive computer for diving with enriched air nitrox.

You will earn the SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification after completing this program.