SSI DIVE GUIDE

What is the SSI Dive Guide?

• The Dive Guide (DG) is SSI’s entry-level leadership course.
• It qualifies you to plan, organize, and lead certified divers on fun dives in open water.
• It’s the foundation for SSI Divemaster: once you add Science of Diving to Dive Guide, you earn the Divemaster rating.

Prerequisites

To enroll, you’ll need:

• Minimum Age: 15 years to start training, 18 years to be certified.
• Certification: SSI Stress & Rescue Diver (or equivalent).
• Logged Dives: 40 dives to start; 50 dives for certification.
• Medical: Fit-for-diving clearance signed by a doctor within the last 12 months.
• First Aid / CPR: SSI React Right (or equivalent) within 24 months.

What You’ll Learn

Leadership & Dive Management

• Conduct pre-dive briefings and debriefings.
• Plan dives (depth, route, gas management, environmental conditions).
• Lead certified divers safely in different environments (shore, boat, drift, night).
• Handle group logistics, from equipment checks to emergency action plans.

Safety & Emergency Handling

• Preventing diver stress and accidents.
• Managing emergency situations (lost diver, panicked diver, out-of-air diver).
• Conducting surface rescues and underwater assistance.

Professionalism & Customer Service

• Working as part of a dive shop/resort team.
• Guiding guests, enhancing their experience, ensuring safety.
• Building leadership confidence and communication skills.

Course Structure & Duration

• Academics: Online learning modules + classroom theory sessions.
• Water Training: Confined water skill refresh + leadership exercises.
• Open Water: Guiding scenarios with certified divers.
• Internship Option: Many dive centers (like Global Scuba) offer internship-style Dive Guide programs where you work alongside instructors to gain real-world experience.
• Typical Duration: 2–4 weeks intensive, or spread across a season.

What You Can Do as an SSI Dive Guide

• Independently guide certified divers on recreational dives.
• Lead fun dives from shore or boat.
• Conduct Scuba Skills Update programs.
• Assist SSI Instructors with student training (under supervision).
• Begin working in dive centers or liveaboards worldwide.

 Next Step After Dive Guide

• Add Science of Diving (theory-based course covering physics, physiology, decompression, environment, equipment).
• Combine DG + Science of Diving = SSI Divemaster certification.
• From there, you can continue toward Assistant Instructor → Open Water Instructor.