There’s absolutely nothing like being a dive professional. As a diver, you’ll have the opportunity to share this wonderful experience with others. Being a certified Open Water Instructor opens the world up to you in an entirely unique and exciting way. Instructors are in high demand! But let’s be clear, you won’t just become an instructor after you complete your training with us, you’ll be a Dive Mentor Open Water Instructor. All of our programs exceed industry standards, and our entire organization is guided by idea of providing an exchange in abundance. In other words, you’ll always get more from us than you possibly imagined.

Aside from the obvious fact that you’ll be empowered to teach others, we’ve made the program affordable, comprehensive, safe, and fun. Our programs are all inclusive, without any hidden fees. Our professional instructor development courses are based in Cozumel, Mexico. So every day you’re in the water isn’t just going diving, it’s going diving in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean in a protected Marine Park. Another reason to train with us is because we limit the size of our instructor training programs so your educational experience will be more personal.

Our staff has global experience and is dedicated to sharing our experiences and knowledge with our candidates so they become a “real world” Instructors! The fact is, you will receive the most comprehensive Instructor Training Course available in Cozumel, Mexico. We offer an extended program including extra academic, confined water and open water presentations as well as extra Dive Theory and Standards exams. You also receive free EAN and O2 Provider Instructor training.

A 2 day Prep Course is provided prior to the instructor training for those who wish to brush up on your Dive Theory. Accommodation is provided right in the heart of Cozumel, so that all candidates can have fun together while learning in a beneficial environment with your peers.

Your education does not stop at just learning how to teach scuba courses, we will cover the business side of the dive industry so you are fully capable of taking advantage of all the possibilities and monetary gain that comes with the Scuba Diving Industry. We also offer an Advanced Open Water Instructor program and other specialties to increase your employability.

Setting the Highest Standards

Our instructors are true professionals with well-rounded educations, real-world life and dive experience, maturity, and leadership ability. This ensures that our programs consistently set the standard others will only seek to emulate in the dive industry.

The most important part of any successful program is ensuring you gain the knowledge, understanding, and experience required to not only become a certified an instructor, but to succeed as one. Simply “checking the boxes” is, in our view, simply insufficient. We believe we have a moral responsibility to you to help you obtain the highest levels possible and to thrive as an instructor, so you’re the professional everyone respects and looks to. We don’t just create instructors, we create fully equipped professional dive leaders.

• Minimum age: 18 years old
• SSI Divemaster rating or an equivalent rating from a recognized agency
• SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 40 Certification or equivalent
• Logged at least 100 open water dives
• RSTC Medical Statement signed by a physician within one (1) year
• Proof of CPR/First Aid & Oxygen First Aid training within two (2) years
• Be an Open Water Diver or higher for at least six (6) months prior to starting the Instructor Evaluation

As an active status SSI Open Water Instructor you can:
In addition to the programs taught by an active status Divemaster, you can also teach, supervise and issue certifications for the following programs:

Scuba Rangers / Try Scuba / Scuba Skills Update / Perfect Buoyancy / Basic Diver / Referral Diver / Indoor Diver / Scuba Diver / Open Water Diver / Experienced Diver Test / Advanced Adventurer / Diver Stress and Rescue / Dive Guide

Included in our ITC “Basic” Program

• SSI Open Water Instructor
• SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty Instructor
• SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 40% Specialty Instructor
• SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty Instructor
• SSI Marine Ecology / Naturalist Specialty Instructor

Academic Preparation –  Home Study

Prior to beginning the ITC Program you must complete the required sections of the digital learning, Pass the Instructor Training Course pre-test with a score of 100% and complete the required review sections with a score of at least 90%.

10 Days – ITC Prep + ITC + IE

• 1 Day – In Water Skills Prep Day
• 8 Days – ITC
  • Assistant Instructor & Instructor Training Course
  • Enriched Air Nitrox 40% Instructor Specialty Course
  • Marine Ecology Instructor Specialty Course
• 2 Days – (IE) Instructor Evaluation
  • Theory Exam
  • Standards Exam
  • Rescue Skills Evaluation
  • Confined Water Skills Evaluation
  • Open Water Skills Evaluation

In preparation for the ITC you are required to review your prior academic training, complete the digital academic training for Instructor Course, and familiarize yourself with the Digital Platform. This process ensures that all candidates are at the same level when beginning the ITC and gives you a chance to review dive theory from all of your previous training so that you are 100% prepared as for your ITC and as an Instructor.

Once you have signed up for the ITC we will give you access to all of these materials online and guide you through the preparation.

OUTLINE OF ACADEMIC PREPARATION

• Complete the Pre-Test
• Read Section 1-10 of the SSI Instructor Program Manual and answer the Review Questions.
• Read the SSI General & Training Standards.
• Read the SSI Open Water Diver Manual and answer the Review Questions.
• Review the SSI Total DiveLog, Instructor DiveLog, and Diver Training Record.
• Read the OWD Instructor Manual.
• Read the Diver Stress & Rescue Instructor Manual.
• Read the Advanced Adventurer Instructor Manual.
• Read the Perfect Buoyancy Instructor Manual.
• Read the Enriched Air Nitrox Instructor Manual.
• Familiarize yourself with the Digital Platform.

In Water Skills Review (Prep)

We include a day a of In Water Skills preparation for free to give our Instructor Candidates the best possible start to their training, this day is optional however highly recommended. The day is spent perfecting the skills from the Open Water Diver and SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Courses. The focus is on perfecting skill demonstrations at a Professional Level with neutral buoyancy.

Day 1 – Pre (Free)
Orientation and paperwork
Open Water Skills – Professional Level Demonstration Practice
Lunch Break
Rescue Diver Skills – Professional Level Demonstration Practice

Day 2 – ITC
Academic Session 1 – Overview of SSI
Academic Session 2 – Duties of an SSI Dive Professional
Academic Session 4 – Academic Sessions
Academic Session 5 – In-Water Teaching
Lunch Break
Academic Session 3 – Program Administration
Practical Application Session 2 – Academic Presentation – Open Water Diver
Academic Review

Day 3 – ITC
Practical Application Session 1 – Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation
Practical Application Session 4 – Workshop – Try Scuba and Scuba Rangers
Lunch Break
Practical Application Session 3 – Academic Presentation – Perfect Buoyancy / Specialty
Academic Session 6 – Assistant Instructor Programs
Academic Review

Day 4 – ITC
Practical Application Session 5 – Workshop – Open Water Diver and Scuba Skills Update
Practice Test 1
Lunch Break
Academic Review

Day 5 – ITC
Practical Application Session 6 – Pool/Confined Water Presentation – Open Water Diver Skill
Practical Application Session 7 – Pool/Confined Water Presentation – Perfect Buoyancy
Lunch Break
Assistant Instructor Final Exam and Review

Day 6 – ITC
Academic Session 7 – The Open Water Diver Program
Academic Session 8 – Open Water Instructor Specialties
Practice Test 2
Lunch Break
Academic Session 9 – Diver Stress and Rescue and Dive Guide
Academic Review

Day 7 – ITC

Practical Application Session 10 – Workshop – Diver Stress and Rescue Skills
Practical Application Session 12 – Pool/Confined Water Presentation – Diver Stress and Rescue
Practical Application Session 11 – Pool/Confined Water Presentation – Open Water Diver & Emergency Skill
Practical Application Session 14 – Dive Briefing Evaluation
Lunch Break
Practical Application Session 8 – Academic Presentation – Enriched Air Nitrox or Diver Stress and Rescue
Practical Application Session 9 –Academic Presentation – Dive Guide
Academic Review

Day 8 – ITC
Practical Application Session 13 – Open Water Presentation – Open Water Diver Skills
Academic Session 10 – The Business of Diving
Academic Session – Your Career with SSI
Marine Ecology Instructor Seminar
Final program and performance review
Lunch Break
Practical Application Session 15 – Dive Guiding Evaluation

Day 9 – Instructor Evaluation

Day 10 – Instructor Evaluation

The schedule may be adjusted to allow for candidates training needs throughout the course. Extra tutoring and assistance outside course hours will always be available for those that need it. We are 100% committed to your success of becoming a SSI Open Water Instructor – We believe in Quality Training.

* Note: This is a sample lesson plan, and is subject to change without notice.

NO HIDDEN EXTRA CHARGES!

Included in the price of the ITC are all required Materials (Digital & Physical, Training, Pool & Open Water Dives, Tanks & Weights, Certification Fees, Enriched Air Nitrox 40%, Marine Ecology and React Right Instructor Specialties, Instructor Evaluation Fee, and Processing Fees, and clean, safe, hostel-style accommodation. 

• Free ITC Prep: In water skills
• Academic Sessions/Workshops
• Pool Sessions
• Open Water Training Dives
• Tanks and weights
• All Digital Academic Materials
• Instructor Evaluation Fee
• Instructor Processing Fee
• Instructor activation/renewal fee for the current year

Certifications Issued after successfully completion of ITC and IE

• SSI Open Water Instructor
• SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty Instructor
• SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 40% Specialty Instructor
• SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty Instructor
• SSI Marine Ecology / Naturalist Specialty Instructor

Please Note

• If you are coming from another dive agency other than SSI, you will have to pay a one off Professional Registration Fee of 70US. This fee is not included in the ITC cost. This fee will give you access to:
  • Digital SSI Certification Card
  • Digital Logbook for Scuba, Extended Range & Freediving
  • Specialized Access to Dive Professional Materials – DiveSSI App
  • 24/7 Download of all Pro Materials in all Languages with option to print
  • Access to all Future Training Material Updates Online and in the DiveSSI App

If you need gear, we can provide that at no additional cost. But you must reserve it ahead of time.

Meals

At our Dive House you will have access to Internet, Filtered Water, Tea & Coffee Facilities, as well as a microwave, stove, and fridge. Meals are not included in the program, this allows you to be able to choose meals that you want to eat. There are plenty of economical  options close by the Dive Center for grabbing some Tortas (big Mexican sandwiches), Tacos and Salads. You can expect to eat for around 3 to 6 USD. There are also several large supermarkets with just about anything you want on offer close by, so you can prepare your own food.

• Divemaster or AI certification
• Proof of logged dives
• RSTC Medical Statement signed by a physician within one (1) year
• Proof of CPR /  First Aid / Oxygen First Aid training within two (2) years
• Tablet or Laptop for academic study/presentations
• Total Diving System – BCD, Regulator, Wetsuit, Dive Computer, Buoy & Reef, Mask, Snorkel & Fins
• Lots of positive energy

DIVE EQUIPMENT

As a Dive Professional at Instructor Level ideally you should have your own Total Diving System. At a bare minimum you should have your own:

• Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Dive Computer, Wetsuit, Buoy & Reel

We can provide gear, but you need to reserve it ahead of time.