Becoming an SSI Open Water Diver is the best way to start your scuba adventure!

We make sure you are truly comfortable with the skills and equipment you will use. Getting started is easy! Sign up for an Open Water course or get your feet wet with the SSI Scuba Diver program.

SSI Training is designed so you can learn the academics at your own pace when it is convenient for you. We will support you by colored manuals, DVDs and free Online Training offers to make sure you have enough training options.

For your pool and open water training your instructor will fit you to your scuba equipment so you will become comfortable in your “second skin.” You will get enough practice time to adapt yourself to the underwater environment before you start with your open water training dives.

Once you have completed your initial training you will be a certified SSI Diver. SSI certification is recognized world wide so your diving experiences will be limitless.

Short on time? Get your scuba diving certification started while on vacation and finish up when you get home!

Scuba Diver is the perfect course for those who do not have time to complete an entire Open Water Diver Program. The content of this program represents about half of a complete scuba diving certification program (SSI Open Water). You can then complete the second half and become a certified diver at another time, anywhere that is convenient for you.

This program allows you to get out there and experience diving to the fullest. You will be trained in the proper skills, knowledge, equipment and experience required to feel safe and confident during your open water dives, as well as have an SSI Instructor as your escort to guide you on your adventures.

Certified Scuba Divers are entitled to go diving under the direct supervision of a Dive Leader up to a maximum depth of 40 feet/12 metres.

When you decide to complete your certification, the Scuba Diver Program can be fully credited to your course. This way you will not have to redo any part of the program twice. After a short skill update you can complete your Open Water Diver rating.

At the end of the program you will receive your SCUBA DIVER Certificate indicating the successful completion of this program. This certificate entitles you to take part in guided dives all over the world. If you ever decide to continue your training and become a certified diver just contact your local SSI Training Facility for details on how to complete your SSI OPEN WATER DIVER rating.

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The History of Scuba Diving

By Sarah Freeland

The history of scuba diving is very interesting. Many civilizations throughout time have engaged in breath-hold diving, also known as free-diving. The evidence of early free-diving is the finding of sea items found on land and ancient pictures of divers. These civilizations used free-diving to spearfish and also in competitions. The Ancient Greeks are known free-divers. They used free-diving to hunt for sponges and also in their military.

Some of the early attempts in the history of scuba diving to dive with the use of air include snorkeling with hollow reeds, using air-filled bags and diving bells. Diving bells are watertight chambers on cables. The diving bell is designed to remain full of air as it is pushed under water, allowing a few divers to be transported. These methods were not very efficient, however, and did not nearly resemble scuba diving as we know it today. The reeds did not allow divers to go deep into the water and air-filled bags soon filled with carbon-monoxide as the air was exhaled. Diving bells did not allow the divers much mobility.

The first diving suits were used in France and England. They were made of leather and air was pumped into them from the surface with manual pumps. Once the discovery was made to use metal to make helmets, these suits were able to stand greater pressure. With air manually pumped into these helmets, divers were able to enter deeper into the ocean and the history of scuba diving was furthered.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that the research was done to invent modern scuba diving as we know it today. Paul Bert from France and John Scott Haldane from Scotland, conducted scientific research on water pressure and our bodies limits regarding safe compressed air diving. At the same time, new technologies allowed for the development of air pumps, scuba regulators and other equipment. Scuba diving and its history were becoming more known.

Throughout the 20th century, inventions in scuba equipment improved. Swim fins, masks and other scuba gear became available. In the 1950’s the public began to take interest in scuba diving. Scuba gear shops began to open up and the first wet suit was introduced. Popular movies about diving and ships, including Titanic in 1997, continue to interest new divers and inspire veterans of the history-filled and adventurous sport of scuba diving.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-Scuba-Diving&id=315991

Scuba History

Scuba history from a diving bell developed by Guglielmo de Loreno in 1535 up to John Bennett's dive in the Philippines to amazing 308 meter in 2001 and much more...

Humans have been diving since man was required to collect food from the sea. The need for air and protection under water was obvious. Let us find out how mankind conquered the sea in the quest to discover the beauty of the under water world.

http://www.about-scuba-diving.com/scuba-diving/history.htm

Top 10 Dives Sites in the World

1. Chuuk Lagoon
Chuuk Lagoon is in Micronesia, in The Pacific. The dive sites contain the remains of the Japanese fleet destroyed by US planes in WW2.
2. The Galapagos
The galapagos have unique species and it is a place that some of the big animals such as the Whale Sharks like to congregate.
3. Yongala
The wreck of the SS Yongala is situated off Australian's Queensland coast. She sank during a cyclone on her 99th voyage.
4. The Thistlegorm
Another wreck dive, The SS Thistlegorm sank in The Red Sea and her holds still contains the military equipment she was carrying when she was bombed.
5. Scapa Flow
Located in Scotalnd's Orkney Islands, this ancient shipping anchorage contains countless wrecks, many battleships from both world wars were scuttled in these waters.
6. The Maldives
This is made up of a large collection of atolls in the middle of the India Ocean, containing all manner of div types with plenty of big fish to see.
7. Ningaloo Reef
On the Western coast of Australia, this reef is smaller than the Great Barrier Reef, but has just as much to see plus the Whale Sharks swim past between April and July.
8. Protea banks
A few miles off the South African coast this is a wild dive site for advanced divers, the wildlife is full of sharks.
9. Isla De La Juventud
Just south of Cuba, but part of Cuba, this site has some of the best diving in the Caribbean.
10. Similan Islands
This dive site is considered Thailand's best with gently sloping coral reefs and dramatic wall dives.

What is the difference between a PADI, SSI, and NAUI certification course?

If there is a $64 question in diving this is it. PADI, NAUI, and SSI are all organizations that train and certify dive certification courses. Each intends to devise dive courses and training methods that produce safe scuba divers, with minimal risk to the students and instructors.

A certification card from a dive course by any of these three organizations will entitle you to take a dive vacation, or to fill a cylinder at a dive shop.

www.divethereef.com

When you do a dive course, you have a choice to do that with different dive organizations. These organizations have developed their own teaching materials, standards and certifications which their instructors use to conduct the courses. There are quite a few organizations in the world and they all have different philosophies and standards. In general, the differences are not too big and no matter which organization you take a course with, you will use the same kind of equipment and see the same marine life under water.

Truly, the quality of the courses strongly depends on the experience and attitude of your dive instructor and the dive school you train with - no matter what organization you should choose to certify with. In terms of diver training there is very little difference between SSI and PADI. They both follow the diving standards set by the Governing body - RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council) meaning that knowledge and skill requirements are almost the same. Certifications are interchangeable.

The differences between these two are quite small but at the end of the day, they both offer good and safe courses and produce proper and capable divers. Both organizations have been around for years and they have very high quality teaching materials and high standards. The biggest difference is the marketing departments.

• SSI believes that no course is the same because the students, Instructors, the available time and the environment can be very different. SSI Recognizes that every person has a different learning method, and they allow their instructors to plan the course with a lot of flexibility when it comes to theory, swimming pool exercises or open water exercises. PADI is rigid in that they have a set order in which to do the course. For example: If the current is quite strong - the required swimming skills can be put off for another day with SSI.

• With such a great diversity in dive sites and varying under water conditions, we must have a certain flexibility to provide you - our guest - with the highest possible training and safety standards.

• If you want to learn to dive with us, you can do your theory FOR FREE online with SSI. That means you can study at home and safe time for when you are enjoying your holiday with us on the Ningaloo.

• SSI also empowers our instructors to add information and/or skills if that improves the quality of the course. That doesn’t mean the instructor can do just anything, but we do like to give a student as much value as possible and make sure you get a quality course in which all aspects of that course and more are covered. Are you curious about turtles? We are able to spend some extra time talking about how the Ningaloo is home to 5 different species of Turtles.

• With SSI we are able to process your certification card locally, so in most instances, you will receive your original certification card right at the end of your course and we don’t need to give you a “temporary” card. This means you will be registered straight away and you don’t need to wait for your original card to be sent home. No waiting months for your certification cards, when you complete the course - you are certified! With your card you may now dive anywhere else your travels take you!

• SSI video’s are shorter and focus on the important information of the course, not the marketing. This leaves more time with the instructor which is great to ask questions and learn about the local dive spots. The classroom time is pent on learning, not watching long commercials

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Are the certification cards of PADI and SSI recognized all over the world?
A: Yes, it doesn’t matter with which organization you have learned to dive. So if a PADI Open Water diver for example wants to dive with an SSI Dive center, that’s perfectly fine. This counts certification cards of all dive organizations.

Q: I have done my Open Water Diver course with PADI, can I do my Advanced Course with SSI.
A: Yes, you can cross between PADI and SSI as much as you like for the recreational dive levels. Their levels are quite similar and certification of another dive organization is totally accepted. As noted all standards are set forth by the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council).

Q: If I forgot to bring my certification card with me, will I still be able to dive?
A: Both PADI and SSI have an online systems, se we are able to look you up. If a dive center is not affiliated with the organization you have done your course with, they can contact them to see if you are in the system. A signed logbook also helps.