Assistant Instructor

About Assistant Instructor

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Academic

The SSI Assistant Instructor program provides candidates with the knowledge and training necessary to perform the duties of an assistant instructor.
These duties including conducting entry-level scuba training under the supervision of an Open Water Instructor, and independently conducting Scuba Skills Updates, Try Scuba, and Perfect Buoyancy programs.

 

Required Equipment

  • Must have a professional Total Dive System
  • Specialty equipment such as: underwater lights for night dives, wreck reels for wreck dives, compass, etc.
  •  SMB and fingerspool
Assistant Instructor

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 18 years old.
  • Have logged at least 60 open water dives totaling 40 hours or more.
Have the following active status SSI certifications or an equivalent from a recognized training agency:
  • Divemaster
  • Active React Right

Requirements for course completion:

  • Log at least 75 open water dives totaling 50 hours or more.
  • Read and complete Sections 1-6, including reviews and assessments, of the Instructor Training Course digital learning.
  • Complete Academic Sessions 1-6 as outlined in the instructor manual for the Instructor Training Course.
  • Complete the program’s final exam.
  • Complete the Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation as outlined in the SSI General Training Standards if it has been more than six months since the candidate has been evaluated.
  • Pass all requirements and evaluations for Practical Application Sessions 1-7 as outlined in the instructor manual for the Instructor Training Course.

What’s Included

  • Candidate will be certified as an SSI Assistant Instructor.
In addition to the programs taught by active status Professional Dive Guides, active status Assistant Instructors may teach, supervise, and issue recognition or certification cards for the following programs after completing the Assistant Instructor Training Course:
  • Try Scuba
  • Scuba Skills Update
  • Perfect Buoyancy
In addition to the duties performed by an SSI Divemaster, active status Assistant Instructors may also:
  • Teach the Open Water Diver academic and pool/confined water sessions under the indirect supervision of an active status Open Water Instructor.
  • Directly supervise and evaluate surface skills during open water training dives for the Open Water Diver program under the indirect supervision of an active status Open Water Instructor.
  • Qualify to become a Specialty Instructor for some SSI Specialty programs.
  • Enroll in an Instructor Training Course.
  • Complete the SSI Explorer Instructor Online Upgrade.

What’s Not Included

Assistant Instructors must not:
  • Issue Open Water Diver certifications.
  • Independently conduct open water training dives for entry-level scuba training.
  • Teach any emergency ascent skills.

Emergency ascent skills

  • Emergency Swimming Ascent
  • Emergency Buoyant Ascent
  • Gas-Sharing Ascent
  • Rescuing an Unconscious Diver

What do I need to get started?

Register online at DiveSSI.com and choose Lynnhaven Dive Center as your training center. Then call or come in to pay for your course, once payment is made we will unlock the online learning for you to complete before coming in for your classroom sessions. You can also schedule the classroom session at the time.

 

How long will it take?

36-42 hours

Maximum Training Depth

5 meters