Technician Programs:

Gas Blender – this course trains the technician in the methods of blending nitrox mixtures for use by divers over the course of a 1 day course of instruction including a practical demonstration of blending capabilities. Prerequisites: over age 18.

Advanced Gas Blender – this course trains the blender to mix helium based breathing gas blends in addition to nitrox blending.  Prerequisites: Gas Blender certification.

Oxygen Life Support Service Technician – this course trains the technician to indentify oxygen compatible components in life support systems (including tanks and regulators) and to clean those components for oxygen service.  Prerequisites: Gas Blender, manufacturer’s certification as a regulator repair technician and certification as a visual tank inspector.

Diving Supervisor Courses

Dive Guide – Dive guides complete about 25 hours of training for certification.  Once certified they may lead certified divers on dive excursions in limited environments.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Advanced open water diver with stress and rescue certification and at least 50 logged dives.

Dive Master – Dive masters complete about 40 hours of intensive training and some internship work with students to become qualified to lead certified divers on dive excursions and assist instructors with the safety and supervision of students in training. Prerequisites:  First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  60 logged dives, advanced open water and stress and rescue certifications

Dive Control Specialist – The Dive Con candidate will complete an additional 15 to 20 hours of training in instructional methodology and supervision, including 10 dives.  If successful, the DC will be certified to conduct the duties of a divemaster and also to provide limited instruction under the indirect supervision of an instructor in confined water and classroom environments.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  60 logged dives, advanced open water, stress & rescue and divemaster certifications.  (Note: the divemaster course can be completed in conjunction with this program.)  

Training Assistant – Dive Cons with experience and training in a specialty area like underwater photography for example may complete this course to independently offer specialty certifications in those areas for which they are trained.  The scope of the training depends upon the specialty courses applied for.  

Recreational Instructor Courses

Open Water Instructor – This is the first true instructor level of training and it consist of approximately 6 days of intensive training followed by a 1 to 2 day exam.  Instructor candidates will NOT receive training in diving procedures and methods, they are expected to have expert dive skills before enrolling in the course.  This course is about supervision, risk management and instructional methodology.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Dive Con with at least 100 logged dives in a variety of environments.  Note Divemasters may also enter this program but they will have to attend an additional 2 to 3 days of training to make up the material normally taught in the Dive Con course.    

Specialty Instructor – Open Water Instructors (OWI) may enroll in these programs in order to qualify to teach specialty courses to divers.  Each specialty area requires experience and training and the course content will vary according to the course(s) selected.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor with training or experience as divers in the area selected.

Advanced Open Water Instructor – this is a level achieved when the instructor has qualified a certain number of students and qualified to teach at least 4 different specialty courses.  

Nitrox Instructor – A 2 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Nitrox Diver 25 logged nitrox dives.  For IANTD this level is included in the Sport Diving Instructor development program.  

First Aid & CPR Instructor – this 8 hour course qualifies the instructor candidate to teach first and CPR and is specifically oriented toward diving acident managemnt.  Prerequisites: current CPR, First Aid and Oxygen Provider Certifications.

Oxygen Provider Instructor -  This 4 hour program qualifies the instructor to teach the methods of oxygen administration in diving accident management.  Prerequisites: current CPR, First Aid and Oxygen Provider Certifications.

Dive Con Instructor – this is an experience evaluation to verify certification prerequisites for certification as a Dive Con Instructor.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Advanced Open Water Instructor, Stress and rescue instructor certified at least 30 divers at various levels.

Cavern Diving Instructor – A 2 day program including at least 2 dives Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Cave Diver, 150 logged dives including at least 50 cave dives

Wreck (limited penetration) Diving Instructor – A 2 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Technical Wreck Diver, 200 logged dives including at least 50 wreck penetration dives.

Technical Level Instructor Certifications

Technical instructor levels require training at each level of certification in most cases.  Each seminar is a 1 to 3 day instructor evaluation process and it qualifies the instructor to teach to the levels noted on our technical diver page.  

SSI Technical Extended Range Instructor Courses

Tech XR Advanced Nitrox Instructor: A 1 to 2 day instructor evaluation and examination (IEE) including  dives Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Advanced Nitrox Diver, 125 logged dives including at least 25 nitrox dives and 20 dives deeper than 80 fsw/24 msw.  Qualifies the successful instructor candidate to teach the Tech XR Advanced Nitrox Course.

Tech XR Extended Range Instructor: A 2 day instructor evaluation and examination (IEE) including  dives Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Advanced Decompression Diver, 200 logged dives including at least 15 full decompression dives deeper than 120 fsw/36 msw.  Qualifies the successful instructor candidate to teach the Tech XR Deco Procedures and Advanced Deco Procedures courses.

Tech XR Trimix Instructor: A 2 day instructor evaluation and examination (IEE) including  dives Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Advanced Decompression Diver, 250 logged dives including at least 30 full trimix dives deeper than 165 fsw/50 msw.  Qualifies the successful instructor candidate to teach the Tech XR Deco Procedures and Advanced Deco Procedures courses.

IANTD Advanced Sport and Technical Instructor Courses

Semi Closed Rebreather Instructor – A 2 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date. Open Water Instructor, Nitrox Diver 25 logged nitrox dives

Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructor – varies by unit, experience and level of certification sought.  Please contact Mike@seaduction.com for specific details on your unit.

Advanced Nitrox Instructor: A 2 day program including 4 dives Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Open Water Instructor, Advanced Nitrox Diver, 125 logged dives including at least 25 nitrox dives and 50 dives between 90 and 130 fsw

Technical Diver Instructor – A 3 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Advanced Nitrox Diving Instructor, Technical Diver, 350 logged dives including at least 100 technical dives deeper than 130 fsw/40 msw and 30 nitrox dives.  Instructor candidate must have been an active instructor for at least two years and have taught at least 3 open water, 3 advanced open water, 3 nitrox and 3 advanced nitrox programs.

Normoxic Trimix Instructor – A 3 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date. Technical Diving Instructor, Trimix Diver, 350 logged dives including at least 100 technical dives deeper than 130 fsw/40 msw and 25 trimix dives.  Instructor candidate must have been an active instructor for at least two years and have taught at least 3 open water, 3 advanced open water, 3 nitrox and 3 advanced nitrox programs.

Hypoxic Trimix Instructor – A 3 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Normoxic Trimix Diving Instructor, Trimix Diver, 500 logged dives including at least 200 technical dives deeper than 130 fsw/40 msw and 50 trimix dives.  Instructor candidate must have been an active instructor for at least 5 years and have taught at least 4 nitrox, 4 advanced nitrox, 4 technical diver and 4 normoxic trimix diver programs.

Introductory Cave Diving Instructor – A 2 day program.  Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date.  Cavern Diving Instructor, Cave Diver, 300 logged dives including at least 75 cave dives.  Instructor candidate must have taught at least 3 cavern courses.

Technical Wreck Diving Instructor – A 2 day program Prerequisites: First aid, CPR and oxygen provider certifications within 2 years of certification date. Wreck Diving Instructor, Technical Wreck Diver, 350 logged dives including at least 150 technical dives 100 cave or wreck penetration dives of which at least 50 must be wreck penetrations.  Instructor candidate must have taught at least 3 limited penetration wreck courses.