INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE

Instructor Training Course

Become an SSI Open Water Instructor

The Instructor Training Course (ITC) is the flagship program in every scuba professional’s career. Compliant with ISO 24802-2 standards, this course provides the knowledge, skill evaluations, and practical preparation required to organize, train, and certify new and advancing divers.

Through comprehensive academic lectures, candidate teaching presentations, and intensive confined and open water skill evaluations, you will master the SSI Teaching System and philosophy. Upon completing the ITC, candidates participate in the Instructor Evaluation (IE) conducted by an SSI Regional Evaluator to earn their full Open Water Instructor rating.

$5,000

6-8 day course
Classroom, confined water, and open water sessions
Graduates can then attend the Instructor Exam

Special Considerations & Prerequisites

To enroll in the SSI Instructor Training Course and sit for the Instructor Evaluation, candidates must meet the following standards:

Minimum Age: 18 years old.
Prerequisite Certification: Active-status SSI Divemaster (or equivalent rating from a recognized diver training organization).

Dive Experience (ITC Entry): Minimum of 75 logged open water dives totaling 50 hours or more.
Dive Experience (IE Completion): Minimum of 100 logged open water dives totaling 65 hours or more.
Diver History: Certified as an Open Water Diver (or equivalent) for at least six (6) months prior to the IE.
Certifications Required:
- Enriched Air Nitrox 40 certification (or equivalent).
- Current First Aid/CPR/O2 Provider certifications within the past 24 months (e.g., SSI React Right).
Medical Clearance: Valid hyperbaric/scuba medical questionnaire signed by a physician within the last 12 months.
Insurance: Active professional liability insurance.

Special Considerations

The minimum age is 18 years old.
Must be certified Assistant Instructor from a recognized training agency
Must have completed First Aid/CPR/O2 Provider within the last 24 months
You must complete a medical questionnaire and will need a doctor’s approval.
Courses must be booked over the phone: call now at 808-232-3193.

Courses must be booked over the phone: call now at 808-232-3193

What You Can Teach as an SSI Open Water Instructor

Once certified as an active-status SSI Open Water Instructor, you can independently teach, conduct, and certify candidates in:

Scuba Diver & Open Water Diver
Scuba Skills Update (Refresher)
Advanced Adventurer
Enriched Air Nitrox (up to 40%)
Diver Stress & Rescue
Perfect Buoyancy
Dive Guide
Try Scuba & Scuba Rangers

How It Works

This course starts with online e-Learning. We step back into the classroom and teach you how to give lessons to students. You prepare lectures and learn how to lead discussions with students. We also spend at least 3 days in both confined and open water environments where you learn to present and evaluate skills in those contexts. This course usually takes 9-10 days.

Course Structure & Timeline

Our ITC program is built around SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Development framework, combining digital learning with hands-on candidate preparation.

1. Digital Materials & Home Study

Complete all digital course learning materials and theory review modules prior to the start of in-person training.

2. Academic Sessions (4 Days)

Master the SSI Total Teaching System, business of diving, legal responsibilities, and risk management.
Prepare and present academic teaching presentations using SSI presentation guides.
Facilitate student knowledge reviews, dive theory evaluations (physics, physiology, environment, equipment, and decompression theory), and exam prep.

3. Confined Water Sessions (3 Sessions)

Learn student positioning, skill demonstration techniques, and error detection/correction.
Conduct candidate-level skill evaluations for core Open Water and Specialty skills.
Master emergency ascent scenarios and in-water problem management.

4. Open Water Training Dives

Plan, brief, and lead open water candidate training evaluations from shore and dive vessels.
Practice real-world student supervision, underwater control, and post-dive debriefing techniques.

5. Instructor Evaluation (IE)

A two-day independent evaluation administered by an SSI Regional Evaluator covering academic presentations, written exams, confined water evaluation, and open water skill evaluations.

Note: Instructor courses at Hawaiian Diving Adventures are conducted with low candidate-to-instructor ratios. Scheduling is flexible based on candidate needs and staff availability.

Timeline

The Instructor Training Course is conducted over two weeks.

The first week is split between classroom sessions and confined water sessions. Week two is more classroom and pool time but also includes open water dives. Sessions are usually 4-5 hours long but may be longer depending on how much practice you need.

The Instructor course prepares students for the Instructor Exam, a 2 day session with an SSI examiner who actually issues the certification.

Call us to get signed up! 808-232-3193

What To Bring

Personal Scuba Equipment: Candidates must possess a complete set of professional-grade scuba gear, including:
- Wetsuit, mask, snorkel, fins, and booties.
- BCD with weight system, regulator with alternate air source and SPG/depth gauge, and a dive computer.
- Surface marker buoy (SMB), reel/spool, slate/wetnotes, dive knife/cutting tool, and signaling devices.
Academic Gear: A laptop or tablet device (with HDMI connectivity for candidate presentations) and writing materials.
Personal Items: Towel, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, and a hat for surface intervals and boat operations (dry storage is available onboard).

Start Your Professional Scuba Career in Hawaii

Ready to turn your passion into a profession? Contact Hawaiian Diving Adventures today to discuss prerequisites, schedule your ITC, and prepare for your Instructor Evaluation.