Deep Diver | Digital Underwater Photographer | Enriched Air Diver | Equipment Techniques | Night Diver | Peak Performance Buoyancy | Science of Diving | Search and Recovery Diver | Underwater Navigator | Wreck Diver
Deep Diver
There are a number of reasons why divers need to go deeper: exploration, diving wrecks that came to rest in deeper water, the adventure of diving deeper and of course, the challenge! To dive deeper however, the proper training must be taken.
24 hours over a period of 3 days. Students are to read the Deep Diver manual pre-course so that day one is spent in the classroom discussing the study questions and watching the Deep Diver DVD. Two days are set aside in order to do the open water dives.
Prerequisites:
Minimum 15 years of age
Minimum Advanced Diver certification
80% pass of written exam (SSI only)
Aim of the course:
To learn techniques for diving in the deeper range of 18-40 meters, taking into account deep scuba diving equipment considerations and adjustments.
To gain experience in planning, organizing and making at least three deep dives under the supervision of an Instructor in varying environments e.g. sea or quarry, shore-based or boat diving, reef or wreck
Whenever possible this course should be done in conjunction with the Enriched Air Diver course for the extended dive time this qualification affords the deep diver.
Cost: R3100* SSI
*3 dives
(excludes any boat charter fees)
Digital Underwater Photographer
Most of us reach a point in diving when we are desperate to share the sights we see down under with others, and what better way to do this than taking photos! This course teaches you about taking amazing photos with today’s modern digital equipment, whether you use a point-and-shoot snap camera or a sophisticated D-SLR like the pros.
To learn how to choose the right underwater camera system for their diving and photography needs.
To acquire three primary principles for good underwater photos whilst at the same time protecting the reef and fragile marine environment.
Consider doing the Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty in conjunction with the Underwater photography specialty to further promote safe and reef-friendly diving practices.
Dives:
1 pool dive & 2 shore dives
Cost: R3100* SSI
*excludes any boat charter fees
Enriched Air Diver
With oxygen enriched air, scuba divers can enjoy longer dive times and shorter surface interval times between dives. This qualification is essential for dive holidays such as a Redsea Safari where repetitive dives are done over multiple days. No wonder many divers choose this as their very first specialty!
To learn techniques for getting more dive time by using enriched air nitrox.
To know the enriched air scuba diving equipment considerations.
To understand enriched air considerations, including managing oxygen exposure, how to tell what’s in your scuba tank and how to set your dive computer.
Additional gear requirements:
Personal dive computer
Cost: R2900* SSI
*excludes optional open water dives
Equipment Techniques
The goal here is to educate recreational scuba divers about diving equipment: what is available, how it is used and why it is necessary for performance and safety.
Learn to select the Total Diving System that best suits your needs
Gain the knowledge to complete simple repairs and maintain your system properly for increased longevity and performance
Understand the reasons for professionally maintaining your life support equipment
Cost: R3100* SSI
* Includes online student manual, a lecture and an assignment.
**There are no water sessions required for this course.
Night Diver
Introduce yourself to the whole new cast of critters that comes out after the sun goes down. See your favorite dive sites from a whole new perspective at night. Everything looks different at night, including the ocean! Why not try the Night Diver specialty and discover a whole new perspective on the world below?
To learn night dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and potential problems
To know how to control your buoyancy at night
To perform entries, exits and underwater navigation at night
To learn about new nocturnal aquatic life, since many of the plants and animals you’ll see are different
Additional gear requirements:
Own dive light
Cost: R3100* SSI
*2 open water dives
(excludes optional boat charter fees)
Peak Performance Buoyancy
What is neutral buoyancy? Scuba divers like to be neutrally buoyant so they neither sink nor float. It can be a tricky thing. Divers who’ve mastered the highest performance levels in buoyancy stand apart. You’ve seen them underwater. They glide effortlessly, use less air and ascend, descend or hover, almost as if by thought. They interact gently with aquatic life and affect their surroundings minimally.
To learn to trim your scuba gear so you’re perfectly balanced in the water
To become familiar with nuances in determining weight so you’re not too light nor too heavy by even a slight degree
To know how to streamline to save air and move smoothly through the water
To learn how to hover effortlessly in both a vertical position and a horizontal position
The Peak Performance Buoyancy course refines the basic skills you learned as an Open Water Diver and greatly compliments the Wreck Diver and Photography Diver courses.
Water sessions:
1 confined water (pool) session
2 open water dives
Cost: R2900* SSI
*excludes optional boat charter fees
Science of Diving
In this specialty course, divers will refresh and expand on their knowledge of diving physics, diving physiology, decompression theory and the aquatic environment. This course is also the first step to becoming an SSI Dive professional.
* Includes online student manual & lectures
** There are no water sessions required for this course
Search and Recovery Diver
This course will teach you effective ways to find objects underwater and bring them to the surface. Small, large or just awkward, there is a way to bring them up. The skills acquired on this course are not only fun, but very practical and ultimately very useful to all types of divers, but especially divers who frequently use, or own boats because eventually, you’ll lose something in the water!
To become familiar with search and recovery dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques and how to deal with potential problems
To learn to locate large and small objects using search patterns
To get to grips with lift bag use and other recovery methods
to acquire limited visibility search techniques
Additional gear requirements:
Own surface marker buoy and reel
Cost: R3100* SSI
*2 open water shore dives
Underwater Navigator
Navigation can be challenging, but in the Underwater Navigator Specialty course, you master the challenge. You learn the tools of the trade, including navigation via natural clues and by compass, both essential underwater skills in a dive location such as the Cape where shore-entries are the norm and divers need to return to their starting point… in sometimes less than desirable visibility!
80% pass of a written examination (SSI courses only)
Aim of the course:
Study navigation patterns
Acquire a sense of natural navigation (without a compass)
Learn about compass navigation
To know how to “mark” or relocate a submerged object or position from the surface
Be introduced to underwater map making
To learn how to estimate distance underwater
Cost: R3100* SSI
*2 shore dives
Wreck Diver
Whether sunk on purpose as an artificial reef or the result of mishap, wrecks open fascinating windows to the past. Most divers find wrecked ships, airplanes and even automobiles nearly irresistible because they’re intriguing to explore, exciting avenues of discovery, and usually teeming with aquatic life. This specialty is an absolute must for world renowned dive locals such as the Northern Redsea and even right here at home in Cape Town!
Acquire techniques for diving and exploring shipwrecks and how to avoid common hazards.
Learn how to research and learn the background of your favorite wrecks.
Become familiar with wreck scuba diving equipment considerations.
To gain experience in planning, organizing and making at least two wreck dives under the supervision of your Instructor.
Divers enrolling in this course will greatly benefit from the Peak Performance Buoyancy and Deep Diver courses as well as the Enriched Air Diver course for the extended dive time this qualification affords the wreck diver.
