Do you dream of turning your love of scuba diving into a lifelong career? As a dive professional, you truly can live the dream — exploring the world’s most beautiful destinations, meeting new people every day, and helping others discover the magic of the underwater world.

So, how do you get there? The path to becoming a dive professional is straightforward, but it involves several important steps. To make it easy, here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a professional SSI scuba diver.

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1. Try Scuba

If you’re brand new to diving and not ready to commit to a full certification, the Try Scuba program is the perfect introduction.

• Learn basic scuba theory, safety principles, and equipment use.

• Take your very first breaths underwater with an instructor by your side.

• Explore safely to a maximum depth of 12 metres.

If you’re already confident that diving is for you, you can move straight on to the Open Water Diver certification.

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2. Open Water Diver

This is the foundation of your scuba journey. The Open Water Diver course combines theory, pool sessions, and open-water dives to build confidence and skill.

• Master dive theory, safety, and dive planning.

• Learn to be a responsible dive buddy.

• Explore to a maximum of 18 metres.

Once certified, you’ll be able to dive anywhere in the world with a buddy or join guided groups.

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3. Specialty Diver / Advanced Open Water Diver

Now the fun really begins. With more than 20 SSI Specialties to choose from, you can tailor your training to your passions.

Some popular specialties include:

• Perfect Buoyancy — glide through the water like a pro.

• Navigation — learn to find your way back to the boat or shore.

• Deep Diving — safely reach depths of up to 40 metres.

As you complete specialties, you’ll earn recognition ratings: Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Master Diver.

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4. Dive Guide & Divemaster

Here’s where you step into leadership.

• Dive Guide: Lead certified divers, conduct briefings, evaluate dive sites, and show guests the wonders below the surface.

• Divemaster: Assist instructors with courses and work in dive centres worldwide. Many divers begin their professional careers here, finding paid work guiding and assisting.

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5. Assistant Instructor

Take your first steps into teaching. As an Assistant Instructor, you’ll:

• Support dive instructors during training.

• Teach certain skills under supervision.

• Gain valuable insight into different teaching styles while developing your own.

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6. Open Water Instructor

This is the milestone where you officially become a dive instructor.

• Complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC).

• Pass the Instructor Evaluation (IE).

Once qualified, you can independently teach programs including Open Water Diver, Nitrox, Stress & Rescue, Dive Guide, and more.

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7. Specialty Instructor / Advanced Open Water Instructor

After gaining experience, you can expand your scope:

• Specialty Instructor: Teach diver Specialties.

• Advanced Open Water Instructor: Progress as you teach multiple specialties.

• Divemaster Instructor: Mentor Divemaster candidates.

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8. Assistant Instructor Trainer & Instructor Trainer

The pinnacle of your career path.

• As an Assistant Instructor Trainer, you’ll support Instructor Trainers and learn from their methods.

• As a full Instructor Trainer, you’ll teach Instructor Training Courses and evaluate new instructors, helping shape the next generation of dive professionals.

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Prerequisites & Next Steps

Each stage has its own prerequisites — from logged dives to swimming ability. You’ll also need a valid dive medical before enrolling. Check the website for full requirements.

Once you’ve achieved professional status, the next step is finding work — and opportunities await all over the world.

We’ll be here to help you take that leap.