SSI Specialty Course Descriptions

[jham2081]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you all knew where i could find fairly detailed descriptions of what is entailed in each of the SSI specialty courses (i'm looking SSI because thats what my LDS certifies in) listed on their webpage. I have been looking line for a while, and haven't found any. I understand that this is probably to give local instructors some freedom in how to teach the course, but i don't want to end up paying for a class when all i really need is more experience underwater. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you like.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Kriterian]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you all knew where i could find fairly detailed descriptions of what is entailed in each of the SSI specialty courses (i'm looking SSI because thats what my LDS certifies in) listed on their webpage. I have been looking line for a while, and haven't found any. I understand that this is probably to give local instructors some freedom in how to teach the course, but i don't want to end up paying for a class when all i really need is more experience underwater. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you like.

Thanks,
Jason

Do you mean the regular specialty courses such as: Deep, Wreck, Navigation, Buoyancy etc?

Or do you mean the courses that can be created by an instructor that's usually specific to local areas like: Golf Ball Diving, River Diving etc?

 

[jham2081]

the typical courses like:

Boat Diving
Computer Diving
Deep Diving
Diver Stress & Rescue
Dry Suit Diving
Enriched Air Nitrox
Equipment Techniques
Navigation
Night & Limited Visibility Diving
Search & Recovery
Underwater Photography
Waves
Tides & Currents
Wreck Diving

any input from those who have taken these, or even instructors who teach them and could send me some inf would be appreciated.

 

[jonnythan]

The seem pretty self-explanatory.. any specific questions?

 

[jham2081]

Well, for example, what would be taught in the navigation course that couldn't be learned by just diving and practicing following your compass to an object on a known heading?

i guess some of the just seem fairly self explanatory that i'm not sure if they would be worth taking when compared to just learning skills based on practicing them in normal dive situations.

What i am kind of asking for is a sort of syllabus for each course that lays out all the new skills that one learns in each course. Obviously some courses (nitrox/dry suit) seem to be more advanced, so i understand the need for those certs.

 

[jonnythan]

Well, a lot of the stuff you'll learn is more or less.. obvious. The navigation course will have you do search patterns and stuff but it's not quantum mechanics. The deep, night/limited vis, and wreck courses will introduce some new info, but nothing earth shattering. Nitrox is useful because it lets you get the gas. Rescue is a great class, one I have yet to take.

I like SSI's AOW program since you get to take 4 specialty classes and get some additional instruction.

But.. boat diving is really pretty worthless. So is computer diving. Etc. Use common sense

 

[Kriterian]

I have several of the books because I plan on taking the courses eventually and just wanted something about diving to read.


The Navigation one is a little more complicated than just "How to read a compass and take a heading". It explains how to triangulate, do complicated navigation where you have to negotiate around objects etc. I don't remember seeing any search patterns like Jonny mentioned, but that's probably because they saved them for the "Search and Recovery" book.

Deep and Wreck were pretty much common sense type books.

I think the main thing you'd get from the classes is the things that aren't in the book. Experience diving, lessons from your instructor, experiences that you instructor can relate, information that is specific to the conditions in your area etc.

Remember, a good diver is always learning. Aside from a small dent in your pocketbook (specialties are fairly cheap at my LDS), you're not going to lose anything by taking it.

 

[jham2081]

Well, a lot of the stuff you'll learn is more or less.. obvious. The navigation course will have you do search patterns and stuff but it's not quantum mechanics. The deep, night/limited vis, and wreck courses will introduce some new info, but nothing earth shattering. Nitrox is useful because it lets you get the gas. Rescue is a great class, one I have yet to take.

I like SSI's AOW program since you get to take 4 specialty classes and get some additional instruction.

But.. boat diving is really pretty worthless. So is computer diving. Etc. Use common sense

Is the AOW pretty much one dive per specialty, or are there multiple dives for each rating?

**Edit**
Also, i do appreciate that good divers are always learning. I know that i could learn something from each of the classes listed above, and know i am extremely new to diving, i just don't want to be a card chaser, and instead would like to get value out of the classes i pay for.

 

[Kriterian]

But.. boat diving is really pretty worthless. So is computer diving. Etc. Use common sense

I forgot about boat diving. I have that book and of all the classes, that's probably one of the ones I would not take. It's pretty much just information about getting into and out of a boat, a little about sea sickness etc.

The only reason I'd consider this one is that my LDS offers a three specialty "trip" to the coast where you do boat diving, deep diving and wreck diving all at once.

They have a computer one? Yeesh, that's almost as bad as "Seafood Appreciation" or something, hehe.

 

[jonnythan]

My advice is to step into the LDS and just chat with them about the courses. They'll be more than happy to tell you all about them, their exact requirements, etc.