A new revolution is underway with the emergence of Scuba Schools International (SSI) as a bespoke provider and supporter empowering superyachts to operate as a dive centre.
Started in 1970, SSI has provided training, scuba diving & freediving certifications, educational resources for divers, dive instructors, dive centres and resorts around the world. It has expanded to include more than 30 Service Centres, is represented in more than 110 countries with over 2,500 International locations, and has materials printed in more than 30 languages.
Having been diving since I was a young lad and having trained as an Instructor under four of the most well known dive organisations, BSAC (British club system), CMAS (French dive federation) , PADI & NAUI (US based dive organisations), more recently Ondine Diving afforded me the opportunity to earn my SSI Advanced Instructor rating. It’s refreshing to see SSI’s innovative and flexible approach to diving and its goals to develop and offer products & services designed to provide a support network for Superyacht diving.
The SSI training structure is based around the 4-sided Diver Diamond; Experience, Training, Knowledge and Equipment, the combination of which are aimed at promoting and producing competant, confident and complete recreational divers.
A great example of this is the SSI Advanced Certification. There is no SSI Advanced course but a combination of the 4 sides of the Diver Diamond, recognizing experience, training and knowledge. As per most other training agencies you start with an initial Open Water course for primary certification, followed by a focus on 4 different specialty courses which you can select to suit your diving interests or working obligations as you work towards a Divemaster certification. Once 4 specialties are accomplished and the diver completes and logs 24 dives an Advanced Open Water certification is earned. This means for example, you can go straight to a Stress & Rescue Specialty course right after open water certification. This is ideal for yacht crew who benefit from newly aquired rescue skills and knowledge which crosses over to supervising other watersports. Additionally, SSI provides Freedive training, an essential skill to learn for anyone who work as deck crew and supervise general watersport activites.
So what are SSI actually up to from the superyacht perspective? SSI have created and are launching, The SSI Superyacht Centre. The first dive centre rating in the world specifically for luxury yachts.
SSI Superyacht Centre benefits include;
· Superyacht specific category listing
· Printed & Digital product branding;
· Personalized certification cards & certification card printer on board
· Name of yacht on certification cards
· Branded yacht dive equipment storage rack
· Dedicated Webpage & Web listing
· Product discounts & equipment special offers
· Personalized pricing structure
· Regional service centre support network
· Equipment service – International, twice a year
· Dedicated customer service
Combining our Yacht Scuba Safety Program with customised Superyacht Ops Manual procedure development and this new rating really brings the recreational dive industry standards up to a superyacht level.
Watch this space for new developments as they happen. 2015 will see the emergence of a fantastic new resource to allow superyachts to offer dive activities of the highest possible calibre and standard of safety. After all, this is what superyachts strive to achieve on every level of service and activity they offer.
Big Bubbles, No Troubles!
