Dive Guide/Divemaster Course

Cutting Edge Dive Guide/Divemaster Course

Are you interested in becoming a diving professional with the skills, knowledge, and experience to lead, supervise and teach others how to be safe and comfortable underwater? If so, our A-1 Dive Guide and Science of Diving Specialty provide the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve the SSI Divemaster Recognition.

The combination of our highly qualified Instructor Trainer team, SSI educational materials, amazing facility, and 66 years of experience teaching thousands of eager divers, will assure you’re receiving the very best Divemaster Course there is to offer. Yes, pretty bold, but our results speak loudly and proudly.

The A-1 Divemaster Course includes two SSI courses: DIVE GUIDE and the SCIENCE OF DIVING SPECIALTY. Read on to see all the exciting details about these great courses.

Dive Guide Course

During this course, your personal diving skills will be sharpened to near perfection while you learn the techniques of organization and the supervision of student divers before, during, and after diving. The combination of thought-provoking active learning sessions, self-study, skills training, stamina exercises, problem-solving techniques, evaluations in our swimming pool, and diving at the Denver Downtown Aquarium, will prepare you for the leadership level you’re striving to attain. It’s a serious course designed for the serious diver.

A-1 Divemaster Course
  • Dive Guide – Minimum age: 15 years old
  • Divemaster – 18 years old
  • Emergency training – SSI Diver Stress and Rescue certification or equivalent.
  • Dive Guide – 40 logged dives
  • Divemaster – 60 lifetime open water dives totaling 40 hours or more
  • Specialty certification, or the ability to show (5) logged experience dives in each of the following areas: Deep (100-130 feet), Navigation, Night/Limited Visibility
  • Have a personal MySSI account and MID registration number.
  • Complete and submit various important documents. These will be discussed and provided during the orientation session.

Note: You will be required to have the SSI Diver Medical signed by a medical professional, prior in-water training and Divemaster certification.

Course Completion Requirements

  • Complete the Water Fitness Evaluation outlined in the SSI Training Standards
  • Pass all requirements listed in the instructor manual for Dive Guide
  • Science of Diving Specialty (included with the Dive Guide/Divemaster Course)

Additional Requirements for Completion – Professional Certification Only

Upload My Documents section of your MYSSI account:

  • Upload roof of CPR training within two (2) years to your MySSI account
  • Upload roof of First Aid training within two (2) years to your MySSI account
  • Upload proof of Oxygen Provider within two (2) years to your MySSI account
  • DAN, or recognized carrier, professional liability insurance documentation
  • Submit a one-time Professional Registration Fee of * $100.00, which will appear on your divessi.com home page as an unpaid item in your shopping cart

  Note:  Our DAN First Aid/CPR and Oxygen First Aid course includes CPR, First Aid and Oxygen First Aid

  • There are five sessions 
    • Orientation session – Introductions, course overview, documentation requirements, and establishing a schedule
    • Classroom Presentations
      • What is a Divemaster
      • Preparing for the Dive
      • Conducting the Dive
      • Diving Emergencies
      • Your Career With SSI
    • Practical Applications – includes Pool and Open Water Dives
      • Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation
      • Open Water Dive Skills Workshop
      • Diver Stress and Rescue Workshop
      • Dive Briefing Evaluation
      • Dive Guiding Evaluation – Open Water, Deep, and Night Diving

Those who complete the Dive Guide and Science of Diving courses will be issued the SSI DIVEMASTER recognition, and eligible to purchase professional liability insurance. 

Once insured and certified, perform and teach the following programs: 

  • Act as a Dive Guide
  • Be a Certified Assistant for all SSI Recreational Courses
  • Assist with OW Training Dives by guiding excursion dives
  • Conduct local diving
  • Conduct non-diving activities
  • Qualify as a Training Specialty Instructor for certain SSI Specialty Programs including:
    • Marine Ecology
    • Sea Turtle Ecology
    • Shark Ecology
    • Fish Identification
    • Manta and Ray Ecology
    • Coral Identification
  • Enroll in a DAN Instructor Training Course and teach the various DAN programs
  • Enroll in the SSI Instructor Training Course (Assistant Instructor and Open Water Instructor)

You’ll need to own and be equipped with a professional-level Total Diving System during all open water training per SSI Standards:

  • Mask, snorkel & fins
  • Wetsuit
  • BCD with power inflator & weight system
  • Delivery System with primary regulator and alternate air source
  • SPG and depth gauge
  • Dive computer
  • Compass
  • Cutting device
  • Emergency signaling devices (Delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) and audible device)

Note:  Tanks and Weights will be provided.

INCLUDES

  • SSI Dive Guide/Divemaster online e-Kit (digital cert card, online training material access, and free updates)
  • SSI Science of Diving online e-Kit
  • Dive Guide/Divemaster  Package – SSI Dude-Hat, Buddy Team Briefing Slate, Blue Oceans Collection Bag
  • Classroom Learning Sessions
  • Pool training dives
  • (4) one-hour pool sessions to be used at the participants discretion
  • Use of tanks and weights in the pool and Aquarium
  • Practical Application Sessions 4 & 5 at the Denver Downtown Aquarium
  • Practical Application 6 and 7 – Evaluate a Deep or Night Diving Scenario and provide recommendations for dive planning, specialty equipment, and dive parameters. NOTE:  the location is based on the season.  May-Sept at the Chatfield Gravel Pond.  Sept-May at the Blue Hole.

NOT INCLUDED

  • Transportation, park fees, lodging, meals
  • SSI (one-time) Pro registration fee (currently $100 paid to SSI)
  • Personal diving equipment
  • Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB)
  • Professional Liability Insurance
  • CPR/First Aid – Our DAN First Aid/CPR and Oxygen First Aid course includes CPR, First Aid and Oxygen First Aid

Makeup sessions can be difficult to schedule and are costly, so please attend all scheduled sessions.

  • Once you begin using the e-Kits there is no refund.
  • Should you cancel or transfer FOR ANY REASON less than 48 hours before the starting date of the course, all course fees will be forfeited.
  • Should you transfer less than seven days but more than 48 hours before the starting date of the class, there will be a $100 transfer/cancellation fee.

Science of Diving Specialty Course

Have you ever wondered why colors disappear as you dive deeper or been curious to know what the effects of air and water temperature are on your tank pressure? Why do ships float and rocks sink? How can you learn to relax underwater and extend your diving time? These, and so many more questions will be answered during this self-study course.

The training provided in the SSI Science of Diving program increases your understanding of these topics and provides you with additional information about decompression theory, and the components of your Total Diving System and various accessories.

Our goal is to improve your knowledge of the aquatic environment and the sport of recreational scuba diving and to ensure that you enjoy every aspect of your diving experience.

Science of Diving
  • Minimum age: 10 years old.
  • Be an SSI Referral Diver or higher, or hold an equivalent certification from another recognized certification agency.

This is predominantly a self-study course.  You’ll read your SSI digital online manual and answer questions pertaining to the reading material at the end of each section.  During the scheduled learning session A-1, your instructor will review key components of the course and answer questions.  Then your instructor will administer a 100 question final exam.

There are five-course sections:

    1. Physics
    2. Physiology
    3. Decompression Theory
    4. Components of the Total Diving System and Accessory Equipment
    5. The Aquatic Environment

INCLUDES

  • Science of Diving Specialty e-Kit
  • SSI Specialty Certification
  • The online course exam
  • Once you begin using the e-Kits there is no refund.
  • Should you cancel or transfer FOR ANY REASON less than 48 hours before the starting date of the course, all course fees will be forfeited.
  • Should you transfer less than seven days but more than 48 hours before the starting date of the class, there will be a $100 transfer/cancellation fee.

Course Fee & Dates

2025 Dates

Please call to register for the FREE orientation (303) 789-2450

  • June/July – Orientation June 3rd
  • September/October – Orientation September 10th

Orientation begins at 6 pm.  Course dates will be determined on student availability.

PLEASE NOTE: NO fee is required to attend the orientation but you must call (303) 789-2450 to register you for the orientation. It includes an overview of the course, Q&A, and a discussion of the course schedule.

Divemaster Course
$925 Blue Hole or $800 Chatfield
Gain the skills, knowledge and experience to lead, supervise and teach others how to be safe and comfortable underwater.
Includes Dive Guide Course and Science of Diving Specialty