A-1 Extended Range Foundations Program in Denver

Why take this course?

The SSI Extended Range Foundations program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your advanced diving skills in a workshop environment. Learn more about using tec diving gear with any total diving system you are certified to use and build upon your basic skill set to master buoyancy, trim, finning techniques, positioning, and communication. The Extended Range Foundations program provides supplementary training to existing certifications to increase your confidence and in-water control. All in-water sessions are completed in our pool with no open water dives required. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.

Diver taking the SSI Extended Range Foundations program

What will I do?

This course focuses on advanced buoyancy, trim, and finning techniques in addition to different gear configurations, including an introduction to both sidemount and back mount double tanks

This is a prerequisite for any other Extended Range (XR) courses.

How long will it take?

  • 3 classroom and pool sessions that include learning about equipment configurations.
  • Students are encouraged to schedule pool time between each session to practice skills.

  • Minimum age 16 years old
  • Have a minimum of 24 logged dives
  • Certified as an Open Water Diver
  • Have a MySSI account. Be sure to upload a digital photo to your account and enter a complete address. (You’ll need this in order to access your Extended Range Foundations training material.)
  • Have a Recreational Sidemount Diving Specialty certification to use a Sidemount configuration

The A-1 instructor will collect the following (completed) documents at the beginning of the first session.  Unfortunately, participants will not be able to continue until the instructor has reviewed them for accuracy.

Please download, initial, date, and sign the student sections of the course documents (see links below)

Required XR Course Documents

IMPORTANT  – The Diver Medical Form must be signed and dated by a medical professional, even if all answers are NO. 

Equipment

Student equipment requirements:

  • Standard Snorkeling Equipment
  • DSMB (Delayed Surface Marker Buoy) and Finger Reel/Spool
  • Total Diving System – Single-Cylinder, BCD or Backplate & Wing.  Regulators must have a standard length hose (6-7 foot hose is recommended) and an alternate air source for air sharing, (1) low-pressure inflator hose, and (1) submersible pressure gauge (SPG).

Certification in Extended Range Foundations

  • Certification is Extended Range Foundations
  • Successfully completing the course to recreational criteria is considered a recreational level pass.  Recreational criteria is +/- 3 feet buoyancy and +/- 30 degrees trim while performing the required skills.   This is a prerequisite for the Recreational Sidemount course.
  • Successfully completing the course to technical criteria is considered a technical level pass. Technical criteria is +/- 1 foot buoyancy and +/- 15 degrees trim while performing the required skills.   This is a prerequisite for any Extended Range course.

The Extended Range Course, if completed with a Technical level pass, or the Recreational Sidemount course if completed with a Recreational level pass.

Course Fee $350

Course fee includes:

  • Class & Pool sessions.
  • Tank rentals for pool sessions.
  • Air fills for pool sessions.

Course fee does not include:

  • Equipment (see above)

Sign Up Now

EXTENDED RANGE FOUNDATIONS

Diver underwater representing the SSI Extended Range Foundations program