SSI Boat Diving eLearning

SSI Boat Diving — eLearning & Certification Credit Only

Experience the ease and adventure of diving from a boat with the SSI Boat Diving specialty. This course teaches you how to prepare for, plan, and conduct dives safely from different types of boats — from small RIBs to large liveaboards. It includes your academic training and certification credit only, allowing you to complete the theory online before adding the optional in-water boat dives with an SSI Dive Centre.

What you’ll learn online

• Different types of dive boats and how they operate
• Boat diving procedures, terminology, and etiquette
• Pre-dive preparation and safety equipment on board
• Proper entry and exit techniques for different boat types
• Surface and underwater navigation from a moored or drifting boat
• Seasickness prevention and managing gear in confined spaces
• Environmental awareness and protecting marine ecosystems during boat dives

Optional practical training (booked separately)

To put your knowledge into practice, you can join in-water boat diving sessions with an SSI Instructor. These optional dives typically include:

• Boat briefings, dive planning, and equipment setup on deck
• Practising backward rolls and giant stride entries
• Managing surface marker buoys (SMBs) and ascent lines
• Drift diving and returning to the boat safely
• Understanding boat positioning, anchoring, and diver recall procedures

These practical sessions are not included with this eLearning product and must be arranged separately with Dorset Diving or another SSI Dive Centre offering the Boat Diving specialty.

Important

• Please confirm that your chosen dive centre offers SSI Boat Diving training and has access to suitable boat facilities before booking.
• You must hold an Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent) to participate in the in-water sessions.
• This course is ideal preparation for liveaboard trips, drift dives, and deep or wreck diving adventures.

Free registration

Begin your eLearning today by creating a free SSI account and affiliating with our dive centre here:
Register with Dorset Diving.

What’s next?

After completing Boat Diving, continue your adventure with related SSI specialties such as Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, or Waves, Tides & Currents — perfect companions for divers who love exploring from a boat.