SSI Dive Guide eLearning

SSI Dive Guide — eLearning & Certification Credit Only

Begin your journey as a dive professional with the SSI Dive Guide programme — your first step toward leading certified divers and managing dive activities safely and confidently. This eLearning product provides your academic training and certification credit only, covering leadership theory, dive planning, supervision, and communication. You’ll complete the practical in-water training separately with an authorised SSI Dive Centre.

What you’ll learn online

• The role and responsibilities of a Dive Guide
• How to plan and conduct guided dives safely and efficiently
• Group control, problem prevention, and emergency procedures
• Briefing techniques and dive site management
• Environmental awareness and sustainable diving practices
• Risk assessment, dive logistics, and supervision strategies
• Professional communication and customer service skills

Required practical training (booked separately)

To become a fully certified SSI Dive Guide, you’ll need to complete the in-water and leadership training component with an SSI Instructor or Instructor Trainer. These practical sessions typically include:

• Guiding certified divers in open water under supervision
• Conducting pre-dive briefings, equipment checks, and post-dive debriefs
• Assisting with dive centre logistics and diver supervision
• Demonstrating strong buoyancy control, positioning, and awareness
• Responding effectively to simulated diving problems and emergencies
• Completing evaluation dives to show leadership competence

The practical sessions are not included with this eLearning product and must be arranged separately with Dorset Diving or another SSI Dive Centre that offers the Dive Guide training programme.

Important prerequisites

• You must be certified as an SSI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) and have completed the Diver Stress & Rescue specialty.
• A minimum of 40 logged dives is required to begin the practical training, and 50 logged dives for certification.
• You must have a current first aid and CPR certification (within 24 months) and meet SSI’s medical fitness requirements.
• Before booking, confirm that your chosen dive centre offers the SSI Dive Guide programme and can provide the required practical leadership sessions.

Free registration

To begin your studies, create a free SSI account and affiliate with our dive centre here:
Register with Dorset Diving.

What’s next?

After completing the Dive Guide programme, you can progress directly into the SSI Divemaster course by completing the Science of Diving specialty — the next step toward becoming a professional Dive Leader or Instructor.