SSI Extended Range Foundations eLearning

SSI Extended Range Foundations — eLearning & Certification Credit Only

Build a solid base for your future in technical diving with the SSI Extended Range Foundations programme. This course is designed to refine your buoyancy, trim, propulsion, and equipment skills while introducing you to twinset or sidemount configurations. This product provides your academic training and certification credit only; all in-water sessions must be booked separately with an authorised SSI Extended Range Instructor.

What you’ll learn online

• The SSI Extended Range diving system and philosophy
• Equipment setup and configuration for technical diving
• Gas management, redundancy principles, and safety planning
• Buoyancy, trim, and propulsion techniques for precision control
• Team awareness, situational management, and communication
• Problem identification and stress management underwater
• Skills development for twinset or sidemount diving
• Foundations for future decompression and technical courses

Optional practical training (booked separately)

To complete the full SSI Extended Range Foundations experience, you can join an SSI Instructor for the in-water training component. These sessions focus on practical skill development and typically include:

• Perfecting buoyancy and horizontal trim control
• Finning and propulsion techniques for technical environments
• Equipment setup and configuration checks for twinset or sidemount systems
• Gas-sharing, shutdown, and emergency response practice
• Team positioning, awareness, and underwater communication drills

The practical sessions are not included in this eLearning product and must be booked separately with Dorset Diving or another SSI Dive Centre that offers the Extended Range Foundations programme.

Important prerequisites

• You must be at least 16 years old and certified as an SSI Open Water Diver (or equivalent).
• It is recommended that you have completed the Perfect Buoyancy and Enriched Air Nitrox specialties before beginning the practical training.
• A current diving medical (within 12 months) and valid first aid/CPR certification may be required by your training centre.
• Confirm that your chosen dive centre offers SSI Extended Range Foundations training and provides access to the equipment setup you wish to learn (twinset or sidemount).

Free registration

Start your journey into technical diving by creating a free SSI account and affiliating with our dive centre here:
Register with Dorset Diving.

What’s next?

After completing Extended Range Foundations, you’ll have the skills and confidence to continue your progression into Extended Range, Technical Extended Range, or Cavern Diving — the ideal pathway toward advanced or technical-level diving.