SSI Recognition Levels

Celebrate your diving achievements with SSI recognition ratings.

Specialty Diver

Complete 2 specialties and 12 logged dives.

Advanced Open Water Diver

Complete 4 SSI specialty programs to advance.

Diving Milestones

Acknowledge your training, experience, and logged dives.

SSI Recognition Levels

SSI offers Recognition Ratings that celebrate divers’ achievements as they progress in their diving journey. These are not courses by themselves but milestones acknowledging training, experience, and logged dives.

1. Specialty Diver

Requirements:
- Complete 2 SSI Specialty programs (e.g., Perfect Buoyancy, React Right, Navigation, Night, Wreck).
- Minimum 12 logged dives.
Recognition: First major step showing skill development.

2. Advanced Open Water Diver

Requirements:
- Complete 4 SSI Specialty programs.
- Minimum 24 logged dives.
Recognition: Marks you as a well-rounded diver with varied experience.

(Note: Unlike PADI, SSI Advanced Open Water Diver is a recognition level, not a single course. You choose your specialties.)

3. SSI Master Diver

Requirements:
- Complete 4 SSI Specialty programs.
- SSI Diver Stress & Rescue certification.
- Minimum 50 logged dives.
Recognition: Highest recreational diver rating in SSI, showing advanced skills, safety knowledge, and broad diving experience.

SSI Professional Levels

After Master Diver, divers can move into Pro Ratings:

Divemaster – First professional level; supervise training, assist instructors.
Dive Guide – Lead certified divers on guided dives.
Assistant Instructor
Open Water Instructor (OWI)
Advanced Instructor / Instructor Trainer

SSI Awards & Achievements

SSI also gives dive experience recognition badges in the MySSI app:

Recognition for logged dives: 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000.
Special recognition cards for milestones and instructor achievements.
Explorer Programs recognition (Snorkeling, Freediving, Mermaid, Extended Range).

In summary:

Specialty Diver → Advanced Open Water Diver → Master Diver are the main recreational recognition awards.
Beyond that, divers can pursue Professional Levels.
SSI also rewards logged dive milestones and instructor achievements.

SSI Recognition Levels

Celebrate your diving achievements with SSI's milestone recognition for skill development.