Better with SSI

First things first: I hate discussions about associations. I don't belong to any sect and have no emotional or religious connection to any diving association. I like divers who know what they're doing and those who know what they don't know. I like diving instructors who take their job seriously and do their best to teach their students to dive well. And I can't stand those who only see dollar signs and don't care about anything else. I don't sell plastic cards, I sell training. With or without a card, I don't care. And I dive with divers, regardless of what's written on their cards.
But as a diving instructor and as a dive centre, I need a diving association. To be able to do what I want to do; to get equipment that is as affordable and reliable as possible; to have standards that cover my back without creating additional problems, SSI has become my favourite association over the last few years.

It all started out of necessity at an SSI dive centre, which I had to cross over to. Well... Back then, neither the equipment nor the online system were particularly impressive; everything was a bit outdated and looked more like a cheap knock-off. With La Palma Diving, I only dug SSI out again because it wasn't easy to get hold of books, whereas SSI was able to deliver reliably. It was more the lesser of two evils than love at first sight...
A lot has happened in recent years. All the training materials have been modernised at an incredible speed, the online administration works simply and reliably, and the support for the affiliated dive centres and pros is truly exemplary – my last assistant instructor was certified less than an hour after I emailed the paperwork. Try beating that...
And over time, I've come to realise that it's really easy and enjoyable to work with SSI. Sure, you can work with others too, but there are a few things that really stand out:

• Digital training materials: As soon as someone wants to take a course, I can unlock the teaching materials in any language with just three clicks. Payment is made at the end of the month, and if you make a mistake, you can simply cancel it. Affordable, good quality, modern... and for those who prefer paper, the books are also available in print. No book storage, no outdated books that you have to get rid of before buying new ones – soooo easy.
• Material for diving instructors: Every instructor has access to all training materials for the courses they are authorised to teach. Naturally, these are always the latest versions. The exams can be easily downloaded in any language, as can PowerPoint presentations and some videos. As a diving instructor or centre, there are no additional costs; the course material is simply made available. Oh, and you can edit the presentations and adapt them to your own ideas. Great.
• My favourite: the flexibility rule. Of course, comparable standards apply as in all training organisations – ISO is ISO. But: at SSI, it is explicitly desired that courses be adapted to local conditions, specific students and evolving technology. You can change the order of exercises – so if someone is still struggling with the mask, I can take off the jacket and it's not a breach of the standard. Or you can complete the open water exercises during the first few dives so that the last one is a proper, real, complete, long final dive. This makes it much more relaxed when you want to adapt courses to specific students, rather than just stubbornly following the same schedule.
• The position of Assistant Instructor. They are allowed to do a lot at SSI, including a large part of the pool training for the OWD, all the theory, and with some additional training, a few specialities – so they are really useful and, above all, gain real experience. That's what I missed back then on my way to becoming a diving instructor – I was allowed to guide and do introductory dives, but I had no idea how an entire OWD course worked. I had to figure that out after my diving instructor exam – and then I was allowed to train up to divemaster straight away. Wow. I would have preferred to take it a little slower – that's why I recommend a season as an assistant instructor at SSI, after which the diving instructor exam is a lot easier.
• Continuous development: Diving is constantly changing, and so are the training requirements. Among other things, SSI has realised how beneficial it can be to get students floating in the water as early as possible rather than being completely stuck to the bottom. It encourages instructors to embrace new developments and adapt their courses accordingly. Hats off to them – that's the way to do it. Nowadays, there's no need to give long-winded lectures on reserve circuits on diving tanks...
• Marketing and business support: With MySSI, available as an app or on a PC, anyone who has logged in once has free access to the learning materials for the next step. This helps enormously to spark and maintain interest. The whole system is designed to keep divers active and encourage them to continue diving – and it works. In addition, there are a number of events that serve to support the dive centres. All at prices that don't make you feel like you're being squeezed dry...

Does it all sound a bit exaggerated? It's not. Despite all the scepticism at the beginning, it works. What was a real disadvantage a few years ago, namely that diving instructors had to be affiliated with an SSI centre, is no longer a problem with the growing number of SSI centres worldwide. And in terms of quality, it's not a bad thing that not everyone is allowed to give courses out of their garage. You can tell that the focus is clearly on the dive centres and shops – that's exactly what the shop is there for, and that's why it works so well.
And because it has convinced me over time, I finally decided that after 10 years as a full-time diving instructor, it was time to become an instructor trainer. After nine days in a secluded hotel in Egypt surrounded by nothing but desert (I would NEVER go on holiday like that...), I finally did it. So now I can train diving instructors, build my own team and hopefully recruit a few more. I can do crossover training for other diving instructors and centres who realise how easy it can be. But of course, I've just done a few trial dives again – I'm pretty good at it :-) And of course, I'll continue to enjoy diving and working with everyone who shares my passion for colourful fish, beautiful landscapes and the tranquillity of the underwater world – because I still don't care what combination of letters is on your card.