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SSIDivemaster
A professional development programme: supervised experience, operations knowledge and the judgement needed to guide certified divers and assist instructors.
It takes weeks rather than days, depending on your starting experience and the judgement you show.
Written by The Scuba Duka team · Reviewed by Ali, founder and Divemaster Instructor · October 2026
Minimum age
18
Prerequisite
Dive Guide · 60 logged dives / 40 hours · Science of Diving
Sessions
10 academic · 4 confined · 60 open water
Maximum depth
30 m / 100 ft
Typical duration
2–4 weeks
Routes
Full programme or upgrade — confirmed individually
Scope
Guiding and assisting, not independent instruction
Session counts, depths, ages and durations above are the public SSI programme figures. Your exact schedule, prerequisites and route are confirmed against current SSI standards, your instructor's ratings and the conditions of the week before your course begins.
What the programme covers
—Supervised experience across real operating days
—Briefings, group management and risk anticipation
—Operations knowledge: equipment, gas, boats, emergency systems
—Local conditions logging and site decision-making
—Assisting instructors appropriately, within the rating
Two routes, deliberately not merged
SSI public material describes a pathway beginning at 40 verified dives with relevant experience in Deep Diving, Navigation, and Night and Limited Visibility plus Diver Stress and Rescue, and separately describes an upgrade route involving at least 60 logged dives, Science of Diving self-study, a digital final exam and professional status.
Because those descriptions are distinct, we establish which route applies to you before you enrol rather than blending the two into a single marketing claim.
What the rating does and does not authorise
SSI positions Divemasters to guide certified divers, assist instructors and teach Ecology programmes where qualified, and to continue towards instructor training. The rating does not itself authorise independent instruction of all SSI courses.
Where you will train
The full local site list across seasons and conditions
Sites are chosen on the day for the conditions and for your stage of training, with a primary site, an alternate, and clear criteria for postponing. Tide, wind, visibility, current and entry condition are logged before every course day.
Before you arrive
Digital learning in MySSI
You create a MySSI profile, select The Scuba Duka as your Training Centre, and work through the digital materials on your phone at your own pace. Your training record, logged dives and certification card are kept in the app.
Medical disclaimer before you dive
A medical disclaimer forms part of the form you complete before diving. If anything on it applies to you, it goes to a physician — we are not doctors and will not clear you medically. Disclosures are kept confidential, and no schedule will be allowed to rush that.
What to bring
Swimwear, a towel and reef-safe sunscreen. Certification and logbook details if you already hold a qualification. Everything else — equipment, tanks, weights — is provided and fitted at the centre.
Two to four students
Small groups let the instructor watch your breathing, buoyancy and comfort, and repeat a skill until it feels easy.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
Weeks, not days. The exact length depends on your starting experience, the operating calendar and your demonstrated judgement.
Do you offer internships?
Talk to us about capacity, timing and what you want from it. We keep candidate numbers small for the same reason we keep classes small.
What comes after?
Instructor training, at a centre with the appropriate rating. We will be straight with you about where that is best done.
How much does it cost?
$949 per person, with the instructor, equipment, SSI digital materials and hotel pickup included. Certification and any park fees are confirmed at booking.
Where this sits in the pathway
Try Scuba→
Basic Diver→
Scuba Diver→
Open Water Diver→
Specialties & Advanced→
Stress & Rescue→
Dive Guide→
Divemaster
From the dive log
"I decided to persue diving as a career choice, after my advanced and I was happy to take the course with Ali from Scuba Duka. It's was a lot more fun that I expected and soon about to start a job in Dubai" Rohan, India
We ask permission before quoting or photographing any guest, and we publish nothing without it.
Who you will dive with
Seven people run the centre, four of them born and raised in Diani Beach. Between the four instructors sit more than 13,000 logged dives on this stretch of the Indian Ocean. Two qualified dive guides, Sampuli and Captain Michael, guide dives alongside them.
Ali
Founder · Divemaster Instructor25+ years diving in Kenya and abroad. Born and raised in Diani Beach.
Kassim
Scuba Instructor17+ years and 8,000+ logged dives, from Diani to Kisite Mpunguti. SSI and PADI certified.
Salim Swaleh
Scuba Instructor4,000+ logged dives on Diani sites. Teaches SSI beginner to specialty courses.
Omari
Scuba InstructorSSI and PADI Open Water Instructor, 1,000+ logged dives. Shoots underwater photo and video.
Sampuli
Dive GuideBorn and raised in Diani Beach. 100+ logged dives. Guides guest divers and runs equipment checks.
Michael
Dive Guide · Captain20+ years scuba diving and captaining boats. Handles the boat and guides dives.
