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SSIScuba Diver
Roughly the first half of the Open Water Diver programme, issued as its own certification.
The right choice when your stay is short — provided you understand that it is limited to 12 metres and requires an SSI professional in the water with you.
Written by The Scuba Duka team · Reviewed by Ali, founder and Divemaster Instructor · October 2026
Minimum age
10
Prerequisite
Fit to swim · no certification needed
Sessions
3 academic · 2 confined · 2 open water
Maximum training depth
12 m / 40 ft
Typical duration
2 days
Scope
Diving with an SSI professional
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 you learn
—How your equipment works, how to assemble it and how to look after it
—Mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy control and controlled ascents
—Air management, buddy checks and communication underwater
—Dive planning basics and how to stay inside safe limits
The upgrade route, stated plainly
SSI describes Scuba Diver as almost half of the Open Water Diver programme. To upgrade you complete the remaining academic and confined-water sessions plus two more open-water training dives — with us, or at any SSI centre.
What we will not tell you is that this is a full qualification in less time. It is a clearly limited, professionally supervised certification with a structured route onward. Before you book we will ask about your departure date and whether you intend to dive independently elsewhere, because the answer changes our recommendation.
Who it suits
—Visitors with three days or fewer who still want a certification
—Divers who expect to dive with a guide or centre rather than independently
—Guests testing whether they want to continue to full Open Water Diver
Where you will train
Kinondo Reef
Galu Reef
a sheltered alternative if the tide dictates
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
Is Scuba Diver recognised internationally?
Yes, as an SSI certification with its stated scope: to 12 metres, in the company of an SSI professional.
Should I just do Open Water instead?
If you have the days and you want to dive independently with a buddy anywhere in the world, yes. We will say so.
Does the training transfer?
Yes. Completed sessions credit directly towards Open Water Diver.
How much does it cost?
$370 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
"A fantastic atmosphere and incredibly lovely dive instructors. We always felt completely at ease, well looked after, and safe. You could ask as many questions as you liked, and the vibe was consistently relaxed and fun! I would go back here in a heartbeat." Lea, Germany
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.
