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SSISharkEcology
Seven academic sessions on how sharks actually behave — hunting, breeding, social behaviour, and the misconceptions that make people afraid of them.
Written as much for divers who are nervous around sharks as for divers who travel to find them.
Written by The Scuba Duka team · Reviewed by Ali, founder and Divemaster Instructor · October 2026
Minimum age
No minimum
Prerequisite
None
Sessions
7 academic
Format
Digital learning — no diving
Typical duration
6 hours
Certification
SSI specialty recognition
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 will learn
—Shark behaviour, and how to read it
—How sharks hunt, breed and socialise
—The common misconceptions, and where they came from
—The ecological role of predators on a reef
—How to dive comfortably and responsibly where sharks are present
Honest about Kenya sightings
Shark sightings on Kenya Coast dives are uncommon but possible — that is our own operating observation, not independently verified evidence, and we do not sell this course on the promise of an encounter.
Its value is knowledge and behaviour. Divers finish it less afraid, better at observing, and clearer about safe distance, no feeding, no chasing, and the difference between a normal wildlife encounter and unsafe diver behaviour. Any shark encounter remains optional, site and season dependent, and governed by a wildlife-interaction protocol.
Fear management
A meaningful number of divers carry low-level anxiety about sharks and never mention it. This course addresses it with information rather than reassurance, which works considerably better.
Where you will train
Classroom session at the dive centre
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
Will I see a shark on my dive?
Possibly, and we will never promise it. Whitetip reef sharks are reported at some local sites; sightings are uncommon.
Is this suitable for children?
There is no minimum age. It works well as a family programme.
Can I take it with Marine Ecology?
Yes — the two together make a strong wet-afternoon or non-diving pairing.
How much does it cost?
$160 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→
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Stress & Rescue→
Dive Guide→
Divemaster
From the dive log
"Alway hoped to see a whale shark, yet to be lucky but I learnt a lot about responsible shark diving, identification and decoding sharks behavior from talking the online Shark Ecology Course now can't wait to get diving soon" Sarah, Ireland
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.
