Classes
Dive training for new or continuing divers in Idaho Falls.
SSI OPEN WATER DIVER
You will learn all you need to scuba dive in open water with an SSI Professional. In this program you will learn the effects of diving on the body and brain and learn the safest way to explore the ocean or lakes. This class requires classroom study, homework, a test, pool sessions and at least 4 open water dives over two days where you demonstrate all the skills you learned in the classroom and pool.
SSI ENRICHED AIR NITROX
As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen.
SSI PERFECT BUOYANCY
Perfect Buoyancy specialty is the best way to improve your buoyancy and get the most from every dive. Buoyancy is an essential dive skill, but any diver will tell you it takes time to perfect. The Perfect Buoyancy specialty will teach you advanced buoyancy skills and techniques, so you can master your buoyancy more quickly and enjoy more relaxed dive adventures. In this fascinating program, you will also learn new skills that protect the environment and work in every diving situation. With better buoyancy skills, you will soon be able to hover with ease and take the underwater photographs you dream of! Bret recommends you take this course after purchasing your total diving system, he says what you will learn will eclipse everyone using rental gear!
SSI SCUBA SKILLS UPDATE
With the SSI Scuba Skills Update, we will get you back in the water and diving with ease in no time. This scuba refresher course allows you to review and practice scuba skills you learned in your Open Water Diver program, under the guidance of an SSI Professional. This is a great course to take just before a dive holiday, so you spend less time worrying about your skills and more time admiring the marine life.
SSI DRY SUIT
Drysuit diving opens up a world of opportunities, including diving remote Arctic destinations and exploring cold-water dive sites teeming with life. Dry suit diving also keeps you warm on multi-dive days when you do not want to spend your time getting in and out of a cold wetsuit. Dry Suit Diving specialty program is the best way to become a dry suit diver and teaches you all the knowledge and techniques you need to dive safely and comfortably in a dry suit. You will learn how to use specialized equipment, like dry suits and BCs, the benefits of dry suits and how to deal with dry suit emergencies – which are unique to this type of diving. If you buy your drysuit from Idaho Dive Pirates we'll throw in this course for free!!!
SSI DIVER STRESS & RESCUE
The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.
SSI NIGHT & LIMITED VISIBILITY
Night diving requires different skills from diving during the day. The SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty is the best way to learn about night diving and practice the techniques you will need to become a safe and confident night diver. In this program, you will be provided with all the knowledge and skills you need to safely and comfortably dive at night or in limited visibility conditions. With a combination of online learning and open water training dives, you will learn how to enter and exit the water, use specialized equipment, and how to communicate with your buddy easily at night or in limited visibility. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Night Diving and Limited Visibility specialty certification and be ready to go night diving with confidence.
SSI NAVIGATION DIVER
In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.
SSI DEEP DIVING
The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives. You will learn to plan and safely complete your deep diving adventures and use computers and gas consumption calculations to get the most from your deep dives. Upon completion, you will earn your SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore beautiful deep dive sites wherever you choose. This SSI Specialty is also a prerequisite for some advanced training, making it the next logical step to take in your dive education. Bret loves to complete this course on vacation where the water is warm and you can see everything!
SSI SEARCH AND RECOVERY
In this fascinating program, you will learn all the skills you need to safely and confidently conduct search and recovery dives. You will be taught how to use search patterns, specialized dive plans and equipment such as lift bags, lines and reels. By developing your search and communication techniques and practicing searches in a dive team, you will become a confident search and rescue diver in no time. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Search & Recovery specialty certification.
SSI REACT RIGHT
React Right is SSI’s emergency first response course and provides you with the training and knowledge you need to act as a first responder in a medical emergency. In this flexible dive program, you can choose which subjects you want to learn about, including primary assessment, first aid, CPR and primary stabilization techniques. You can also learn about oxygen administration in diving emergencies and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) basics. Using a combination of academic sessions and practical training scenarios, this program will give you the tools and confidence you need for emergency response. By the time you are certified, you will be able to act as an emergency first responder, provide first aid and CPR, administer oxygen and provide AED support in a medical emergency. Earn your SSI React Right specialty certification. Get started today!
SSI FREE DIVING
During this entry-level program, you will learn all you need to freedive safely with a buddy in a pool/confined waters up to a depth of 5 meters. Online training is combined with in-water practice sessions in this program, to give you all the skills and knowledge you need. Upon completion of the program, you will earn your SSI Basic Freediving certification.
SSI BOAT DIVING
The ocean is filled with dive sites, but many of the best ones can only be accessed by boat. Boat certification is the best way to learn how to dive from different types of boats safely and with confidence. As a boat diver, you will be able to explore offshore dive sites that attract a variety of marine life not found closer to shore. You can experience the excitement of liveaboard diving anywhere in the world, fill your day with diving away from the crowds, and cruise along as the sun goes down. Using training and open water diving sessions, the Boat Diving Specialty program is the best way to learn. This program teaches you all the skills and techniques you need to dive safely and comfortably from boats, including small personal craft and liveaboards.
SSI PHOTO AND VIDEO
Underwater photography has some challenges not found on land, but with the SSI Photo & Video specialty program, you will soon learn how to capture your amazing underwater experiences. This program provides the in-depth knowledge you need to dive with an underwater camera and properly use, maintain and store your equipment. You will develop your skills and learn techniques to take underwater images and video safely and easily, plus perfect your diving abilities while using your underwater camera system. Learn how to take high quality images that you can share with everyone
SSI EQUIPMENT TECHNIQUE
Choosing and buying your dive equipment is one of the biggest and most important investments you will make as a diver, but it is easy to get it a bit wrong. We want you to choose the right dive kit for your needs and know how to look after it properly. With the right knowledge, you can get the most from your investment and enjoy safe and comfortable dives for years to come. Equipment Techniques specialty course is the best way to learn how to choose and store your dive kit. Working with an experienced and trained Professional, you will learn in-depth information about the components of your Total Diving System and develop a thorough understanding of your diving equipment. You will also practice basic preventative dive equipment maintenance to ensure you get maximum performance and longevity from your Total Diving System.
SSI ALTITUDE
The Altitude Diver Specialty course familiarizes you with the rules and procedures necessary to use the Recreational Dive Planner at altitude. This includes: Altitude dive planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards.
SSI FULL FACE MASK
Working divers, such as public safety divers, use full face masks because they protect the eyes and nose from contaminants in the water, provide comfort in cold water, and allow for communication. If you're interested public safety diving, scientific diving, or venturing into extremely cold-water, then learning to dive with a full face mask is definitely for you. Because full face masks allow you to breathe from your nose, they are also beneficial for those who have difficulty using standard scuba masks. Diving with a full face mask offers a different experience and that alone may be reason to give it a try.
SSI WRECK DIVING
Many of the ocean’s best dive sites are wrecks. These impressive structures attract unusually high densities of marine life and give you the chance to immerse in living history as you dive. There is nothing quite like wreck diving and the SSI Wreck Diving specialty will give you all the skills and knowledge you need to become a safe and confident wreck diver. With a combination of academic and confined water sessions, you will be taught how to safely conduct non-penetration dives around wrecks and artificial reefs. You will also get to practice your wreck diving skills during open water training dives. All of which will ensure you can enjoy wreck diving with confidence and get the most out of every dive. This is another big one for warm water vacations, almost everywhere has wrecks you can dive!!!
SSI DIVE GUIDE
The Dive Guide program is the first step on an exciting journey. Learn to safely lead certified divers in various environments and conditions. By giving dive briefings, doing site evaluations, and leading dives, you will become a confident Dive Guide in no time. Begin your diving career working as a Professional Dive Guide or continue the qualifications for Divemaster.
SSI ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.
SSI INDEPENDENT DIVER
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The purpose of the Independent Diver specialty course is to recognize and accept the role of the buddy system and its contributions to diver safety while identifying and developing self-reliance and independence while diving. There are two reasons for an experienced diver to take the Independent diver course:
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• To develop the skills of planning and carrying out dives without a partner when preferred or necessary. To sharpen skills of diving self-reliance, making the diver a stronger partner in a dive pair or team.
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This course covers when diving alone may be applicable, and the need to compensate for those situations, including dive planning, life support system readiness, adaptive training, equipment and responsibility.This course is an introduction to self-reliant diving that helps student divers develop the skills, knowledge and techniques necessary to rely on themselves first, whether or not they are diving with a partner, including:
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• The value and application of the buddy system. The philosophy of, and motivation for, diving without a partner. Potential risks of diving alone, and how to manage those risks. The value of equipment redundancy and what back-up equipment is needed. • Dive planning and gas management.
SSI ICE DIVING (wrote the manual on)
This program provides the skills and concepts required to safely and comfortably dive underneath surface ice. You will learn the special requirements for diving in an overhead environment, the techniques and communication methods, and the specialized equipment used for ice diving. You will earn the SSI Ice Diving Specialty certification after completing this program. Fun fact Bret introduced Benjamin to Ice Diving then Benjamin wrote the manual.
SSI RECREATIONAL SIDEMOUNT
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The SSI Recreational Sidemount diving course is a great introductory course in to learning more about extended range diving. Sidemount diving means that you will have two tanks on either side instead of having just one tank on your back. This technique comes from the technical cave and wreck diving world, but has been gaining popularity with recreational divers.
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In this course you will learn how to effortlessly find better balance with new gear, and why it makes sense to have redundancy with doubled air delivery systems.
SSI EXTENDED RANGE FOUNDATIONS
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The SSI Extended Range Foundations program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your advanced diving skills in a workshop environment. Learn more about using tec diving gear with any total diving system you are certified to use and build upon your basic skill set to master buoyancy, trim, finning techniques, positioning, and communication. The Extended Range Foundations program provides supplementary training to existing certifications to increase your confidence and in-water control. All in-water sessions are completed in a pool/confined water environment at depths less than 12 meters. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.
SSI DECOMPRESSION DIVING
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SSI’s new recreational specialty, Decompression Diving, enables you to dive beyond the no-decompression limits, utilizing a recreational total diving system and a single decompression cylinder. Upon certification, divers can plan and execute dives up to 130 feet in depth, with up to 15 minutes of planned decompression. The course covers gas planning, computer use to include switching gases, time-to-reserve, and time-to-surface functions, as well as skills needed to perform gas switching.
SSI ADVANCED WRECK DIVING
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This program allows limited penetration within the daylight zone into wrecks with an overhead environment. The training required for this type of diving is overhead buoyancy control, new finning techniques, optional laying safety line and the proper use of a light. The program can be completed wearing a single cylinder with either a pony cylinder or H/Y valve. You will earn the SSI Advanced Wreck Diving Specialty certification after completing this program.
SSI EXTENDED RANGE NITROX
The SSI Extended Range Nitrox program provides a thorough introduction to the concepts, techniques, and procedures required for decompression diving with nitrox. Designed as either a stand-alone program or a stepping-stone to become an SSI Extended Range Trimix diver, this enriched air diving program provides foundational skills that are the basis for all future technical programs. Using either a sidemount or twinset configuration, this program prepares you to plan and conduct limited decompression dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters. In addition, this advanced program will teach you the techniques and procedures for using breathing gases up to 100% oxygen for decompression.
SSI EXTENDED RANGE SIDEMOUNT
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Exploring overhead environments like caves and wrecks is an exciting endeavor. However, squeezing traditional dive equipment into the tight spaces found within these areas can be challenging. Improving your diver trim and streamlining by using a sidemount configuration allows you to explore more constricted places than ever before. The Extended Range Sidemount program trains you to dive in a sidemount configuration, and the techniques required to use multiple stage cylinders carried for decompression diving efficiently and effectively. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Sidemount certification after completing this program and can then apply that configuration to all other extended range programs.