SSI Scuba Skills Update (Refresher Course)
Scuba Skills Update is the engaging, efficient way to refresh your dive knowledge and scuba skills. Move quickly through topics you know well, dive deeper on topics where your knowledge may have lapsed. To get a “Scuba Skills Update” recognition card, schedule inwater practice with a dive professional.
Take This Course If You Want to:
Refresh your skills before a trip
Prepare for your next course
Get an updated certification card
Learn How to:
Assemble a scuba unit
Handle common problems
Perform basic skills with ease
Why Update ?
Your dive certification never expires; but if you haven't been diving in a while, it's better to be over-prepared than risk a problem because you forget something important. For just a knowledge review, complete eLearning. To get comfortable in the water again, also schedule time with dive professional. Dive shops also appreciate seeing a recent update date on your certification card.
The SSI Scuba Skills Update course is a program that’s designed to help existing certified scuba divers who’ve been inactive for a period of time, to refresh their skills and begin diving again with confidence.
Similarly to many other SSI programs, there is a knowledge component and an in-water skills refresher. Divers can complete the knowledge review material quickly and easily online (you can even complete it from your smartphone!). Following the completion of the assessment, divers can move onto the in-water portion, in which an instructor will process the Updated recognition card online.
Benefits of a SSI Scuba Skills Update course
The SSI Scuba Skills Update course provides a lot of benefits for divers, regardless of how much experience you have under the water. The course allows divers to build up their confidence in the water, which is especially important after some time out of the water.
And since the SSI Scuba Skills Update course is available online and on tablets, it’s easier than ever to incorporate your scuba training into your everyday life. The prescriptive course format also allows you to maximize your time by focusing on the skills that are most important underwater, so that you can get back to diving ASAP — and back to furthering your scuba education with more courses!
What you’ll learn
The SSI Scuba Skills Update course covers some of the foundational diving skills to help you get back on your feet after a break from diving.
During the knowledge component you’ll envision yourself in various scenarios and make decisions that test your understanding of important dive safety concepts, dive planning essentials, and problem management.
The five main skills that you’ll refresh during the in-water session are:
Remove, replace and clear your mask
Become neutrally buoyant and hover
In shallow water too deep to stand in and with a deflated BCD, release and drop enough weights to become positively buoyant
Use an alternate air source to ascend to the surface and establish a positive buoyancy
Practice any other skill the instructor feels needs improvement
Prerequisites for a Refresher course
The only prerequisite that you need in order to take the SSI Scuba Skills Update course is to be a certified diver. However, if you’re wondering how long you’ll have to have been out of the water before a refresher course is necessary, SSI recommends that any diver who has not completed a dive in six months needs to take the course.
Experienced divers who have not been diving in over six months are usually their own best judge if they need a formal course to regain their scuba skills. However, every diver who has not dived in two years should seriously consider the course. Divers who have been out of the water any longer than that should consider re-taking the SSI Open Water Diver course.
Conclusion
The SSI Scuba Skills Update course is an effective and flexible way for divers who’ve been dormant for a while to brush up on their skills and build up their confidence before getting back into the water.
What is included: 1-2 beach dive, full gear rental.