Course overview

SSI Basic Diver is a short entry-level certification that introduces real scuba skills and lets you complete two open-water dives under instructor supervision. On Zanzibar's gentle reefs near Mnemba Atoll you learn the fundamentals to a maximum of 12m, a great bridge between a first try-dive and the full Open Water course.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble and use basic scuba equipment
• Breathe and move comfortably underwater
• Clear your mask and recover the regulator
• Equalise, descend and ascend safely
• Maintain basic buoyancy and buddy contact
• Complete two supervised reef dives to a maximum of 12m

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10
• No prior experience or swimming certification required
• Basic comfort in water
• Medical questionnaire (physician sign-off if any condition applies)

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Skills & first dive

   Digital briefing and confined-water skills, then your first supervised reef dive near Mnemba to a maximum of 12m.
2. Day2
   Second dive & certification

   A second open-water dive consolidating skills on a sheltered Zanzibar reef to complete the Basic Diver rating.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Zanzibar.

Frequently asked questions