Course overview

Cross from dive guide to dive educator with the SSI Open Water Instructor programme in Coron, set among Palawan's world-famous WWII Japanese wreck fleet. Using sheltered sites such as the shallow Lusong Gunboat and reefs around Coron Island in warm 27-29C water, you build and assess teaching presentations through SSI's digital training platform before the Instructor Evaluation. You graduate certified to teach SSI courses and welcome new divers into the sport.

What you’ll learn

• Plan and present academic, confined-water and open-water teaching sessions
• Apply the SSI training system and current teaching standards
• Demonstrate and evaluate diver skills to professional level
• Run risk assessment and student supervision on Coron's wrecks and reefs
• Use the SSI digital platform to deliver and track student learning
• Prepare for the independent SSI Instructor Evaluation

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18
• SSI Dive Guide (or equivalent leadership rating from another recognised agency)
• SSI Science of Diving and Diver Stress & Rescue certifications
• Certified diver for at least 6 months with 75 logged dives
• Valid CPR, first aid and oxygen-provider training
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

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
   Training-system orientation

   Introduction to the SSI training system, teaching standards and your first academic presentations.
2. Day2
   Pool teaching workshops

   Rehearse demonstrating and teaching confined-water skills to professional standard.
3. Day3
   Open-water teaching

   Deliver open-water teaching presentations on calm sites such as the Lusong Gunboat under trainer evaluation.
4. Day4
   Standards & risk management

   Cover dive standards, legal aspects, risk management and the business of diving.
5. Day5
   Theory & skills assessment

   Complete dive-theory exams and the professional skills evaluation.
6. Day6
   Evaluation preparation

   Mock presentations and a full briefing ahead of the independent SSI Instructor Evaluation.

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 Coron.

Frequently asked questions