Course overview

Become an SSI Open Water Instructor in South Ari Atoll and teach where whale sharks roam year-round. SSI's structured three-step instructor path builds you into a confident teacher on the atoll's warm, accessible reefs.

What you’ll learn

• Teaching academic and in-water sessions
• Conducting dive briefings and supervision
• SSI standards and safe practices
• Demonstrating and assessing student skills
• Leading dive groups as a professional

Prerequisites

• 18 years or older
• SSI Divemaster (Dive Guide) or equivalent
• Required logged-dive experience
• Current first aid and medical fitness

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
   Standards & academics

   Work through SSI standards and develop academic teaching presentations.
2. Day2
   In-water teaching

   Practise confined-water teaching and skill demonstrations.
3. Day3
   Open-water practice

   Lead open-water teaching scenarios on South Ari reefs.
4. Day4
   IE preparation

   Refine presentations and mock evaluations before the 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 South Ari Atoll.

Frequently asked questions