Dive into history and explore the mysteries of the deep with the SSI Wreck Diving specialty! Whether it’s a scuttled warship, a fallen aircraft, or an ancient merchant vessel, wrecks are teeming with marine life and stories waiting to be told. This course provides the specialized skills and safety knowledge you need to explore these artificial reefs responsibly.

 

The Ultimate Underwater Adventure

Wrecks are incredible to visit, but they require extra caution due to potential hazards like entanglement or overhead environments. This program teaches you how to enjoy them safely.

What You’ll Master:

• Wreck Navigation: Learning how to orient yourself on large, complex structures.

• Safety Procedures: Identifying potential hazards like sharp metal or silt-outs.

• Specialized Equipment: Using dive lights and lines to safely navigate the exterior.

• Marine Life Awareness: Discovering why wrecks become such vibrant hubs for fish and coral.

 

Course Prerequisites

To start your wreck diving journey in Ponta Delgada, you must meet the following:

• Certification: Must be a certified Open Water Diver (or equivalent from another recognized agency).

• Minimum Age: 12 years old.

 

The SSI Advanced Wreck Diving specialty is the ultimate challenge for wreck enthusiasts. While the standard Wreck Diving course teaches you how to explore the exterior of a ship, this advanced program gives you the specialized skills and techniques required for limited penetration into the overhead environment of a wreck.

 

Go Inside the History

Under the guidance of an SSI Instructor, you will learn how to safely enter and navigate the internal corridors and compartments of a shipwreck while maintaining a continuous connection to the outside world.

What You’ll Master:

• Line & Reel Handling: Learning to lay and retrieve penetration lines to ensure a safe exit path.

• Specialized Propulsion: Mastering the "frog kick" and "modified flutter kick" to avoid silting up the interior.

• Redundant Equipment: Using specialized configurations, including redundant air sources and multiple light systems.

• Emergency Management: Practicing "lost line" and "lost light" drills within a controlled overhead environment.

 

Course Prerequisites

Because this course involves overhead environments, the prerequisites are more stringent:

• Certification: Must hold both an SSI Wreck Diving specialty AND an SSI Deep Diving specialty (or equivalents).

• Experience: A minimum of 24 logged dives is required to ensure your buoyancy and air management are at an advanced level.

• Age: Minimum of 15 years old.