Ride the Motion of the Ocean with SSI Waves, Tides, and Currents! 

Ever felt a bit intimidated by a crashing surf entry or wondered how a current might affect your dive plan? The SSI Waves, Tides, and Currents specialty is designed to turn the "moving" parts of the ocean into your greatest allies. By understanding how water moves, you’ll gain the confidence to dive in more challenging conditions, master shore entries, and enjoy effortless drift dives.

 

Why Master the Move?

• Dive Smarter: Learn to read the water from the shore or boat to identify the safest entry and exit points.

• Go with the Flow: Master the art of drift diving—let the current do the work while you glide past the reef.

• Safety First: Understand how to identify and escape rip currents and surge, keeping yourself and your buddy safe.

• Broaden Your Horizons: Open up access to famous dive sites known for high energy and big pelagic life.

 

Course Prerequisites

This specialty is the perfect next step for any diver looking to move beyond "quarry" or "calm bay" conditions.

• Minimum Age: 10 or 12 years old (depending on regional regulations).

• Certification: Must be a certified Open Water Diver (or have a qualifying certification from another agency).

• Medical: Standard "Fit to Dive" medical questionnaire.

 

Course Structure

The program balances environmental theory with practical, high-energy sessions in the water.

1. Digital Learning (Theory):
   Complete the academic sessions via the MySSI App. You will study:

   • The Physics of Waves: How they form and how they break on different shorelines.

   • Tidal Cycles: Understanding high and low tides and how they impact visibility and depth.

   • Current Dynamics: Differentiating between longshore, rip, and tidal currents.

   • Equipment: Using specialized gear like surface marker buoys (SMBs) and reels.

2. Practical Application (Open Water Dives):
   You will complete at least two training dives focusing on:

   • Shore Entries/Exits: Practicing timing your movement with wave sets.

   • Drift Diving Techniques: Maintaining buddy contact and buoyancy while moving with a current.

   • Surface Signaling: Deploying an SMB from depth to ensure boat pick-up.

 

Recognition

This certification counts toward your SSI Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water, and Master Diver ratings!

Ready to master the elements?