Open Water Instructor
Teaching to a higher standard
Congratulations on choosing the Bell Scuba Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) Course. Become the envy of your friends; get paid to go diving, to travel, and to introduce people to an exciting recreational activity. Best of all have a job you love, doing for a living what you do for fun. As a Bell Scuba trained SSI professional, you’ll enjoy the highest demand in the industry. The overwhelming majority of SSI dive shops in WA recruit our instructor graduates; so don’t limit your opportunities. Pursuing a professional diving career can be rewarding and lucrative. The OWSI course is run over seven days. Upon successful completion of the OWSI course, you may choose to attend an Instructor Examination (IE). Through the IE process every SSI Instructor worldwide undergoes identical, impartial, evaluation, ensuring consistent quality.
Qualification
After successfully completing this course and the Instructor Exam, you will be certified to teach the: SSI Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Stress and Rescue Courses. You may also conduct Discover Scuba, Scuba Review, Discover Scuba Diving, Discover Local Diving, Skin Diving and Snorkelling programmes.Becoming a Specialty Instructor allows you to share your interests and expertise with others. Taking a Specialty Instructor Training Course provides you the opportunity to expand the courses you may offer and your income potential.
Open Water Dives
There are 2 open water teaching presentations, with a passing score of 3.5, and 2 confined water teaching presentations with a passing score of 3.4. You must also perform a facedown, non-stop swim for 800 meters using a mask, snorkel and fins. During the skill demonstration workshop you must score a total of 68 out of 100, with no score of less than 3 on any of the required 20 skills.Knowledge Development Module
The knowledge sessions will review: Dive Industry Overview, General Standards and Procedures, Legal Responsibility and Risk Management, The Role of Media and Prescriptive Teaching, Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver Course, How to Teach the dive tables, Teaching Children, The SSI Continuing Education Philosophy, Business Principles for the Dive Professional, Advanced Programmes, Specialty Diver Courses and Master Scuba Diver Programme, Stress and Rescue Course and Diver Retention Programmes.Candidates must also demonstrate acceptable performance (75% or higher) on all five sections of the Instructor Pre assessment Exam and score at least a 3.5 on a knowledge development presentation.
Student Pre-Requisites
Minimum age of 18 yrs and certified as a Dive Control Specialist or an equivalent rating. Certified diver for at least 6 months, logged at least 60 dives, and submit a current CPR certification (within 24 months). A current diving medical (within 12 months) must also be submitted to the Course Director.Note: Proof of 100 logged dives is required to attend the IE.
The cost of includes
Confined water sessions, open water sessions, knowledge development sessions and Air fills.Required Equipment
All personal diving equipment; mask, fins, snorkel, cylinder, BCD, regulator, alternate air source, SPG, weight system, appropriate exposure protection, depth gauge, compass and timing device, cutting device, whistle, slate, safety sausage and pocket mask.Candidates are required to have a minimum of 2 underwater lights on night dives.
In addition you are also required to have all of the SSI materials listed in our "Preparing For Your IDC" guide.