As a Assistant Instructor Trainer, you help bring up the next generation of Instructors while gaining in-depth instructor-trainer knowledge.

The Fun Part

The SSI Assistant Instructor Trainer program provides candidates with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to certify Assistant Instructors, and to assist in teaching the Instructor Training Course. Because Assistant Instructor Trainers are an integral part of the Instructor Training Course (ITC), you set the stage for moving on to SSI Instructor Trainer as you present topics in the ITC and help shape Divemasters and Assistant Instructors into Open Water Scuba Instructors.

Many of the dive center or resort management positions require this level of Instructor experience and training, making this an important step if you are considering a career in Dive Center or you want to open a dive shop or resort.

What You Learn

• You become a master of instructor-level dive theory, knowledge development teaching presentations and confined water teaching presentations
• You participate in the Assistant Instructor portion of the  ITC.
• You will have a firm understanding of the intent behind SSI Standards and how to interpret the totality of them in meeting the standards of a professional instructor.
• Out Instructor Trainer will challenge you, often correcting you on how you might have been operating outside those standards.
• You will leave the course a better instructor and one that can continue their advancement and be prepared to participate in the Instructor Trainer Seminar in the future.

What You Can Teach

In addition to all the courses you can teach, as a Assistant Instructor Trainer you can also:

• Teach Assistant Instructor (AI) courses.
• Teach by Seminar in those topics that you hold the Specialty Instructor Certification for.
• Assist Instructor Trainers in conducting the ITC.
• Assist Instructor Trainers in conducting instructor-level continuing education.

At a glance, compare what you can teach when you continue your professional diver education.

The Scuba Gear You Use

You use all the basic scuba equipment and some scuba accessories such as a dive slate, dive knife, compass, dive watch, etc. It is highly recommended that you own all of your own scuba equipment required for a dive professional (e.g. DSMB and a dive computer), as familiarity with personal gear improves general scuba diving skills.

For all your learning materials and equipment, contact TEXAS DIVE CENTER, Inc. Director of Training.

Duration of Course

How long the course takes will depend on number of candidates and how well their preparation is. The recommended number of days/hours is 30-40 hours. Our program is designed to be fully completed over a 3 day weekend of 8-10 hour days at Balmorhea State Park. It can only be accomplished with experienced Dive Master Instructors that come well prepared, with all of their required gear and training tools. Some of the course will b e conducted by Zoom meeting(s) to reduce time and travel.

Prerequisites

You must be:

• Minimum age: 18 years old.
• Must hold the Divemaster Instructor rating, or an equivalent rating from a recognized agency.
• Have issued at least 50 certifications including:
  • 30 Open Water Diver
  • 3 Diver Stress & Rescue
  • 2 Dive Guide/Divemaster
  • 15 Advanced Adventurer and/or specialty programs
• The candidate may also apply completed Try Scuba, Basic Diver, Referral Diver, and Scuba Diver programs toward the minimum requirements for Open Water Diver certifications.
  • Twelve (12) Try Scuba recognition cards are equivalent to one (1) Open Water Diver certification.
  • Six (6) Basic Diver certifications are equivalent to one (1) Open Water Diver certification
  • Two (2) Referral Diver or Scuba Diver certifications are equivalent to one (1) Open Water Diver certification.

COST: $950. You must already have the required teaching/evaluation material. Tanks with air and weights are provided.

For more information about this or other courses have a chat with our Director of Training.