SSI North America

SSI Professionals are at the heart of meaningful environmental education, and the Freshwater Ecology Specialty provides them with a robust foundation for delivering effective diving education. This program offers a clear academic structure that supports confident instruction while allowing flexibility in presentation and delivery. It can be taught as a classroom-based specialty and, when appropriate, can be paired with optional in-water sessions to further enhance the SSI branding experience.

Launching the week of March 30 through April 3, this new program in diving education, the Freshwater Ecology Specialty, helps divers better understand freshwater environments by exploring environmental conditions, biodiversity, seasonal changes, and the impact divers can have on these ecosystems. More importantly, it connects that knowledge to responsible diving practices and reflects SSI branding’s continued commitment to environmental leadership.

The SSI University session from March 24 is now available for review, offering valuable insights into the program’s structure, positioning, and its integration into current education pathways, particularly in the realm of diving education. You can view the video by clicking on the SSI Freshwater Ecology image, which highlights the specialty.

Active status SSI Assistant Instructors and higher can enhance their diving education by adding the Freshwater Ecology Specialty Instructor rating through SSI’s digital verification process. To qualify, they must: Purchase the Freshwater Ecology digital professional kit, complete the required student materials—including digital learning, review questions, and the final exam—or provide proof of an equivalent certification. After completion, the rating is issued automatically. 

Active status SSI Divemasters may also qualify to teach the Freshwater Ecology Specialty, but they must complete the standard Specialty Instructor process. This can be accomplished by successfully completing the Freshwater Ecology Specialty Instructor Seminar as outlined in the instructor manual and co-teaching at least one complete Freshwater Ecology specialty program as specified in the Specialty Instructor manual. 

Additionally, Divemasters must have at least 10 logged dives in the applicable specialty and obtain signoff on the Specialty Instructor Training Completion Record from the QMS Manager of their affiliated SSI Training Center, further strengthening their credentials under the SSI branding.