Take the next step in your diving career by becoming an Assistant Instructor! This certification allows you to teach basic diving programs and selected specialties, giving you a taste of the Instructor role. It’s the perfect choice if you’re ready to expand your opportunities but not quite ready for the full Instructor course. Start building your teaching experience and grow your career in the diving industry!
During the Assistant Instructor course, you’ll master the techniques needed to effectively teach entry-level scuba programs such as Try Scuba and Scuba Skills Update. You’ll also gain the skills to assist with the Open Water Diver course and independently teach specialties like Perfect Buoyancy.
This course is perfect for Divemasters who are ready to begin teaching but aren’t yet prepared to take on the full Instructor Training Course.
The SSI Assistant Instructor course covers about 60% of the Instructor Training Course material and does not require an official Instructor Evaluation (IE) by an external Instructor Certifier. It’s an efficient and rewarding way to build your teaching experience and advance your diving career.
Before starting the Assistant Instructor course, you’ll revisit key concepts from your previous training to ensure you’re up to date with the latest information.
You’ll review essential topics such as physics, physiology, decompression theory, diving equipment, and the aquatic environment. As an SSI Professional, you’ll also familiarize yourself with SSI Training Standards and the agency’s teaching philosophy. While it might sound like a lot, don’t worry—I’ll guide you every step of the way!
During the course, you’ll develop the skills to effectively transfer this knowledge to your students, assess their understanding, and provide appropriate corrections to ensure their success.
As a professional diver and Perfect Buoyancy Instructor, it’s essential to have a comprehensive understanding of how diving equipment functions. You’ll need to be familiar with various types of gear, particularly buoyancy compensators, fins, diving cylinders, and weight systems, including their placement and configuration.
This knowledge is critical, as equipment setup plays a significant role in the trim and buoyancy control of your future students. Ensuring you’re well-versed in different types of equipment will help you guide students effectively and enhance their diving experience.
To enroll in this course, you should be proficient in demonstrating all recreational scuba diving skills at a professional level.
Your buoyancy control and positioning should be advanced enough to perform demonstrations in a neutrally buoyant, proper diving position. These skills, along with group management, should have been mastered during your Divemaster course.
If you feel your skills aren’t quite there yet, let us know! We’re happy to arrange additional training dives before starting the Assistant Instructor course—at no extra cost.
Throughout the course, every dive will be conducted under the guidance of an experienced Instructor Trainer, who will provide constructive feedback to help you refine your techniques. Select dives will also be video-recorded and reviewed during debriefings, offering valuable insights to help you perfect your skills.
After earning your certification, you’ll gain hands-on experience by assisting our instructors during diving courses.
You’ll also have the chance to independently lead several basic diving programs, ensuring you build confidence and practical skills. With the guidance and support of our experienced instructors, you’ll be fully prepared to take on the role of an Assistant Instructor.
Completing the course gives you a certificate allowing you to independently conduct scuba diving programs such as Try Scuba, Perfect Buoyancy, Scuba Skills Update, and Open Water Diver with the supervision of an Instructor.
After completing this course you will have a chance to work in diving centers and conduct basic scuba diving programs, gain more experience, and enroll full Instructor Training Course.
The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after achieving Divemaster status in the scuba instructor pathway. This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on teaching experience, conduct briefings, deliver academic lessons, and lead in-water training sessions.
To further advance your career as a dive professional, you can complete the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation (IE), and become a certified Open Water Diving Instructor.
Yes, you’ll need to demonstrate your fitness to be a professional diver by completing a Water Fitness Evaluation, which includes:
∙ Treading water for 15 minutes
∙ Swimming 700 meters within 20 minutes
∙ Swimming underwater for 25 meters
∙ Performing a full unconscious-diver-on-the-surface rescue over a distance of 100 meters within 8 minutes, using diving equipment
These tasks ensure you meet the physical and technical standards required to excel as a professional in the diving industry.
As an Assistant Instructor, you’ll be qualified to teach programs such as Try Scuba, Scuba Skills Update, and Perfect Buoyancy. You’ll also have the opportunity to become a specialty instructor for the Ecology program and the following specialties:
∙ Altitude Diving
∙ Boat Diving
∙ Computer Diving
∙ Equipment Techniques
∙ Navigation
∙ Perfect Buoyancy
∙ Photo & Video
∙ Science of Diving
∙ Waves, Tides & Currents
Additionally, you’ll be able to assist with and teach parts of the Open Water Diver course under the supervision of a certified instructor, allowing you to gain valuable teaching experience while progressing in your diving career. This certification broadens your teaching opportunities and helps you develop as a dive professional.
As part of the Assistant Instructor course, you will cover the following key topics:
∙ Responsibilities and duties of an SSI Professional, including promoting environmental awareness.
∙ Quality management to ensure compliance with SSI standards.
∙ Navigation of the MySSI app system for efficient course management.
∙ Record-keeping procedures to maintain accurate and organized documentation.
∙ Scheduling and organization, including planning and preparing classes, utilizing digital learning materials, and following the instructor’s manual.
∙ Academic sessions, focusing on purpose and structure, instructor-led and student-centered teaching methods, and active learning activities.
∙ The teaching process, including academic presentations for programs like Try Scuba, Open Water Diver, and Perfect Buoyancy.
∙ In-water training, emphasizing decision-making, risk management, group control, communication, and the skills teaching process (briefing, demonstration, evaluation, and debriefing).
∙ Workshops for Try Scuba, Open Water Diver, Scuba Skills Update, Perfect Buoyancy, and Explorers programs.
This comprehensive curriculum ensures you are fully prepared to excel as an Assistant Instructor and contribute to the diving community at a professional level.
Absolutely! Choosing us for your professional diving courses means receiving exceptional training combined with a personalized, hands-on approach. Our team of young, approachable instructors brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to your success, creating a supportive and challenging learning environment.
We conduct training in a comfortable pool for skill development and in open water to ensure real-world experience. With warm, clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life, every dive on Koh Tao offers a new adventure. Though the island is small, its underwater world is incredibly rich, providing countless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Discover all that Koh Tao has to offer!
Earnings as an Assistant Instructor can vary depending on where you work and the number of students you teach. Typically, you’ll earn about 20% of what customers pay to the dive center, which averages around 500 THB per Try Scuba student. Some days you might teach four students, while other days could be busier or quieter.
You can also increase your income by teaching specialties like Perfect Buoyancy, a fantastic course to offer certified divers after a fun dive together. 😉
Overall, monthly salaries for Assistant Instructors generally range from 20,000 to 40,000 THB. If you’re looking to boost your earnings and expand your opportunities, consider becoming an Open Water Instructor to teach more in-demand courses.
Assistant Instructor
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