Underwater Playground

The Dive Leader Training that we’ve been talking about and you’ve been waiting for has arrived. The training material is available, our programs are outlined, and the classes are on the schedule. We are holding an orientation for Science of Diving, Dive Guide, Dive Master and Dive Control Specialist on Sept 28 at 6:30pm or Oct 2 at 9:30am.
*All details regarding the program will be conveyed during these sessions. By attending the orientation on either of these days, you will learn all the specifics about each program. What they are, what you can do with the certification, how long it takes, cost, etc. Come learn everything you need to know about these new courses and your pathway to become a Dive Leader.
Science of Diving
*If you have an appetite to learn, then the Science of Diving is the SSI Specialty for you. This manual goes into much greater detail with regards to physics & physiology, decompression theory, the components of the total diving system & accessory equipment and the aquatic environment to improve your knowledge of recreational sport diving. Take this component as a specialty or as a stepping stone on your way to becoming a dive leader.
Dive Guide
*This program is an introduction into the world of Dive Professionals. As a Dive Guide you will be qualified to lead certified divers on a variety of scuba diving adventures.
Dive Master
*Dive Guide + Science of Diving, equals Divemaster. Divemasters can also lead and guide certified divers, as well as assist with both classroom and pool under direct supervision of an SSI Instructor.

Continuing Education Ratings

*Combine...*	*With...*	*To Earn...*
INDIVIDUAL SPECIALTY Courses	DIVING EXPERIENCE	CON-ED RATINGS

Now that you are done with your OPEN WATER course.

Its now time to expand your knowledge of diving;
and start taking some specialty courses that your interested in.

Underwater Photography, Night Diving, NITROX, Dry Suit Diving, whatever your flavor Underwater Playground has the course that suits that interest

Divers receiving the SSI Specialty Diver Certification have to log
12 dives and complete two specialties.
The 12 logged dives can include all the dives the diver has done to date.

Divers receiving the prestigious SSI Advanced Diver Certification have to log
a total of 24 dives and complete four specialties.
The 24 logged dives can include all the dives the diver has done to date.

Underwater Playground has 2 ways to earn your SSI Advanced Diver Certification.
We offer a combined 4 specialty package that consists of the
Deep Diver, Navigation, Night/Limited Visibility and Computer
which are presented as a combined one-night course.

You will then make 6 to 8 open water dives.

Or you can take any four individual Specialties to earn your Advanced Diver Certification.

For Example you could take the
Computer, Deep, NITROX and Dry Suit
specialties to earn your Advanced Diver Certification.
( You can even use Specialties you've already earned from SSI or any other Agency.)

Just complete your last specialty with Underwater Playground and show us at least 24 logged dives.

Diver Stress & Rescue is the next course recommended after Open Water Diver,
because it helps you gain confidence and makes you a better buddy.

Knowledge. You will learn the signs of stress, and how to deal with stress in yourself and other divers before the dive, during the dive and after the dive. Also, you will learn about different personality types and the common actions of each type in stressful situations.

Skills. You will learn skills and techniques to help you and other divers prevent and overcome common stressors associated with diving. You will also learn self aid and buddy aid skills for potentially stressful and/or rescue situations.

Equipment. You will learn about how your equipment can help you to stay relaxed and enjoy every dive, what equipment is required in various rescue situations and how to use your equipment properly in the event of a rescue. The minimum depth, for the deep dives is between 60 to 100 feet, with no dive exceeding 130 feet. All your dives will be conducted within the no-decompression limits, with deeper dives conducted first.

This program will cover techniques and apply a variety of search and recovery methods Which includes the following:

The planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems,
and hazards of search and recovery diving.

Limited-visibility diving and underwater navigation techniques.

Proper techniques and safety considerations for object location,
including the use of various search patterns, lines and reels.

Proper techniques and safety considerations for recovery of objects
using various lifting devices.

You'll learn to prepare night/limited visibility dive activities and develop your knowledge and techniques for night/limited visibility diving.

Some of the topics covered in the Night/Limited Visibility Diver class are:

Planning, organization, procedures, techniques,
problems and hazards of night/limited visibility diving.

Proper procedures for buoyancy control, navigation and communication.

Use of dive lights and buddy-system techniques.

Disorientation and emergency procedures.

Orientation to nocturnal aquatic life.

The Underwater Navigator program helps you familiarize yourself
with the skills, knowledge, planning, organization,
procedures, techniques, problems, hazards
and most of all enjoyment of underwater navigation.

This course requires an underwater compass and slate.

You will learn:

Procedures and techniques for planning, organizing underwater navigation and problems and hazards associated.

The Enriched Air Diver program emphasizes the theoretical and operational considerations involved with enriched air diving. You will learn how to use Enriched Air NITROX gas mixes up to 40% in order to safely increase your bottom time, so you can spend longer at depth. This program can be combined with most other Specialties and completed at the same time.

During your program, you’ll cover the knowledge, skills and techniques needed to dive on Enriched Air NITROX. The following is included in the Underwater Playground Enriched Air NITROX Diver program:

Planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of enriched air NITROX diving.

This program will give you the knowledge and techniques
of dry suit diving with emphasis placed on the use of the suits,
operation principles, care and diving techniques.

This course requires the use of a dry suit.

You must have your own dry suit for this course
Underwater Playground does not rent dry suits for routine diving.

The following topics are included in your Underwater Playground Dry Suit Diver program:

The planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of dry suit diving.
Proper procedures for buoyancy control.
Ascent and descent technique training.
Routine, user-level, preventative maintenance and performance checks on dry suits.

During the Open Water Diver course, you learned to use the tables.

Tables are great as long as you are doing a square profile.
Unfortunately, most dives are actually multi-level dives.
On tables, you don’t get credit for time spent at depths shallower than the deepest.

A computer tracks your depths and adjusts accordingly. With a computer, you get more bottom time, don’t have to remember to set a watch to track time, and don’t have to work the tables to find out how long you can stay down on a dive.

In addition, computers offer other safety features such as
ascent rate monitors and nitrogen loading graphs.
Some even tell how many minutes of air you have left.

This course will teach you what to look for in a dive computer and how to use them.

A dive computer is required for this course.

During your program, you’ll cover the knowledge, br /> skills and techniques needed to dive DEEP.

The following is included in the program:

Planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems and hazards of deep diving.
Risk factors and decompression-tables review.
Safety stops and emergency decompression procedures.
Special equipment, descent lines and buoyancy-control considerations.
Procedures for flying after diving and high-altitude diving.
Orientation to recompression chambers.

Underwater photography is the perfect way to
bring back memories of your underwater experiences.

Best of all, you can then share those experiences with
both your diving and non-diving friends and family.

Underwater photographers naturally develop a
better knowledge of underwater life than most divers
and tend to become more observant with practice.

Underwater photography is an ideal companion for the vacationing diver,
the shipwreck enthusiast or any diver who wishes to preserve
or describe what is seen underwater.

If you love telling people about what diving is all about, then this is for you!

Already an Advanced Diver and have 50 logged dives? Than complete the Stress and Rescue Course and become an SSI Master Diver. Show your dedication to the sport and your pursuit to become the best diver possible. If you already have a Rescue Certification come and see us about how to become a SSI Master Diver.

We also teach the following

*EquipmentSpecialist*

*Wreck Diver*

*Boat Diver*

**SSI Dive Control Specialist*
*AssistantInstructor*
*Open Water Scuba Instructor*