Individual approach
One instructor at our school always teaches a sensible number of students. We never push things to the limit and give every student 100% of our attention.
Your own plan.
Your own confidence.
Trust your skills, a well-considered plan and backup equipment.
6 990 CZK
SSI Independent Diving
Tap to turn the card
18 yearsminimum age
75 divesand at least 50 hours underwater
1 + 3min. pool lesson + open water dives
10–15 hrecommended training duration
01 / WHO IS THE COURSE FORWho should take
Who should take
Independent Diving?
Ages 18+ · Prerequisites: Stress & Rescue + experience
- 01
For experienced divers from 18 years of age with at least 75 logged dives in open water, totalling at least 50 hours.
- 02
Certification in Diver Stress & Rescue or an equivalent from a recognised training organisation is required.
- 03
Deep Diving, Navigation and Night & Limited Visibility must be documented with certification, a recognised equivalent or at least five logged experience dives in each of these areas.
- 04
For photographers, experienced buddies and other divers who want to develop their self-reliance. Your instructor will review your experience with you before training begins.
Confidence has its foundation.
Prepare. Verify. Decide.
Your own plan, a backup gas source and skills you have practised. Three pillars for considered decision-making underwater.
CLOSE-UP / SSI Independent DivingYour own plan.
Your own plan.
Your own confidence.
Self-reliance · preparation · backup · judgement
From the Divers Direct archive: a diver with two cylinders in a sidemount configuration01 / 03
From the Divers Direct archive: equipment set-up with an instructor on the shore02 / 03
From the Divers Direct archive: preparation of cylinders and backup gas sources03 / 03- 01 / 03
Calm begins with preparation.
Calm underwater starts on the shore. In the Independent Diving programme, you will focus on your own decision-making, planning and readiness to handle a situation without direct help from a buddy. You will learn to see a dive as a whole: from choosing suitable conditions and preparing your equipment to returning in good time.
From the Divers Direct archive: a diver with two cylinders in a sidemount configuration01 / 03 - 02 / 03
Backup you know.
Backup you know how to use. With the instructor you will discuss redundant breathing gas supply, equipment arrangement and problem-solving. First you will practise everything in the pool or confined water, only then will you transfer the skills to open water. The photographs show related training and equipment from our archive; you will choose the specific configuration with the instructor.
From the Divers Direct archive: equipment set-up with an instructor on the shore02 / 03 - 03 / 03
Self-reliance with sound judgement.
Self-reliance with sound judgement. After completing the programme, you will receive the digital SSI Independent Diving certification for diving with a designated partner and without one in an environment appropriate to the training and within the limits of your qualification. Open water training has a 30-metre limit. The course does not extend qualifications for decompression or for penetration into enclosed spaces.
From the Divers Direct archive: preparation of cylinders and backup gas sources03 / 03
Practical information.
Course duration
10–15 hours duration by agreement with the instructor
Where we will meet
Pool or confined water and then a suitable open-water site, as agreed with the instructor. During the practical assessment, you are under their direct supervision.
Included in the course price
- Teaching and practical training with a Divers Direct instructor
- Study preparation for the SSI programme
- Digital SSI certification upon meeting the programme requirements
Paid separately
- Equipment hire and backup configuration by arrangement
- Entry fees and other site charges
- Cylinder fills, transport and any accommodation
Course progress
- 01
Preparation and plan
Verification of prerequisite experience, theory lessons, dive planning and agreement on suitable equipment.
- 02
Confined water first
At least one confined water lesson. Assessment of skills and practice with backup equipment before the open water dives.
- 03
Three open water dives
At least three training dives in open water with an instructor. A gradual integration of preparation, equipment and your own decision-making.
- 04
Examination and certification
Final examination and fulfilment of the practical requirements. You will then receive the digital SSI Independent Diving card.
03 / IN DETAILExperience it
Experience it
underwater.
Related training, preparation and equipment from the Divers Direct photo archive.
From our training archiveClick to view the full photographSwipe for more
04 / FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWhat
What
else are you interested in?
Is the course suitable straight after OWD?
No. It is intended for experienced divers. You need to meet the stated age, number of dives, total time underwater, rescue certification and experience in three specialisation areas.
Do I need all three specialisations?
Stress & Rescue is a required certification. For Deep Diving, Navigation and Night & Limited Visibility, the standard allows at least five experience dives in each area to be provided instead of certification. The instructor will review the records in advance.
What equipment do I need?
The programme includes the use of a redundant breathing gas supply. Please arrange the specific configuration and availability of hire in advance with Marek. A second regulator on a single cylinder is not, by itself, an independent gas supply.
Does certification mean I can dive alone anywhere?
No. It always depends on the environment, conditions, the limits of your qualification and the rules of the site or operator. You will also use self-reliance in ordinary diving with a buddy.
How large is the training group?
SSI standards allow a maximum of four students per instructor in the water. We will agree the group size according to the training conditions.
YOUR INSTRUCTORSThis course
This course
will be taught to you personally.
Meet our professionals who can teach this course. We will agree the specific instructor and date together.
Marek KušiakOpen Water Instructor
Marek Kušiak
SSI Open Water Instructor #117682
Sidemount enthusiast. He tailors training to the experience and needs of his students.
He started diving in 2006 with IANTD and over the years took courses in many diving systems with many instructors. Time and gradually gained experience have shown that courses across all organisations are very similar and that, overall, the instructor’s approach matters more than the name of the system. This is what he tries to follow during teaching and he adapts courses as much as possible to the students.
After a shoulder injury, he left technical diving for a while before deciding to try sidemount. Since then, he has fallen in love with sidemount diving. He currently mainly teaches this form of diving, which opens up new and interesting possibilities for beginners as well as experienced divers.
The course does not
end with us.
Divers Direct regularly organises one-day and weekend Events and diving expeditions for members of its club. And you can continue with follow-on courses right at these events.
View club events
10%
Discount on everything from day one
You also get a 10% discount from the very start of the course in our diving shop in Dejvice on all diving equipment and other courses.
Why dive
s Divers?
Professional instructors
Every one of our instructors and divemasters lives and breathes diving, loves teaching, and passes that enthusiasm on. We are a team of enthusiasts who will draw you into the world of diving.
Quality training
We maintain high standards and take no shortcuts. Safety, fun, efficiency and ecology too – that is the foundation of every course we run.
SSI Certification
We run certification courses according to SSI standards. SSI certifications are internationally recognised in the diving world.
Flexible dates
We will agree on training dates that suit you. Flexibility is a given for us and we always do our utmost to accommodate you.
Our own 8m diving pit
We train in the deepest pit in the Czech Republic – at Aquapalace Praha in Čestlice. There we have ideal conditions for pool training, and it shows in our divers.
We don’t end with the course
With us you can continue – lectures, training sessions, trips, expeditions, follow-on courses. And on top of that, a 10% discount on equipment and other courses.
A great community
Divers Direct is more than a school – it is a community. Lectures, evenings in the clubhouse, experiences that bring people together.
Experience from all over the world
Our instructors teach here and abroad – we have know-how from all over the world. We are happy to share it with every one of our students.
Your next dive
begins here.
SSI Independent Diving
A date that suits you.
You can arrange the dates individually with Marek Kušiak. SSI recommends 10–15 hours; we will adapt the schedule to the conditions and your progress.
potapeni@divers.cz+420 725 316 772How do I get started?
- 01
Choose your course
Order your selected course online.
- 02
Set up your MySSI
Register at my.divessi.com. Dive centre: Divers Direct 722162.
- 03
We will arrange a date
We will fine-tune everything together. You will arrange individual lessons directly with the instructor according to your availability.