SSI INSTRUCTOR COURSE
BECOME A PROFESSIONAL
€1900/person
* Before booking, please read our regulations and safety measures.
Become an SSI Freediving Instructor
Become part of the expanding community of SSI professionals who share the thrill and freedom of the freediving lifestyle. As an SSI Freediving Instructor, you’ll play a key role in guiding others into the world of breath-hold diving.
SSI instructors are recognized for their high standards and modern teaching approach, using effective and innovative methods to help students discover the underwater world with confidence and safety.
What will you learn?
The SSI Freediving Instructor Course prepares candidates to enter the world of professional freediving. The structured design of the SSI Instructor Course will introduce you to the SSI system and help you gain the knowledge, skills and teaching techniques to be ready to teach in a professional, competent and confident way.
During 11 day the course you will have a chance to become SSI Freediving or SSI Advanced Freediving Instructor and will:
- Become familiar with SSI teaching materials and methods for their effective presentation.
- Build on your Instructor-level theory and role-model in-water skills necessary for teaching freediving courses.
- Learn about student control and the organisational aspects to safely conduct a freediving course.
- You will, through different scenarios, gain the confidence to anticipate and identify the mistakes and problems you will encounter when conducting freediving courses and counsel your students to overcome them.
- Gain knowledge of the other aspects related to teaching freediving: Legal responsibility, risk management, marketing and freediving as a business.
- Be expected to demonstrate role-model awareness and conservation for the marine environment during freediving activities.
Enrollment Requirements
During the instructor course, you will be able to complete one of the options below.
Option 1:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have logged at least 100 in-water freediving sessions
- Hold the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:
- Advanced Freediver
- Training Techniques
Option 2:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:
- Advanced Freediver
- Training Techniques
- Hold the following SSI certification or equivalent from a recognized training agency:
- Basic Freediving Instructor
- Have issued at least:
- 25 Basic Freediver certifications
You also need to have a completed course of First Aid with CPR within the last two years.
The instructor candidate should already posses a high competency of freediving and be able to meet the listed diving depth and time requirements:
- STA 3:00
- DYNB 60m
- BO Rescue from 15m after 1min hang
- BO Rescue from 15m with 50m surface tow
- CWTB 30m or 5x20m with 1 min rest
- STAMINA 5x15m or 5x20m with 1 min rest
- Others as in the completion form
Option 1:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have logged at least 100 in-water freediving sessions
- Hold the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:
- Performance Freediver
- Training Techniques
Option 2:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold the following SSI certifications or equivalent from a recognized training agency:
- Performance Freediver
- Hold the following SSI certifications (no equivalency permitted):
- Freediving Instructor
Option 3:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Hold the following SSI certifications (no equivalency permitted):
- Freediving Instructor
- Have issued at least:
- 10 Freediver certifications
- 5 Training Techniques certifications
You also need to have a completed course of First Aid with CPR within the last two years.
The instructor candidate should already posses a high competency of freediving and be able to meet the listed diving depth and time requirements:
- STA 4:00
- DYNB 85m
- BO Rescue from 20m after 1 min hang
- BO Rescue from 20m with 50m surface tow
- CWTB 40m or 30m+3x25m with 1 min rest
- STAMINA 5x20m with 1 min rest
- Others as in the completion form
Meet the Instructor Trainer
Jiaxin Li
SSI Freediving instructor trainer
AIDA Master Instructor
AIDA pro safety diver
Based in Portugal, but grew up in the heart of China, far from the sea, but with a river flowing right in front of his home. It was there that he learned to swim, spent his childhood, and also where he lost one of his best friends. From that moment on, water carried a deeper meaning for him.
Years later, while studying at Shanghai University of Sport, he took his first freediving course in the Philippines. The first time he descended into the ocean, everything changed—the silence, the peace, the profound sense of being accepted exactly as he was. In that moment, he knew he wanted to dedicate his life to freediving.
Today, as an instructor trainer, competition safety diver, and organizer, he combines his passion, knowledge, and experience to guide others. He teaches instructor courses in places like Kalamata, working alongside some of the most outstanding freediving teams in Europe.
Beneath the surface, beyond limits.
What is included in the price?
SSI Pro Materials
Lifetime access to all required SSI e-learning materials, Freediving Instructor Bundle
Active Status
Registration and activation fees for your first instructor year are included in the course price
Certification card
After successful course completion you will receive a digital certification card.
Equipment included
During the course, you will get all the equipment needed for your course.
Course Schedule
Most of the course theoretical topics will be run with instructor candidates though one of online platforms. In this way the students will have more time to prepare and study the theoretical materials.
The second part of the course which is run at Kalamata Freedivers, focuses on teaching/conducting courses.
The divesite is located less than 10min drive with our RIB from the centre. Our facilities offer warm showers, changing room & lockers, so we can arrive to the divesite prepared and ready to jump in the water.
Day 1 - Online
– Orientation Session, self introduction
– Academic Session 1: Overview of SSI
– Academic Session 2: Duties of an SSI Professional
Total Duration: 4–5 hours
Day 2 - Online
– Academic Session 3: Program Administration
– Academic Session 4: Academic Sessions
Total Duration: 5–6 hours
Day 3 - Online
– Academic Session 5: In-Water Training Freediver Pool/Confined Water Skills
– Academic Session 5: In-Water Training Freediver Open Water Skills
– Academic Session 6: Entry-Level Programs
Total Duration: 5–6 hours
Day 4 - Online
– Academic Session 6: Entry-Level Programs
– Academic Session 7: The Business of Diving
– Academic Session 8: Freediver Specialty Programs
Total Duration: 5–6 hours
Day 5
– Practical Application 1: Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation
– Practical Application 6: Pool/Confined Water Performance Evaluation
– Practical Application 9: Open Water Performance Evaluation 1
– Practical Application 5: Breathing Session workshop
Total Duration: 5–6 hours
Day 6
– Practical Application 2: Academic Teaching Presentation 1
– Practical Application 7: Pool/Confined Water Teaching Presentation 1
– Practical Application 5: Breathing Session Presentation
Total Duration: 6–7 hours
Day 7
– Practical Application 2: Academic Teaching Presentation 2
– Practical Application 7: Pool/Confined Water Teaching Presentation 2
– Practical Application 5: Breathing Session Presentation
Total Duration: 6–7 hours
Day 8
– Practical Application 2: Academic Teaching Presentation 3
– Practical Application 7: Pool/Confined Water Teaching Presentation 3
– Practical Application 10: Open Water Teaching Presentation 1
Total Duration: 6–7 hours
Day 9
– Practical Application 9: Open Water Performance Evaluation
– Practical Application 10: Open Water Teaching Presentation 2
Total Duration: 5–6 hours
Day 10
– Practical Application 3: Education System Evaluation
Re-evaluation if needed:
Candidate Water Fitness Evaluation, Pool/Confined Water Performance Evaluation, Pool/Confined Water Teaching Presentation, Breathing Session Presentation
Total Duration: 5-7 hours
Day 11
– Practical Application 4: Professionalism Evaluation
– Practical Application 8: Final Exam
– Practical Application 3: Education System Evaluation
– Final Record Keeping
Re-evaluation if needed:
Open Water Teaching Presentation
Total Duration: 5–7 hours
* This is just the example of the course schedule. Final version will be presented by the Trainer on the course start.
€1900/person
* Before booking, please read our regulations and safety measures.
Courses are run monthly on request.
Payment options
We accept online payment in the methods below, as well as cash or card payment in person.
Have a Question?
Feel free to reach out and we’re happy to answer any questions you may have.
Elevate Your Freediving Experience!
Take your freediving skills to the next level.
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