The Science of Diving course is a fantastic way to learn about all of the areas of diving knowledge, including: physics, physiology, decompression theory, aquatic environment, and diving equipment. This course is especially important if you are planning on becoming a dive professional.

Completion Requirements:

Digital materials and a passing score of 80% on the exam

9 hour classroom sessions over three days

Includes digital materials, classroom tuition, and open water dives.

Classroom: Saturday August 14th from 12pm-3pm
Open Water Dives: Saturday August 21st starting at 10am

A Scuba Skills Update provides you with the opportunity to review and practice necessary scuba skills that you learned in your original Open Water Diver program under the guidance of an SSI Dive Professional. The Scuba Skills Update is often a required for continuing your diving training after a long period of time away from the sport. You will be issued an SSI Scuba Skills Update recognition card.

The Enriched Air Nitrox program will teach you how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Diving with enriched air can increase your no-decompression limits, increase your safety, and reduce the required length of your surface intervals when compared to air.

The ocean is filled with fascinating and beautiful fish of every shape and size. This non-diving specialty program teaches you the skills and concepts required to identify the common families of Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and Red Sea reef fish.

This class is for kids 6 years old and up, and adults alike, even non-certified divers. It can be taken online as a standalone course, in conjunction with a virtual webinar, or in a classroom seminar with an Ocean First marine biologist.

This program teaches you the skills and concepts required to recognize and identify common species of sea turtles, describes their history and role in marine ecosystems, and threats to their survival.

This class is for kids 6 years old and up, and adults alike, even non-certified divers. It can be taken online as a standalone course, in conjunction with a virtual webinar, or in a classroom seminar with an Ocean First marine biologist.

Coral reefs are the building blocks of many ocean ecosystems. This program teaches you the skills and concepts required to recognize and identify common families of coral species.

This class is for anyone 10 years old and up, even non-certified divers. It can be taken online as a standalone course, in conjunction with a virtual webinar, or in a classroom seminar with an Ocean First marine biologist.

Many humans fear sharks, but is that reputation deserved? By taking the SSI Shark Ecology program, you will learn how sharks and their behavior are often misunderstood, and how you can safely observe them in their natural habitat.

This class is for kids 6 years old and up, and adults alike, even non-certified divers. It can be taken online as a standalone course, in conjunction with a virtual webinar, or in a classroom seminar with an Ocean First marine biologist.

This program teaches you about the amazing variety of rays you can find in our oceans, how to recognize ray species by their unique physical characteristics and behaviors, and the vital role rays play in our ocean’s ecosystems. You will learn how to safely interact with rays, and why living animals are worth more to our industry.

This program provides a general understanding of the complex and exciting science of marine ecology, which is the study of how organisms interact with each other and the environment, the flow of energy through communities, and the link between ocean ecosystems.

This class is for anyone 6 years old and up, even non-certified divers.

Do you like to camp, dive, paddleboard, kayak, hike, watch birds, tell stories, eat s'mores, have a beverage, play spikeball, sit by a fire, visit public lands, be outside, celebrate birthdays? If you answered yes to one or more of the above you should add the 2021 Blue Mesa trip to your calendar!

When: (Friday) September 17th - (Sunday) September 19th.
Where: Blue Mesa Outpost,
940 Cove Rd
Gunnison, CO 81230.
Includes Saturday night dinner, wine, beer, drinks, games, tanks/weights.

Complete all the nitty gritty details before your open water class.

Get all of your questions answered. We will call you at the number you provide, at the time you select below.

Full Course Schedule
Orientation:
Tues 9/7 - 6:30p-8:30p
Virtual classes via Zoom:
Tuesdays 9/14 - 10/12 6-8p
Pool Sessions @ Ocean First:
Fri 10/15 - 6:30p-8:30p
Sat 10/16 - 9a-2p
Sun 10/17 - 9a-2p
Open Water Trip Midway, Utah
Fri 10/22 - Sun 10/24

The SSI Try Scuba program is your introduction to the underwater world. This entry-level program gives you the opportunity to experience the underwater world, in a confined water setting. You will earn the SSI Try Scuba recognition rating.

For students 8 and up

This program provides the skills and concepts required to safely and comfortably dive at night or in limited visibility conditions. Some of the ocean's most amazing creatures only come out at night, so your dive doesn't have to end when the sun goes down.

*This course requires 2 open water training dives with an SSI instructor. We recommend completing these dives within 6 months of the virtual class. Call 303-444-7234 to book your open water dives with Ocean First. (Training dives are sold separately.)

Many of the ocean's best dive sites have artificial reefs, or wrecks that have sunk through the ages. This program gives you the skills and knowledge required to safely scuba dive above and around these underwater treasures. You will earn the SSI Wreck Diving certification after completing this program.

Many exciting dive sites are located in deeper water. Without proper training, this kind of diving puts you at risk. The SSI Deep Diving Specialty will give you the ability to safely and comfortably plan and conduct dives beyond 18 meters, and is a prerequisite for some advanced training. You will earn the SSI Deep Diving Specialty certification after completing this program.