Course overview

Step up to teaching scuba with the SSI Open Water Instructor programme at Sipadan, training on the calm macro reefs of Mabul Island before testing your diving on the Sipadan walls. SSI's flexible, digital-first instructor track lets you rehearse classroom, confined-water and open-water teaching to professional standards in a forgiving tropical setting. You leave qualified to certify SSI divers and join a worldwide network of dive professionals.

What you’ll learn

• Plan and deliver classroom, confined-water and open-water teaching presentations
• Apply the SSI training system and current diving standards
• Demonstrate and evaluate fundamental scuba skills to teaching quality
• Manage student risk and supervise training dives in mild current
• Brief, lead and debrief student divers with confidence
• Prepare for the SSI Instructor Training and Instructor Evaluation

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18
• SSI Dive Guide / Divemaster or equivalent leadership rating from a recognised agency
• Certified diver for at least 6 months
• Logged dives meeting SSI Instructor prerequisites (typically 100 dives by evaluation)
• Current first aid and CPR (React Right) provider rating
• Diver medical clearance signed by a physician

What's included · What's not

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Instructor orientation

   Introduction to the SSI training system and your first academic teaching presentations on Mabul.
2. Day2
   Confined-water teaching

   Rehearse skill demonstrations and pool-style teaching on the calm Mabul house reef.
3. Day3
   Open-water teaching

   Deliver open-water teaching circuits under evaluation on the reefs around Mabul and Kapalai.
4. Day4
   Standards and dive business

   Cover SSI standards, professional ethics and the business of running training.
5. Day5
   Theory and skills assessment

   Complete dive-theory exams and water-skills assessments to instructor standard.
6. Day6
   Evaluation preparation

   Mock presentations and full preparation for the SSI Instructor Evaluation.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Sipadan.

Frequently asked questions