Dive Control Specialist

Dive Control Specialist (DCS)

Divemaster + Dive Control Specialist equals Assistant Instructor. As a DCS you can teach lecture and pool classes with indirect supervision. By assisting an active SSI Instructor with open water training the DCS can collect valuable training experience which is the best possible preparation for an Instructor Training Course (ITC). As a certified SSI Dive Control Specialist (DCS) you can:

• Lead and guide certified divers
• Assist SSI Instructors in the classroom, pool and open water
• Teach skills in the classroom and pool under indirect supervision of an SSI Instructor (except emergency skills)
• Teach the SSI Scuba Skills Update, Snorkeling and Try Scuba (pool only) programs

Dive Control Specialist Course Pre-requisites requirement

• Be at least 18 years old.


• Own a Total Diving System of professional type and quality.


• Have a current medical exam for scuba diving not older than 1 year and signed by a licensed medical practitioner.


• Hold an Advanced Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.


• Logged no less then 60 open water dives totaling 40 hours or more.


• Have logged significant experience in the following Specialty programs: Navigation, Night/Limited Visibility, Deep Diving, and Boat Diving


• Have completed the Diver Stress and Rescue program.

Training Requirements for Certification and Active Status:

• Logged no less then 75 open water dives totaling 50 hours or more.


• Maintain proof of current training in First Aid & CPR.


• Maintain proof of being competent in emergency administration of oxygen. This shall include knowledge of the medical principles involved and practical use of an emergency oxygen unit.


• Display leadership behaviors as well as passing all requirements listed in the program curriculum.


• Pass a watermanship and skill evaluation.


• Pass a Final Exam with a minimum score of 90%.


• Comply with all annual Renewal procedures.


• Maintain Professional Liability Insurance (where applicable).


• Work through an active SSI Dive Center or SSI Dive Resort.

Program Duration:

• The recommended hours for the Dive Control Specialist program is 50.
• The number of classes, hours and sessions per day are set by the individual Instructor, based on student needs, student ability and water conditions.
• Program Material: Each Dive Control Specialist Candidate is required to maintain current training materials.
• Ratio: The Student-to-Instructor ratio for open water scuba training activities during the Dive Control
  Specialist program is 8 to 1.
• The Instructor is to decrease this ratio whenever conditions require.
• Maximum Depth: All open water scuba training dives must be conducted at depths between 15 and 130 feet (5 and 40 metres).

Qualifications: After certification Dive Control Specialists may do the following:

• Perform in the same role as a Divemaster
• Meet the criteria to act as a Certified Assistant.
• Teach the Open Water Diver academic and pool sessions under the indirect supervision of an active SSI Instructor, but may not conduct exercises involving any self aid or emergency skills such as Air Sharing, Emergency Swimming- and Emergency Buoyant Ascent.
• Assist the Instructor with open water scuba training dives in the role of Certified Assistant only.
• Take students, no more than 2 at a time, on underwater tours after the students have successfully completed the required skills with an Instructor.
• Conduct the Try Scuba Program in Pool/Confined Water
• Conduct the Scuba Skills Update program.
• Qualify for a Training Specialist with additional training.
• Enroll in an SSI Instructor Training Program.