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PRO PATHWAY  ·  SSI OWI

SSI Open Water
Instructor

The standalone SSI Open Water Instructor course for candidates who already hold an SSI Assistant Instructor certification. Complete the OWI component at diveshack Malta and prepare for the SSI Instructor Evaluation to earn your full OWI certification.

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Certified by SSI
Course Fee From
€600+€500SSI eLearning
Total all-inclusive: €1,166
✓SSI eLearning licence (€566)
✓OWI instructor training (€600)
✓All exams and knowledge reviews
✓Certification and SSI registration fees
✓Use of diveshack training facilities
Reserve My Place
Instructor Evaluation (IE): Optional 2-day IE is €500 + VAT, payable directly to SSI. Required to earn your full OWI certification.
Questions? Message us on WhatsApp
AI
Prerequisite
100+
Dives for IE
18
Min age
OWI
Certification
ISO
24802-2 certified
Course Overview

From Assistant Instructor to OWI

The standalone SSI Open Water Instructor course is for candidates who already hold an SSI Assistant Instructor certification (or crossover equivalent from another agency). This course covers the OWI component of the instructor pathway and prepares you for the SSI Instructor Evaluation.

You will refine your teaching skills across academic, confined water, and open water environments using Malta's active dive sites. On completing the course, you can choose to sit the 2-day Instructor Evaluation conducted by an SSI Regional Evaluator to earn your full OWI certification.

  • Complete the OWI training component building on your AI foundation
  • Lead academic sessions from the SSI Teaching System
  • Teach confined water skills to Open Water student standard
  • Plan and conduct open water dives to 18m with student divers
  • Evaluate student performance against SSI standards
  • Prepare for the SSI Instructor Evaluation across all three teaching environments
  • Issue SSI digital certifications through the SSI platform

The OWI course fee (€600) covers all diveshack-run training. SSI eLearning (€500) is mandatory and purchased through your SSI account. The IE fee (€500 + VAT) is paid separately to SSI if you choose to sit the evaluation.

Teaching Authorisation

What you can teach after qualifying

On completing your OWI course and passing the IE you are authorised by SSI to independently conduct and certify students in the following programmes.

Try Scuba and Scuba Diver

Introductory programmes run in confined water and limited open water. High volume, beginner-facing. Core commercial revenue for resort dive centres.

Supervised OW · up to 12m

Open Water Diver

The SSI flagship entry-level certification. Academic sessions, confined water, and four open water dives to 18m. Full certification with digital card on completion.

Certified OW · 18m max

Advanced Open Water Diver

SSI's advanced-level recreational course. Deep Diving and Navigation are core dives, plus three further specialty dives to 30m.

Certified OW · 30m max

Diver Stress and Rescue

Teaches divers to recognise, manage, and respond to stress and accidents in the water. Includes surface and submerged rescue scenarios. Required for Divemaster entry.

Certified AOW · Rescue skills

Enriched Air Nitrox

Teach divers to plan and execute dives using enriched air nitrox up to 40% O2. One of the most popular continuing education courses worldwide.

EANx · up to 40% O2

Dive Guide

Lead certified divers on guided underwater tours. Plan dive briefings, manage groups, and supervise divers across a range of environments and conditions.

Guided dives · Certified divers

Specialty Programmes

Specialty instructor ratings can be added separately to your OWI. Each rating allows you to teach and certify students in that specialty. Common choices: Deep Diver, Night and Limited Visibility, Wreck Diver, Perfect Buoyancy, Navigation.

Added separately
Requirements

What you need before the OWI course

The standalone OWI course requires SSI Assistant Instructor certification or a crossover equivalent from another recognised agency.

  • RequiredSSI Assistant Instructor certification or crossover equivalent from another agency
  • RequiredMinimum age 18
  • RequiredValid medical certificate issued within the past 12 months
  • RequiredMinimum 100 logged dives totalling 65 hours (for IE eligibility)
  • NoteCrossover AI candidates from other agencies may need to pay a one-time SSI Pro Registration Fee of €100 + VAT directly to SSI (not applicable if already registered as an SSI Professional)

Do not yet hold Assistant Instructor?

If you do not yet have an SSI AI certification, the SSI Full ITC (AI + OWI) combines both the Assistant Instructor and Open Water Instructor programmes into a single 12-day course. This is the most common pathway for Divemasters looking to qualify as a working instructor.

Prerequisites checklist

  • CheckAssistant Instructor cert card (digital or physical)
  • CheckDive log with 100+ dives and 65+ hours
  • CheckMedical certificate (within 12 months)
  • If crossoverBudget for SSI Pro Registration (€100 + VAT, one-time)
Fees

Course fees and what they cover

OWI Course
Open Water Instructor
€600+€500SSI eLearning

Total all-inclusive: €1,166

  • ✓Full OWI training with diveshack instructors
  • ✓SSI eLearning licence and training materials
  • ✓All exams and knowledge reviews
  • ✓SSI registration and certification fees
  • ✓Use of training facilities, pool, and boat
  • –IE fee (€500 + VAT, payable to SSI)
Reserve My Place
Group / Centre Discount
Contact

Two or more candidates booking together

  • ✓Discounted rate for groups of 2 or more
  • ✓Flexible scheduling around your availability
  • ✓Option to add specialty instructor ratings
  • ✓Priority booking for future IE dates
  • –Group rates confirmed on enquiry
Get Group Rate

Instructor Evaluation (IE)

The 2-day IE is €500 + VAT, payable directly to SSI and run by an independent SSI Regional Evaluator. You can choose to sit the IE after completing the OWI course. diveshack coordinates the IE timing on your behalf. The IE is required to earn your full OWI certification and start teaching independently.

Crossover from another agency?

If you are crossing over as an Assistant Instructor from a different training agency (such as PADI), a one-time SSI Pro Registration Fee of €100 + VAT is payable directly to SSI. This fee is not applicable if you are already registered as an SSI Professional (for example, if you completed your Divemaster through SSI).

All SSI fees (IE and Pro Registration) are payable directly to SSI and are not included in the diveshack course fee. Specialty e-learning kits and additional instructor ratings are purchased directly through your SSI account.

2026 Course Dates

Upcoming OWI start dates

The standalone OWI runs for 7 days and begins on day 6 of the Full ITC schedule. If you already hold SSI Assistant Instructor, you join the cohort at the OWI stage. The Instructor Evaluation (2–3 days) begins immediately on completion of the course.

Next available
22 May 2026
7-day OWI / Concludes 28 May
IE: 29–31 May 2026
September 2026
11 September 2026
7-day OWI / Concludes 17 September
IE: 18–20 September 2026
October 2026
8 October 2026
7-day OWI / Concludes 14 October
IE: 15–17 October 2026
November 2026
6 November 2026
7-day OWI / Concludes 12 November
IE: 13–15 November 2026
Custom
Request a Date
Flexible scheduling for AI-certified candidates
Contact us to arrange

OWI candidates join the same cohort as Full ITC candidates on day 6. All dates are subject to minimum group size. Contact diveshack to confirm availability.

Certification Standard

SSI: one of the largest dive training agencies globally

FAQ

Common questions

Do I need SSI Assistant Instructor to take this course? ▼

Yes. The standalone OWI course is for candidates who already hold SSI Assistant Instructor certification. If you are crossing over from another agency as an Assistant Instructor, you will need to pay a one-time SSI Pro Registration Fee of €100 + VAT if you are not already registered as an SSI Professional. If you do not yet have AI, consider the Full ITC (AI + OWI) which combines both certifications in a single programme.

Is the Instructor Evaluation included in the OWI course fee? ▼

No. The IE is a separate fee of €500 + VAT, payable directly to SSI. The IE is a 2-day evaluation run by an independent SSI Regional Evaluator. You can choose to sit the IE after completing the OWI course, but it is not mandatory to book it at the same time. diveshack coordinates the IE timing on your behalf.

What is the difference between the OWI and the Full ITC? ▼

The standalone OWI is for candidates who already hold SSI Assistant Instructor and only need the OWI component. The Full ITC (AI + OWI) is the combined programme that covers both certifications in 12 days. Specialty instructor ratings are available separately. If you do not yet have AI certification, the Full ITC is the appropriate pathway.

I have a PADI Assistant Instructor. Can I do the OWI? ▼

Yes. SSI accepts crossover Assistant Instructors from other recognised agencies. You will need to pay a one-time SSI Pro Registration Fee of €100 + VAT directly to SSI if you are not already registered as an SSI Professional. diveshack will assess your current certifications and advise on any additional bridging requirements.

Do I get specialty instructor ratings with the OWI? ▼

The standalone OWI course focuses on the Open Water Instructor component. Specialty instructor ratings can be added separately for both the OWI and Full ITC pathways.

Can I work at diveshack after qualifying? ▼

diveshack actively supports instructors trained through our centre. Seasonal positions are available subject to operational demand, and we maintain a network of contacts at dive centres across Malta and Gozo. Contact us during or after your course to discuss availability.

Enrol

SSI Open Water
Instructor

Locationdiveshack, Sliema, Malta
Group SizeMax 5 per instructor
Price from€600 course + €566 eLearning
Deposit50% to book your place
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