New Programs & Updates

SSI has added a new Digital Flashcard Tool to help students study more effectively and retain course information as they move through their training.

The idea is simple: flashcards help students review key terms, concepts, definitions, and important details through quick active recall. Instead of just rereading material and hoping it sticks, students are challenged to remember the answer before flipping the card.

That matters because most students do not struggle only because the information is hard. Sometimes they struggle because they did not revisit the early material enough before moving into the next section. Flashcards help keep those early concepts from quietly disappearing into the mental junk drawer.

• Quick review: Students can study in short, focused sessions. 
• Cumulative learning: Earlier material stays fresh as they move through the course. 
• Active recall: Students are forced to retrieve the answer, not just recognize it. 
• Aligned content: The cards are built from the same concepts used in the Review Questions and Final Exams. 
• Better preparation: Flashcards help students build confidence before taking cumulative reviews and exams. 

The flashcards are not replacing Review Questions or Final Exams. They support them.

A simple workflow would be:

• Memorize with Digital Flashcards 
• Apply the information through Review Questions 
• Confirm understanding with the Final Exam 

Think of the flashcards as the foundation. They help students get comfortable with the basic facts and terminology so they are not tripping over simple definitions when it is time to answer more complete questions.

From May 15 through July 15, 2026, customers who purchase any new qualifying Aqua Lung or Mares dive computer from a participating Aqua Lung and/or Mares retailer that is also an active SSI Training Center can receive a free SSI Computer Diving Specialty Digital Kit. 

This promotion is a great way to add even more value to a new dive computer purchase. Most divers only use a fraction of what their dive computer can actually do. The SSI Computer Diving Specialty helps divers better understand their computer, improve dive planning, increase confidence, and make smarter decisions underwater.

The offer includes the digital training kit only. In-person training and certification are not included and may involve additional fees set by the SSI Training Center. Customers must have an SSI profile through divessi.com or the MySSI app to redeem the offer.

To redeem, customers simply purchase a qualifying new Aqua Lung or Mares dive computer, complete the online redemption form provided by the retailer, and the SSI Computer Diving Specialty Digital Kit will be added to their SSI profile. Please allow up to five business days for processing.

Offer valid in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean while available. Used, refurbished, gray-market products, dealer purchases, reseller purchases, and mares.com purchases are not eligible.

SSI has added a new program to the SSI Swim portfolio, and this one fills a very real gap.

The new SSI Survival Swim program is designed for non-swimmers age 10 and older who are interested in participating in SSI activities but may not yet have the basic water comfort or survival skills needed to begin diver training.

In plain English, this program helps remove one of the first big hurdles many new divers face: getting comfortable enough in the water to complete the Water Fitness Evaluation required for the Open Water Diver program.

Not everyone arrives at the dive center ready to jump in the pool like they were raised by dolphins. Some people want to dive, travel, snorkel, explore, and be part of the underwater world, but they simply do not have the basic water confidence yet.

That is exactly where Survival Swim fits.

The program introduces essential skills like breath control, floating, basic water comfort, and simple survival techniques. It also gives participants an introduction to how basic equipment can support safety and confidence in the water.

The goal is not to turn someone into a competitive swimmer. The goal is to help them understand how their body behaves in the water, build comfort, and create a realistic pathway toward future SSI programs.

Survival Swim is a recognition program, not a certification program.

That means it recognizes a participant’s progress in developing basic water survival skills, but it does not certify them as a swimmer.

Every participant will progress at a different pace depending on their comfort level, ability, and prior experience in the water. Because of that, this program should be scheduled with enough time before an Open Water Diver program begins. Rushing someone from “I’m nervous in the water” to “let’s go diving” is usually not a winning strategy. Confidence takes time, and this program gives instructors a better structure to build it.

No.

Survival Swim does not replace the standard SSI Swim programs. It is a specialized entry point for people who want to participate in SSI activities but need help building basic water confidence first.

The broader SSI Swim programs remain the primary pathway for learning proper swimming technique, stroke development, and advanced swimming skills.

Think of Survival Swim as the bridge. SSI Swim is still the road.

Unlike the standard SSI Swim programs, Survival Swim includes a full SSI Total Teaching System to support both instructors and participants.

Materials include:

Student Manual, digital and PDF

Instructor Manual, digital and PDF

Digital Recognition Card

Skill Videos

The SSI Survival Swim program is scheduled to roll out globally across the SSI network at the end of April 2026. Once the materials are available, eligible SSI Professionals may begin teaching the program.

This is a smart addition to the SSI system. It gives Training Centers another way to support future divers, especially those who need a little more time, structure, and confidence before stepping into traditional scuba training. It also creates a better experience for the student, the instructor, and frankly, everyone else in the pool.

SSI Professionals are at the heart of meaningful environmental education, and the Freshwater Ecology Specialty provides them with a robust foundation for delivering effective diving education. This program offers a clear academic structure that supports confident instruction while allowing flexibility in presentation and delivery. It can be taught as a classroom-based specialty and, when appropriate, can be paired with optional in-water sessions to further enhance the SSI branding experience.

Launching the week of March 30 through April 3, this new program in diving education, the Freshwater Ecology Specialty, helps divers better understand freshwater environments by exploring environmental conditions, biodiversity, seasonal changes, and the impact divers can have on these ecosystems. More importantly, it connects that knowledge to responsible diving practices and reflects SSI branding’s continued commitment to environmental leadership.

Active status SSI Assistant Instructors and higher can enhance their diving education by adding the Freshwater Ecology Specialty Instructor rating through SSI’s digital verification process. To qualify, they must: Purchase the Freshwater Ecology digital professional kit, complete the required student materials—including digital learning, review questions, and the final exam—or provide proof of an equivalent certification. After completion, the rating is issued automatically. 

Active status SSI Divemasters may also qualify to teach the Freshwater Ecology Specialty, but they must complete the standard Specialty Instructor process. This can be accomplished by successfully completing the Freshwater Ecology Specialty Instructor Seminar as outlined in the instructor manual and co-teaching at least one complete Freshwater Ecology specialty program as specified in the Specialty Instructor manual.