Worried you’re not a strong enough swimmer to scuba dive? You don’t have to be an athlete — here’s exactly what SSI requires, and how we help you get there if you’re not there yet.
Do you have to be a great swimmer?
No. Scuba diving is about comfort in the water, not speed or perfect technique. SSI’s water-skills assessment simply confirms you can handle yourself in the water without stress. There’s no time limit, you can use any stroke, and it’s a supportive, no-pressure check — not a race.
What SSI requires
To earn your SSI Open Water Diver certification, you’ll complete a basic watermanship assessment:
These follow current SSI standards. We’ll walk you through the assessment on the day and confirm the exact requirements before you start.
Not a confident swimmer? Start with Survival Swim
If that swim sounds intimidating, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to jump straight into it. SSI’s Survival Swim is built to develop the in-water comfort and basic swimming skills that set you up for success, at your own pace. It’s the perfect first step before your Open Water course, and a real confidence-builder for anyone who’s uneasy in deep water.
Want to build fitness first? We can help
We also offer fitness instruction to help you build the endurance and water confidence to breeze through the swim assessment — and to make every dive more comfortable. Whether you need to work up to the 200-meter swim or just want to feel stronger in the water, we’ll meet you where you are and get you ready.