The First SSI Instructor Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air

Tomorrow It Begins

SSI ITC Indonesia | Instructor Training Gili Islands | Oceans 5 Gili Air

Tomorrow marks a milestone for Oceans 5 Gili Air, for our team, and for professional dive education on the Gili Islands. The first SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) at Oceans 5 officially begins—a 16-day program led by SSI Instructor Trainer Waz, designed to transform passionate divers into confident, capable, and employable scuba instructors.

This is more than just the start of a course. It is the start of a new chapter. A continuation of the same teaching philosophy, the same focus on quality, and the same commitment to producing instructors who are ready for real-world diving environments—now delivered through the SSI system.

And perhaps the biggest advantage of all: the SSI Instructor Evaluation will take place right here on Gili Air at Oceans 5 on the 1st and 2nd of March. No travel. No island hopping. No unnecessary stress. Just focus, preparation, and performance in the environment you trained in.

A 16-Day Journey to Becoming an SSI Instructor

The SSI Instructor Training Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air is a structured yet flexible 16-day program that prepares candidates for one of the most exciting careers in the world: teaching people how to breathe underwater.

Under the leadership of SSI Instructor Trainer Waz, candidates will be guided step-by-step through every aspect of becoming an instructor:

Dive theory and academic teaching
Confined water teaching skills
Open water training scenarios
Risk management and safety procedures
Student control and problem solving
Professional communication and course organization

The goal is not simply to pass an evaluation. The goal is to become a confident instructor—someone who can walk onto any dive boat in the world and lead a course with authority, safety, and professionalism.

At Oceans 5, instructor training has never been about shortcuts. It is about building competence, experience, and confidence.

Instructor Evaluation at Home: Gili Air

One of the greatest advantages of this program is that the SSI Instructor Evaluation is hosted directly at Oceans 5 Gili Air on March 1st and 2nd.

This changes everything.

Traditionally, instructor candidates often had to travel to another island, adapt to unfamiliar facilities, dive in unknown conditions, and manage logistics while under pressure. That added unnecessary stress to an already demanding process.

Here, the evaluation happens in the same environment where candidates trained:

The Oceans 5 pool
The classroom they learned in
The equipment they practiced with
The training site at Hans Reef
The same dive boats and staff

There are no surprises. No last-minute travel. No unfamiliar surroundings.

Just preparation and performance.

This makes the entire path to becoming an instructor more focused, more comfortable, and significantly less stressful.

Less Stress, More Learning

Removing travel and logistical complications allows candidates to concentrate on what truly matters: learning how to teach.

At Oceans 5, instructor training is designed to reduce external stress factors so candidates can develop:

Clear teaching structure
Strong in-water demonstration skills
Calm and confident decision-making
Realistic student management techniques

The environment is familiar. The support team is known. The training sites are part of daily routine.

This creates a powerful learning atmosphere where candidates grow faster and feel more confident stepping into the instructor role.

Why Become an SSI Instructor on the Gili Islands?

The Gili Islands have long been one of the world’s major training hubs for scuba diving. Every year, thousands of divers complete their certifications here. And in recent years, the professional landscape has shifted significantly.

More and more dive centers on the Gilis are now operating under SSI.

This creates a clear opportunity for future instructors.

1) The SSI Instructor Course Is More Affordable

One of the most practical advantages of the SSI Instructor pathway is the cost.

Compared to other large training organizations, the SSI instructor route is approximately €1000 cheaper when considering:

Teaching materials
Instructor membership fees
Certification costs

That is money you can invest directly into your next professional level, equipment, or living expenses while starting your instructor career.

You receive the same professional training—without unnecessary financial pressure.

2) More Job Opportunities on the Gili Islands

With more dive centers transitioning to SSI, instructors holding SSI certifications are increasingly in demand.

Becoming an SSI instructor on the Gili Islands means:

Higher employability locally
More opportunities to teach
Easier integration into dive center teams
Better long-term career prospects in the region

For anyone planning to work in Indonesia—or specifically on the Gilis—this is a strategic decision.

3) Earn Back Your Renewal Fees Through Certifications

SSI offers a unique system where instructors receive credits for every certification they issue.

These credits can be used to offset or completely cover annual renewal fees.

In practice, this means:

Active instructors often pay little to nothing for renewals
Your work directly supports your professional status
Your career becomes financially sustainable faster

It’s a system that rewards instructors for doing what they love: teaching.

4) The Same Professional Course

Choosing SSI does not mean compromising on professionalism.

The course standards, structure, and expectations remain at the highest level:

Comprehensive academic preparation
Strict skill performance requirements
Professional teaching evaluations
Realistic training scenarios

The SSI Instructor Training Course produces instructors who are fully capable of working anywhere in the world.

5) The Same Experienced Instructor Trainers

At Oceans 5, the people behind the training remain the same.

Experienced instructor trainers continue to lead programs with the same dedication to quality, safety, and professionalism. Candidates benefit from:

Years of teaching experience
Real-world dive industry knowledge
Personalized coaching
Honest feedback and mentoring

This continuity ensures that the identity of Oceans 5 remains unchanged—only the framework evolves.

6) The Same Philosophy as Before

Perhaps the most important message of all: the philosophy stays exactly the same.

Oceans 5 has always focused on:

Quality over quantity
Neutral buoyancy teaching
Environmental awareness
Small training groups
Realistic teaching techniques
Building confident instructors—not just exam passers

That philosophy continues under SSI.

Nothing changes in how candidates are supported, trained, and mentored.

Training in a Familiar Environment

The ITC takes place in an environment specifically designed for instructor development.

Candidates train using:

The large Oceans 5 pool for confined sessions
Fully equipped classrooms
Professional teaching materials
The nearby training site Hans Reef
Real dive boats and real operational workflows

This is not simulated instructor training. It reflects real life at a dive center.

Candidates learn how to:

Manage students
Organize dive days
Conduct briefings
Handle unexpected situations
Teach confidently in open water

This makes the transition from candidate to instructor seamless.

Learning at Hans Reef

Hans Reef serves as the open water training site during the program.

It offers:

Easy access from the dive center
Predictable training conditions
Varied underwater features for teaching exercises
A safe and controlled environment

Here, candidates practice:

Open water teaching presentations
Skill demonstrations
Student control techniques
Rescue readiness

It becomes a classroom underwater.

Building Confidence, Not Just Passing

The difference between a certified instructor and a confident instructor is experience.

At Oceans 5, the focus is not on memorizing presentations for evaluation days. It is about building a foundation that lasts for an entire career.

Candidates are encouraged to:

Make mistakes and learn from them
Develop their own teaching style
Practice communication skills
Work as a team
Support each other’s growth

The result is instructors who are ready for real students—not just examiners.

Becoming Part of the Oceans 5 Family

Instructor candidates quickly discover that Oceans 5 is more than a dive center.

It is a community.

Instructors support each other
Divemasters assist training
Staff members contribute to development
Candidates become part of daily life

This family atmosphere removes pressure and builds confidence.

It also reflects the reality of working in the dive industry: teamwork matters.

The Start of a New Era

The first SSI Instructor Course at Oceans 5 Gili Air represents more than a schedule entry. It represents evolution.

The dive industry changes. Training systems evolve. Opportunities shift.

But the core values remain:

Professionalism
Safety
Environmental responsibility
High-quality education
Long-term career development

This first course sets the tone for future instructor training on Gili Air.

Your Future Starts Here

For divers dreaming about becoming instructors, the message is simple.

Becoming an SSI instructor on the Gili Islands offers:

Lower costs
Strong employment opportunities
Professional training
Realistic teaching preparation
Familiar evaluation environments
Long-term career potential

And most importantly: a pathway built on experience, support, and confidence.