Leave the Shore Behind – SSI Boat Diving

Unlock the ocean’s best-kept secrets. While shore diving is convenient, the world’s most spectacular reefs and wrecks are often waiting just beyond the beach. To reach them, you need a boat. Our SSI Boat Diving specialty gives you the knowledge and confidence to dive from any vessel—ranging from small six-pack charters to luxury liveaboards.

Whether you are planning your first charter out of West Palm Beach or joining us on a trip to the Caribbean, this course ensures you look and feel like a seasoned pro on deck.

Why Take a Boat Diving Course?

• Access Remote Sites: Reach pristine reefs, deep wrecks, and wall dives that are inaccessible from shore.

• Master the Etiquette: Learn the "unspoken rules" of boat life—how to stow gear, move around the deck, and stay out of the crew's way.

• Stress-Free Entries: Perfect your giant stride and back roll techniques so you can enter the water safely in various conditions.

• Drift Diving Ready: Learn the procedures for live-boat pickups, ensuring you know exactly what to do when you surface.

What You Will Learn

This course covers the essential skills and logistics for safe boat diving operations.

• Vessel Terminology: Know your port from your starboard, where safety equipment is stowed, and how to understand captain briefings.

• Entry & Exit Techniques: Master the specific techniques for entering and exiting different types of boats (small inflatables vs. large dive decks).

• Surface Safety: How to use surface lines, deploy Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs), and safely board the vessel in choppy water.

• Seasickness Management: Practical tips to prevent motion sickness so you can enjoy the dive, not just the boat ride.

Expand Your Range

Ready to explore further? The Boat Diving specialty counts toward your SSI Advanced Open Water certification and brings you one step closer to the prestigious Master Diver rating. It is a "must-have" certification for any Florida diver.