Advanced Adventurer

Yes. The SSI Open Water Diver course is designed to make it accessible to everyone, no matter what your preferred learning style is. The program is not just reading (although there is some), you will also be able to learn the theory through video presentations, practical demonstrations and practice skills.

We can also send the SSI course prior to going to the dive center, this way you can start learning before arriving at the island. We do require a deposit beforehand.

Sunburn, seasickness and dehydration, all of which are preventable, are the most common problems divers face. Injuries caused by marine life, such as scrapes and stings, do occur, but these can be avoided by wearing an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.

The course fee includes equipment, learning materials, certification, boat for the courses and water refills. If you are staying in another part of the island, we might have to charge a pickup fee. It is easiest to stay in M'pai bay as we can spend more time practicing underwater and not traveling back and forth.

This depends entirely on where you are diving and what you understand by “dangerous”. In some areas there are corals or plants which may sting if you brush up against them. Most marine animals do not attack and have stingers for defensive reasons only. Your instructor will explain to you how to interact with marine life in an observatory way which means you will experience some great encounters with many wonderful species. The golden rule is not to touch anything – most humans would be annoyed if something they didn’t know came into their environment and poked them!

In terms of dive training, there is very little difference between SSI and PADI. They both follow the diving standards set by WRSTC (World Recreational Scuba Training Council) meaning that knowledge and skill requirements are almost the same. Certifications at any level below Divemaster are interchangeable.

Bubbles Up decided to switch from PADI to SSI in May 2023. We got a great opportunity to become an SSI dive center and since then mainly teach SSI courses. The reason why we choose SSI is that we think it fits better with our philosophy regarding conservation (Blue Oceans and ecology programs), we upgraded our professional status, the online environment is better equipped and of course there is a financial aspect.
We are happy that we choose SSI as we get all the support we need, and we are one of two SSI training centers in Cambodia.
We are working hard to become the first SSI Instructor Training Center in the future.