Which SSI course should you take in the Gili Islands? A level-by-level guide

Standing in front of a dive center's course list for the first time can be overwhelming. Try Scuba, Open Water, Advanced Adventurer, Specialty courses, Divemaster... which one actually fits where you are right now?

As an SSI-affiliated dive center in the Gili Islands, we get this question daily, from complete beginners to divers who haven't been in the water in years. Here's a straightforward breakdown of each course, who it's for, and what you'll walk away with.

Never dived before? Start with Try Scuba

The SSI Try Scuba program is a single, supervised dive designed for people who have never used scuba equipment and simply want to find out what diving feels like before committing to a full course. There's no certification at the end, no exam, and no multi-day time commitment.

Best for: First-timers unsure if diving is for them, or travelers with just one free day

‍Duration: Half a day

‍What you get: One guided dive on a shallow, calm reef site with an instructor by your side the entire time

Many people who try this program in Gili Trawangan end up loving it enough to sign up for Open Water the next day, once they know what to expect underwater.

Ready to get certified? SSI Open Water Diver

This is the entry-level certification that opens the door to diving anywhere in the world, for the rest of your life. It's the course most people mean when they say they want to "learn to dive."

The course is built around three components: online theory (completed at your own pace before or during your trip), confined water training in shallow, controlled conditions, and open water dives on the reef, where your training and your first real exploration happen at the same time.

Best for: Anyone with no prior certification who wants to dive independently (with a buddy) up to 18 meters

‍Duration: 3 to 4 days

‍What you get: A lifelong, internationally recognized certification accepted at dive centers worldwide

Because SSI's e-learning can be completed online before you arrive, many divers finish the theory portion at home and spend their time on the island entirely in the water, cutting the in-person course down to as little as 3 days.

Already certified? SSI Advanced Adventurer

If you're already an Open Water diver and want to go deeper, dive in current, or simply build experience faster, the Advanced Adventurer course lets you try several specialty dives, such as navigation, deep diving, and perfect buoyancy, without committing to a full specialty certification for each one.

This course is a natural fit for the Gili Islands, where sites like Deep Turbo and Shark Point sit deeper and often carry a stronger current than beginner-friendly reefs.

Best for: Certified Open Water divers wanting to raise their depth limit to 30 meters and gain confidence in more demanding conditions

‍Duration: 2 to 3 days

‍What you get: Certification to 30 meters, plus hands-on experience in multiple specialty skills

Want to specialise? SSI Sspecialty Courses

Once you're comfortable in the water, specialty courses let you focus on a specific skill or interest. In the Gili Islands, the most popular options include:

• Perfect Buoyancy  refine trim and air consumption, useful for underwater photography and reef conservation
• Deep Diving  extend your depth limit and learn the physiology of diving deeper
• Navigation  learn to lead a dive using natural references and compass work
• Enriched Air (Nitrox)  longer bottom times and shorter surface intervals using enriched air blends

These can usually be combined with an Advanced Adventurer course or booked individually if you already hold that certification.

Thinking about diving professionally? Divemaster

For divers who want to turn diving into a lifestyle or a career, the SSI Divemaster course is the first professional-level rating. It's a longer, more involved program that includes leadership training, dive theory at a deeper level, and supervised work assisting instructors with student divers.

Best for: Experienced divers (minimum 24 logged dives, Advanced Adventurer certified) considering a career in diving

‍Duration: 4 to 8 weeks, depending on prior experience

‍What you get: The first professional rating in the SSI system, and the ability to lead certified divers and assist instructors

How to choose the right course

A simple way to think about it:

• Never dived and unsure? Try Scuba
• Want a lifelong certification? Open Water Diver
• Already certified and want more depth and skills? Advanced Adventurer
• Have a specific interest (photography, deep diving, navigation)? A specialty course
• Thinking about a career underwater? Divemaster

Book your course with a local SSI Team

Course names only tell you so much... the right choice also depends on how many days you have on the island, your comfort in the water, and what you actually want to see. Our SSI instructors are happy to talk through your options before you book, so the course you choose actually matches your trip and your goals.