On the whole, the dive industry has lagged a bit behind in the digital revolution, and although various dive-centric websites, eLearning and apps have appeared, many of them have seemed quickly knocked together. They’re often not very user-friendly, and are quite hit-and-miss when it comes to content, particularly in languages other than English.
Scuba Schools International (SSI) is taking a holistic approach to addressing this issue. At this year’s DEMA show, SSI announced a “Digital Revolution,” which is aimed at “upwardly mobile consumers and younger generations and sets a new standard in dive training.”
Often in the dive industry we have seen a piecemeal approach to digital media integration and branding, but SSI promises that this digital revolution will be all encompassing. With a ground-up approach, SSI is offering new branding elements, such as a new, modern SSI logo and fonts. The website has been given an overhaul and is now mobile friendly, making it easy to navigate for new divers and old pros alike.
New Open Water Diver Course
SSI also announced a new Open Water Diver course, which is the keystone of the new digital program. SSI says it is based on an Integrated Learning System, with testing measures strategically placed throughout the program, in order to assess the quality of new divers’ experience as they progress. The program links physics and physiology with the important role equipment plays in a new diver’s comfort and confidence underwater. SSI says the content features first-rate videos, illustrations, animations and photos to enhance the learning experience.
SSI Launches New Digital Learning
As someone who has a shelf full of diving manuals from various courses sitting on my bookcase, I long for the day that I can have all these on my iPad or phone so I can brush up on my Equivalent Air Depth formula or my EFR AB/CABS while sitting on a plane or over breakfast on the boat. Along with the Open Water Diver course, SSI launched digital learning for the following courses: Enriched Air Nitrox, Boat Diving, Dive Guide, Dive Control Specialist and Open Water Instructor materials on January 1st. I am told that other courses are also scheduled for digital release. One of the most convenient aspects of the new SSI e-learning components is that they will be available for all smartphones, tablets, laptops, PCs or internet-enabled TVs, and students will also be able to access their content offline — particularly useful for long flights or those dive resorts with sketchy internet access (I bet we all know some).
SSI e-learning will also be support around 20 different languages. Once the launch is underway, we’ll do a full review of the new online learning and update you on any more information regarding languages. In the meantime check out SSI’s new branding and Dive SSI website for more info.
