An Update to Indo Ocean Project’s Divemaster Certification Pathway

Since Indo Ocean Project was founded in 2017, we have offered our interns the opportunity to complete their professional Divemaster training through either PADI or Scuba Schools International (SSI).

As our programs continue to grow and evolve, we are making some changes to how we deliver professional-level dive training across our three project locations.

Going forward, Indo Ocean Project will transition to SSI as our primary Divemaster certification agency.

• Raja Ampat: SSI Divemaster only from October 2026
• Tanjung Bira: SSI Divemaster only from January 2027
• Nusa Penida: PADI Divemaster will continue to be available throughout 2027, with plans to transition to SSI only in 2028

For most interns, very little about the actual Indo Ocean Project training experience will change.

Indo Ocean Project has proudly been an SSI Training Center since 2017, and our relationship with Scuba Schools International has grown alongside our programs.

Over the years, our professional training programs have received several recognitions from SSI, including recognition as the #1 Divemaster certifying partner in Indonesia.

We particularly value SSI’s online learning platform, professional-level support, and its emphasis on developing experience alongside training.

Most importantly, the SSI system fits well with the way we have always approached professional diver development at Indo Ocean Project.

Our goal has never been simply to meet the minimum requirements needed to issue a Divemaster certification. We pride ourselves on excellence and have developed a comprehensive, progressive learning and development curriculum that goes beyond the minimum teaching standards set by either agency.

Our interns train over several weeks alongside experienced instructors, scientific divers and marine researchers, building their skills through real-world experience rather than simply completing certification requirements.

That approach will not change.

At the recreational and Divemaster level, PADI and SSI qualifications follow internationally recognized training frameworks and prepare divers for the same fundamental role: becoming a professional dive leader.

There are small differences in course structure, terminology, training standards and how individual skills are taught or evaluated, but the professional outcome is comparable.

Our instructors are trained to understand the differences between both PADI and SSI training standards, and we will continue incorporating this broader knowledge into the Indo Ocean Project curriculum.

Choosing an SSI Divemaster also does not mean you have to remain with SSI throughout your professional diving career.

An SSI Divemaster can continue on to a PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC), provided they meet PADI’s applicable entry requirements. Likewise, professional divers regularly complete training and certifications across different recognized agencies throughout their careers.

Your Divemaster certification is the beginning of your professional development, not a decision that permanently determines which agency you must train with in the future.

The professional training landscape has changed considerably in recent years.

One of the most significant changes for us has been SSI’s discontinuation of its previous Instructor Crossover pathway. In the past, instructors from another recognized agency could complete a relatively short and cost-effective crossover program to gain their SSI Instructor rating.

The new pathway requires more comprehensive instructor training and evaluation.

As a result, maintaining instructor-level teaching credentials with multiple agencies has become a greater commitment in terms of training, administration and cost.

After reviewing these changes and the needs of our programs, we no longer feel it is necessary to require our instructional team to maintain both PADI and SSI Instructor ratings.

Moving forward, all Indo Ocean Project instructor staff will be required to maintain an active SSI Instructor rating.

This allows us to standardize our professional training across our locations while continuing to provide the comprehensive Divemaster development program our interns expect.

All IOP instructional staff are now required to maintain an active SSI Instructor rating, so progressing from SSI Divemaster through to SSI Instructor provides the most direct pathway towards future instructional and leadership opportunities within our organization.

Once you reach Instructor level, moving between agencies requires more additional training than it has in the past. It is still absolutely possible, and maintaining professional ratings with multiple agencies can be valuable for a career in the diving industry.

For those planning a long-term career in professional diving, we continue to recommend considering multiple agency certifications where they make sense for your career goals, employment opportunities and budget. Being familiar with different training systems can make you a more adaptable dive professional, particularly when working internationally.

While the certification agency option is changing, our approach to Divemaster training is not.

We will continue to go beyond minimum agency requirements and provide the progressive, experience-based professional development that has been central to Indo Ocean Project since 2017.

Our goal remains to develop highly competent research divers and dive professionals who leave our programs with substantially more than a certification card.

The agency printed on that card may be changing, but the training, mentorship, field experience and professional development behind it remain the Indo Ocean Project standard.

We understand that some members of our community may be disappointed by this change, particularly those who had planned to complete a PADI Divemaster at one of our locations.

We appreciate the continued support of our interns, alumni, instructors and wider diving community as Indo Ocean Project continues to develop and strengthen its professional training programs.