SSI XR TECH CAMP

Blue label Diving and Scubacat in Phuket have joined forces and are offering the 1st and only SSI XR Tech Camp in Phuket from 1st of June until the 31st of August 2016. These will take place every weekend, starting on the Friday at 9:00am with the Sidemount course. The 1st trip starts June 3rd. It Includes the Cavern Course and the Advanced Wreck Course.

What does this mean?
If you are an Advanced Open Water Diver (of any agency) and you have 25 logged dives and you are looking in extending your range? You can join the SSI XR Tec Camp and get 3 certification in 3 days over a weekend.

• SSI Sidemount diver
• SSI XR Cavern diver
• SSI XR Advanced Wreck diver

How does it work?

Every weekend, starting with the Sidemount course on the Friday at 9:00 am and the overnight boat trip on Saturday and Sunday.

The first day you will be 50% classroom and 50% in water for the SSI Sidemount training. (If you are a Sidemount diver already but not a back-mount diver (twinset) you can do this day on the Twinset or you can skip this day)
Day 2 at 8am the boat leaves from the pier in Chalong which will take you to your first dives of the overnight trip. You will spend the night on the boat in Phi Phi, but you will be able to go on land for a few hours as well. The 3rd day, also the last you will do the rest of the dives and finish the cavern and advanced wreck. You are back in Chalong around 4pm.

What is included?
Friday Day 1 SSI XR Tec Camp: equipment rental, gasses, instructor fees, pool fee, transport, lunch and certification
Saturday Day 2 and Sunday Day 3 SSI XR Tec Camp: boat fees, equipment rental, gasses, instructor fees, pool fee, transport, breakfast / lunch / dinner and certification. Dinner is not served on the 3rd day as you are back at 4pm.

Is certification a guarantee?
No, you are paying for the boat diving and the training. Signing up for a dive course never means a guarantee of certification.

What is the weather turns?
It has to be really bad if the boats can’t go out at all. If the wind and waves are too strong they might cancel Phi Phi but they still will go out to closer dive sites. We just can’t do the cavern/wreck if the weather gets that bad.
The deposit of 10’000thb is non refundable. If you are not a Sidemount diver we will teach you this level nevertheless as day 1 of this course is a pool dive and day 2 would be ocean diving which could be done at any dive site. If you are a Sidemount diver we give you 2 days of “fun” Sidemount diving but just not in Phi Phi. So no money lost there.

How to book?

Please email the team directly: info@scubacat.com

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Recently we have had a few Disable Diving Courses at Scuba Cat Diving
Starting the year off we had Carina and her boyfriend Tim from the US doing part of their referral training with us.
Carina is a paraplegic following a car accident and together with Tim she started her diver training back home in California through SDI and their Scubility Adaptive Program. While in Thailand on holiday they wanted to try to finish the training off.
Due to travel logistics and flights they could unfortunately only be with us for 2 days, so all there was time for was some skill re-assessment in the pool and a couple of dives towards their certification levels.
We had a great day out at Racha Yai and Noi where the guys, especially on the second dive, found their comfort levels and had a great time.

Only a few days after we said goodbye to Carina and Tim, we had another request for training. This time from Yang Lin from China and his friend Josh who acted as translator and dive buddy.
They were looking to get Yang Lin certified through Disabled Divers International – one of few dedicated organizations that cater to scuba training for people with disabilities..
Yang Lin, a former professional swimmer, became a paraplegic after an unfortunate jump into a pool.
Using the SSI training system with online theory in Chinese and with Josh translating in the pool SSI IT and DDI Instructor Claus Rasmussen used only very few adaptive techniques during the training.
Due to his exceptional comfort in the water and upper body strength, Yang Lin actually superseded our best expectations and did not have to be certified using the DDI-system as he met the requirements for the full SSI Open Water Course.
We are expecting to see a lot more of Yang Lin in the future as he is part of a project hoping to improve options for rehabilitation and activities for disabled people in China.
Our hope is to build his abilities over the next years and hopefully get him up to instructor level.

The Scuba Cat Team can teach people with various disabilities through both the SSI Classified Diver Program and DDI -and has a long standing recognition of being Phukets only DDI Instructor Training Facility.

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This January saw Bebe Francis, Tony Oliver and Satria Cahyadi (Dee) entering into their SSI ITC – SSI Instructor Training Course. Scuba Cat has 3 full time Instructor Trainers working with us that over the years have taught hundreds of instructor courses with various training organizations like SSI, PADI and DAN.

The 3 candidates were given a challenging, informative and rewarding programme.

Scuba Cats ITC takes place over 2 weeks to ensure our candidates can become comfortable and confident instructors. We try to not make the days too long, but some self study time will be required during the course. Also there is some required pre-study to ensure the understanding of the systematic approach and student material of SSI. Access to all study materials ( both student and instructor level) are granted online when candidates register.

During the SSI Instructor Training Course they had to develop their abilities to teach in the classroom, pool and ocean environment and pass multiple exams in general dive theory, SSI Standards and the SSI System structure and use.   With specific workshops on safety and control in teaching situations all training focuses more on Real Life application and practice than just passing the course.

Time was also spent on how to teach the included Specialty Courses like the SSI Nitrox Diver Course, React Right first aid programme and especially the SSI Stress and Rescue Specialty Course. Specific workshops on how to set up and demonstrate the skills and understanding the differences between application and requirements as they are set on the SSI student level programs versus the Professional Level Courses. The understanding of these differences are also tested as part of the SSI Instructor Evaluation (IE) including effective use of Oxygen in diving emergencies -all to prepare the candidates for a real future in the diving industry.

The IE is a 2-3 day evaluation conducted by an SSI Instructor Certifier -and as a special on this one we actually had 2. Both the Regional Manager Neil Francis and the International Training Director Simon Garrity showed up.
During the IE candidates are showing their abilities on teaching both Open Water Diver and the Stress and Rescue course in the classroom, in the pool and in the ocean. They also have to pass exams in dive theory, Standards and training system understanding.

Dee has returned to Singapore and is presently looking for work and Tony has just started his Internship and will be with us the next months working on his Advanced Open Water Instructor.

All the best to both of them.

Our next ITC starts July 6th. If you want to join please contact us.

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The Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks .Starting next season Scuba Cat will be taking a Scuba Adventure to Myanmar for liveaboard diving trips. Diving in Burma is to dive in mostly untouched and unspoilt areas, this is a great diving destination.  Diving in Burma is new to Scuba Cat, but our Tour Leader, Darren King is one of the most experienced tour leaders in Burma.

Trips will begin from Ranong around 14:00 hrs to clear immigration (200USD visa fee) and then sailing overnight to our first stop around Shark Cave (3 Islets) and Rocky Island. For the 2nd day of diving we head north to Black Rock, a lone rock in the Archipelago famous for Manta Rays, whale sharks and all number of special finds. We will complete 3 dives here and then head West to the Burma Banks. Diving in Burma, during the 1990’s and early 2000’s the banks were heavily fished but now they are back to their best. Amazing visibility, lots of sharks and a wide range of marine life can be seen out here.

Whaleshark – Burma

We then travel overnight to North Twin Island and on our 4th day we normally complete 2 dives around here and head towards South Twin Island and Western Rocky Island. Day 5 is spent around Western Rocky and Fan Forest Pinnacle. On our last day of diving we complete 2 dives around Western or Northern Rocky islands and head back to Kaw Thuang, arriving around 16:00 hrs to clear immigration.

Then the boat will sail overnight back to Chalong arriving around 14:00 hrs the following day.

The trip is 7 days and includes 6 days diving in Burma, everything is included except Park Fees and Visas for just 40,000 Baht.

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This program allows diving to 50 meters using nitrox and unlimited accelerated decompression using two stage decompression gases. The program can only be completed wearing a technical total diving system.

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This program qualifies you to dive to 45 meters using nitrox and 25 minutes of accelerated decompression using a one stage decompression gas (oxygen). The program can only be completed wearing a technical rig.

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Extended Range Nitrox.

Extended range Nitrox is the entry level extended range …This program qualifies you to dive to 40 meters using nitrox and 15 minutes of decompression using a one stage decompression gas (50% Nitrox).

The program can be completed wearing a single cylinder and 1 stage tank containing up to 50% Nitrox with recreational equipment or with twin tanks, backmounted with an Isolator Valve or Sidemount.

The program consists of theory (on-line), pool/confined sessions and 4 Open water Dives, of which the last 2 dives must be actual staged decompression dives and at least one must be to a minimum of 35 metres.

Prerequisites are Deep Diving and Nitrox certification and a minimum of 24 dives.

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Paul and Claus have just completed the brand new SSI XR Cavern Course with Ben Reymenants, SSI Technical Training Director from Blue Label Diving.  A challenging few days and the full range of possible equipment configurations used from Back Mounted Twin sets to Sidemount and CCR.

This course designed for overhead environments can be combined with the new Advanced Wreck Course (just 2 extra dives needed to get both qualifications). The Cave, in Southern Thailand between Krabi and Trang is immense but we only saw a very small part of it – plenty more for a few more trips.  The cave drops down to 100M and has tunnels extending for kilometres.

Scuba Cat SSI XR Instructor Training Centre are now working together with Blue Label Diving to offer the full range of SSI XR programs, from XR Nitrox, Cavern and Advanced Wreck through to Hypoxic Trimix, CCR and full Cave diver.

Come and visit Scuba Cat SSI XR Instructor training Centre if you are interested in learning how to explore  the many fantastic and unexplored caves around with the SSI XR Cavern course.

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Want to go longer or deeper, explore exciting new wrecks or dive into fantastic caves?  Try the newly revamped SSI XR program.

Cave Diving, Wreck Diving, Technical Diving, Trimix – its all available and easy to access.

SSI Extended Range programs are designed to take your diving to the next level. Whether you are looking for the excitement of deep diving, going beyond recreational diving limits, significantly extending your bottom time or enjoying the thrill of exploring deep reefs, wrecks and caves, Extended Range provides the training and experience necessary to complete your new adventure with confidence and skill.

Extended Range diving will open up a diverse variety of aquatic environments, increase your dive depths limits, extend your bottom times and train you on new procedures. Academically you will advance your knowledge and understanding of principles, procedures and theories specific to diving safely with a decompression ceiling. You will adapt your existing equipment or be introduced to new equipment concepts and the technically oriented dive rig. You will also learn and master new skills designed to enhance your safety and enjoyment using this new equipment design. During your program your instructor will cover everything from supreme buoyancy, propulsion, equipment management and effective decompression.

Throughout the program you will increase the knowledge, skills, equipment and experience to “extend your range of diving” and “dive deeper and longer”in every sense of the word.
Whatever your current level of training, Extended Range Diving will challenge and thrill you mentally and physically.

TRAINING IS FLEXIBLE AND EASY

SSI has developed specific training materials: exciting, cutting edge manuals with review sessions, specific DiveLog inserts and underwater slates. All courses and training materials have been developed by industry professionals with decades of extended range and technical diving experience.

As with all SSI programs Extended Range is designed to fit your schedule. You can take each program individually or take them all in one program. Training is flexible to match your goals and objectives. It’s menu-based just like our recreational programs. To enroll in Extended Range training you need to be an Advanced Open Water Diver with both theDeep Diving and Enriched Air Nitrox specialties and a minimum of 24 logged dives.

Paul and Claus have recently crossed over to become SSI Extended range Instructors and we will soon offer the full range of SSI eXtended Range programs.

Dive Deeper and longer. Look out for more news as it’s available

#‎DIVESSI‬ ‪#‎FARTHER‬ ‪#‎DEEPER‬ ‪#‎BEYOND‬ ‪#‎REALDIVING‬

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Not busy enough with just one Agency? Crossover to SSI and double your potential for work.

We have a crossover for the 10/11th November 2015. For any PADI Instructors wishing to crossover to become an SSI Instructor this is the ideal time as the costs includes your fees up to 31st December 2016.

We know that as a qualified Instructor  you already know how to train divers. Our crossover is designed to simply familiarize you with the SSI Total Teaching System and the small differences in our water skills. It’s that simple.  SSI is the fasted growing Scuba Diving Agency on Earth.

See SSI website for extra information

During your SSI Crossover the ratings you currently hold with your other recognized agency will be matched one-to-one with SSI ratings. After completion, you can continue your career with SSI without limits! Continue your career by taking higher Dive Professional programs or by qualifying for other Specialty Instructor ratings. Check your equivalences with SSI here:

Pre-requisites for the SSI Crossover are current first aid, CPR  and O2 provider, Instructors will be crossed over over to the equivalent SSI rating.

O2 and CPR training can be added if needed.

IDC Staff Instructors and Master Instructors need 1 extra day, at no extra cost to cover the differences in teaching SSI professionals.  For more information contact Paul or Claus at Scuba Cat Diving.

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