SSI Open Water Referral Program Goa

SSI Certified
2 Days (ocean dives)
18m max

₹17,820per person, GST extra

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Duration: 2 Days (ocean dives)
Max depth: 18m max
Certification: SSI
Category: Course

Highlights

Split training: start at home, finish in Goa
SSI global training standards
Recognised at 3,000+ dive centres worldwide
Warm Arabian Sea ocean dives

SSI Open Water Referral Program — Start at Home, Certify in Goa

Duration

2 Days (ocean dives)

Ocean Dives

Cert

SSI Open Water Diver

Depth

18m max

The SSI Open Water Referral Program allows students to split their certification across two locations: complete the academic learning and confined water (pool) training at an SSI dive centre near home, then travel to Goa to complete the required ocean dives with FlyingFish.

This is an official SSI training structure. SSI keeps the same standards across all certified centres, so your pool training at home counts in full toward your certification at FlyingFish.

This program suits students who want to get the theory and pool skills done near home (often cheaper and easier to fit in) and then do their open water certification dives in warm, clear water rather than a cold or murky local quarry.

The Referral Program Split — Home Centre & FlyingFish

Completed at Your Home SSI Centre

SSI eLearningAll 5 knowledge development sections completed and reviewed with your home instructor.

5 Confined Water SessionsAll pool/confined water sessions completed and signed off by your home instructor. Full skill performance verified.

Completed at FlyingFish Goa

Open Water Dive 1 — 12m Skill ConsolidationDemonstrate core skills (mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy, CESA) in the ocean for the first time.

Open Water Dive 2 — 12m Continued AssessmentBuddy air sharing, navigation, increasing comfort in ocean conditions.

Open Water Dive 3 — 18m ExplorationDeeper dive, reduced skill focus, increasing exploration. Instructor confirms progression.

Open Water Dive 4 — 18m Certification DiveFinal assessment. All skills confirmed. Certification issued.

Requirements for the Referral Program

SSI Referral documentation from your home SSI centre

All eLearning sections completed

All 5 confined water sessions completed and instructor-verified

Age 10 or older

Referral valid for 12 months from issue date

Contact us before travelling to confirm your referral documentation is in order. We can verify your SSI Student ID with SSI headquarters if documentation is missing.

Ocean Certification Dives at Grandé Island, Goa

Your 4 open water dives take place at Grandé Island — 30 minutes by speedboat from Novotel Candolim.

Grandé Island Reef

5–18m · All levels

Coral gardens, moray eels, snappers, parrotfish. The primary training reef — gentle conditions and rich marine life.

Suzy's Wreck

12–18m · OW+

British-era vessel thick with soft coral. Resident groupers, blue-spotted stingrays, moray eels. Light-zone penetration possible.

Sail Rock

14–24m · AOW recommended

Rocky pinnacle with currents and pelagics. Eagle rays, drift diving. One of Goa's most dynamic dive sites.

Shelter Cove

6–14m · All levels

Protected bay, very gentle. Nudibranchs, pipefish, seahorses. Ideal for skill-focused dives without current distraction.

Bounty Bay

5–12m · All levels

Shallow reef for long bottom times. Macro life — nudibranchs, ornate ghost pipefish. Great for photography and hover practice.

Most referral students find their first ocean dive blows the pool sessions away. Warm water, marine life and natural light make it a completely different experience. The 4 certification dives cover the same skills you practised in the pool, just somewhere much better.

What Is Included in This Course

4 open water certification dives at Grandé Island

SSI Certified Instructor throughout

Full ScubaPro equipment rental

Boat rides to and from the island

Tanks and weights

SSI Open Water Diver certification card

Not Included

SSI eLearning (completed at home centre)
Pool sessions (completed at home centre)
Accommodation
Personal expenses

Certification: Your digital certification card is issued immediately upon successful completion. You are certified before you leave Goa and can dive anywhere in the world.

After Your Certification — Dive Anywhere

SSI Open Water Diver certification — recognised at 3,000+ dive centres globally

Dive the same Grandé Island sites as a certified independent diver immediately after certification

Add SSI Advanced Open Water for 30m depth access

Add SSI Enriched Air Nitrox for extended bottom times

FlyingFish fun dives are available to certified divers from Day 1 post-cert

Your certification is issued as a standard SSI Open Water Diver — identical to a student who completed the full course at FlyingFish. No annotation distinguishes referral completions.

Why take your course with FlyingFish in Goa

Here's what actually sets us apart, minus the sales talk.

ScubaPro Equipment — Maintained on Schedule

Pro-grade gear serviced every 100 dives or 6 months, not when it fails. MK25/S620 regulator, Hydros Pro BCD, Aladin Sport dive computer. You train on the same equipment working instructors use.

Maximum 4:1 Diver-to-Instructor Ratio

Your instructor knows where you are underwater at all times. No crowded groups. If a skill needs more practice, you get the time — not the time left over after 8 other students.

Both SSI and PADI Certifications at One Centre

We teach both agencies at the same location. You choose which certification fits your future dive plans. We give you honest advice, not a push toward whichever we sell more of.

Professional Base at 5-Star Novotel Candolim

Proper briefing rooms, clean equipment rinsing stations, structured course schedule. The difference between a dive school and a beach shack matters when you are doing a multi-day certification course.

We Communicate With Your Home Centre If Needed

Occasionally, referral paperwork has gaps or ambiguities. We work directly with your home SSI centre to resolve any issues before your first ocean dive — rather than turning you away or making you wait. Our experience with international referral students means we know how to handle common documentation issues quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

The outcome is the same — you complete your 4 ocean certification dives at FlyingFish and receive your SSI Open Water Diver certification. The two pages serve slightly different audiences: the Referral Course (953) is oriented toward students who started their certification elsewhere and have a referral form ready; this page (Referral Program) explains the full split-training concept including the home centre component. The process at FlyingFish is identical.

Bring any documentation your home centre issued — skill sign-off sheets, referral forms, and your SSI Student ID. A printed or digital referral form is the key document. If you only have digital records, a PDF on your phone is acceptable.

Yes — certified divers can join fun dives at Grandé Island from Day 1 after certification. If you arrive a day before your referral dives are scheduled, you can book a fun dive in the meantime (as a pre-certified diver with an instructor present).

Contact SSI international directly — they maintain centralised student records for enrolled students. We can assist with the verification process. In most cases, your digital eLearning completion is verifiable through your SSI account regardless of what happens to the home centre's physical records.

The Referral Program at FlyingFish covers only the ocean dive component — which is less expensive than the full course that includes eLearning, pool sessions, and ocean dives. Whether the total cost (home centre + FlyingFish) is less than doing everything at FlyingFish depends on your home centre's pricing. The benefit is primarily convenience — pool training near home, ocean dives in a better environment.

SSI referrals are typically valid for 12 months from issue date. After 12 months, pool skill proficiency is assessed — if skills have lapsed, a refresh pool session is required before ocean dives can proceed. Referrals do not expire in terms of knowledge development (eLearning) — only the practical (pool) skill sign-off has a time component.

₹17,820

per person, GST extra

Add another course at bundle price

SSI Advanced Open Water +₹19,800~~₹21,780~~

Add-ons

SSI Nitrox specialty Dive longer on enriched air +₹6,930 Extra guided fun dive after certification Use your new skills at Grande Island +₹3,940 GoPro rental + edited video Edited video of your dives +₹1,485 Private 1-on-1 instructor Go at your own pace +₹5,940

Your total per person₹17,820 GST extra

Book Now

Book with ₹5,000 per person. Balance and GST at the dive centre.

Book via WhatsApp +91 92092 47825

SSI Certified Dive Centre in Goa

What Our Divers Say

Real Reviews from Real Divers

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what our guests say on Google and TripAdvisor.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 568 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Rajneesh Kumar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Professional staff with all safety measures and excellent service and support...!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   MarvelouSiddharth 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Best scuba school in goa highly recommended!

My wife and I had an amazing experience with Flying Fish Scuba School and instructor Sunny. Despite her never having been in a swimming pool, my wife completed her dive course successfully thanks to their incredible support and professionalism. If you want quality instruction and genuine care—not scams—this is the place. 100% worth it!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mahesh g.warrier 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had a great experience.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Manna Singh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was priceless movement...i must recommend this as they are very professional....i was scared before start but dinesh the instructor he make me very comfortable  and then i came back for and turn ....it was grt grt time i spent at the sea bed ....and really  thanks amitab sir i really appreciate for last min call for second time...and u accepted....lots of love....
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Pranav Jagtap 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. you are looking for scuba diving in Goa, you’ve likely noticed dozens of operators offering "5-in-1" water sports combos at low prices. As a tourist, I was skeptical of these "scammy" setups. I decided to go with FlyingFish Scuba School (based at the Novotel Resort) based on the review It was definitely the right call and I can easily say it's the BEST scuba diving experience in Goa.

The Training & Team
The experience started with a thorough pool session, which was incredibly helpful for getting comfortable with the gear and breathing techniques before heading into open water. A huge shoutout to Mr. Dinesh and Ms. Maitri, they were phenomenal. Both were professional, friendly, and reliable, which is exactly what you want when you’re 10-12 meters underwater.

The Dive (Scuba 40)
I opted for the 40-minute dive. The marine life was beautiful; I saw a variety of fish and healthy coral reefs. They also provided video footage from an action camera, which was a great bonus.
Note on visibility: While the shipwreck is a major draw, we couldn't see it during my session due to visibility issues. It’s worth keeping in mind that nature doesn't always cooperate, but the rest of the dive more than made up for it.

Facilities & Logistics
The logistics were handled very well:

Changing Rooms: Clean and accessible facilities to change out of wet clothes both after the pool session and after returning from the jetty.

Refreshments: Proper snacks were provided, which were much appreciated after the energy-intensive dive.

Safety: The 1:1 instructor-to-student ratio during the dive made the whole experience feel very secure.

Verdict
If you want a "real" diving experience rather than a rushed tourist activity, this is a solid choice. It felt safe, organized, and honest. FlyingFish scuba surely made th diving experience memorable!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Gurkirpal Bedi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really great experience, Unique concept of 40 plus 40 min dives, Very good dive sites and the whole team is so good and helpful...A big thank you to Anirudh and Dinesh Bhai, enjoyed a lot and will come back for the course...And Thank you Amitabh Sir too...
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Joseph Durfey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend! Dive master was super knowledgeable and professional. Took good care of us. Thank you
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Abdul Waheed 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Best experience we ever had
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Anshul Tembhurne 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. - Did an Open Water DiverScuba course with flying fish scuba in goa. This course stands out because at the same course price across India you get 4+2 speciality course dives, which can hugely improve your performance. As there base is at novotel candolim, you get better convenience if you decide to stay at the resort.

- Our instructor was Anirudh. He was amazing, supportive and clarified all our doubts. You can trust him and his experience. You will learn a lot over the duration of course.

- Dive sites are amazing both the wreck and coral colony.

Happy Diving!

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 381 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Road50855370209 
 
 
 
 Verified First scuba experience
It was my first diving experience. I chose flying fish scuba school and was very happy to have chosen this center. They guided me properly. I had an amazing dive and a great experience.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Freedom58686498324 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba
Very good experience to much friendly staff members they help you
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Travel25055630721 
 
 
 
 Verified 40+40 scuba diving
It’s spell bounding experience, I can’t express my happiness. I took 40+40 min long scuba diving . That was intensive and tedious though. I was very eager to see corals and under water 🗺️ world. My instructor Dinesh who truly genuine, with lot of patience listened to me because I was very very anxious once dived into sea!!! I almost gave up, but I asked him 5 mins and repeated the same pool training, eventually I made it😍❣️!! I dived deep equalising my ears often as I have sinusitis problem that caused sharp pain in my ears. My instructor was really helpful and cooperative. Thank you flyingfish scuba for making my dive easier and possible 🪸💖💙
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Dwarkesh 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba Nitrox
Great experience with Ashish & Dinesh! Will come back here next time as well!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Curiosity20059827591 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba
Staff members are excellent!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sunshine49195324825 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba
Ashish was an excellent scuba diving trainer and made the whole experience very comfortable. He explained everything clearly and was very patient, especially with beginners. I felt completely safe and confident under his guidance. His calm nature and professionalism made the dive even more enjoyable. Highly recommend Ashish to anyone trying scuba diving for the first time!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Voyager55147331857 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba
Excellent experience with team of the Novotel 👍
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Excursion31003926877 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba diving
Best service provider best experience of life very well trained and professional staff
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   FarAway38541753570 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba diving
Very good experience and had a nice time
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   OnAir49110026021 
 
 
 
 Verified Scuba
It was fun and comfortable around them first scuba diving totally worth each penny