SSI Scuba Diver Course in Goa

  • SSI Certified
  • 2 Days
  • 12m max
₹17,820per person, GST extra
Book Now
Entry Level
Duration
2 Days
Max depth
12m max
Certification
SSI
Category
Course

Highlights

  • Internationally recognised SSI certification
  • 2-day fast-track to certified diver
  • Dive up to 12m with a professional
  • Upgrade to Open Water anytime later

SSI Scuba Diver — your first scuba certification in Goa

Duration
2 Days
Max Depth
12m
Ocean Dives
2
Cert Level
SSI Scuba Diver

The SSI Scuba Diver is a real scuba certification you can finish in just 2 days. You earn an internationally recognised SSI card that lets you dive to 12 metres, always with a dive professional alongside you.

It's the fastest way to go from zero experience to a certified diver in Goa. Once you've finished, you can upgrade to the full SSI Open Water Diver certification whenever you like by completing the remaining dives. Your progress carries over.

Who it is for: Travellers short on time who want a real scuba certification, not just a try-dive. It's also a good starting point if you're not sure you want the full 3–4 day commitment yet.

SSI Scuba Diver — what you'll learn

The course covers the basics of recreational scuba diving: theory, pool skills, and two ocean dives.

SSI Digital Learning MaterialsSelf-paced theory covering basic dive physics, equipment function, dive planning fundamentals, and important safety rules.
Pool Training SessionsConfined water skills: buoyancy basics, mask clearing, regulator recovery, controlled ascents, buddy checks.
Ocean Dive 1 — Skill ConsolidationFirst ocean dive at Grandé Island at approximately 10–12m. Practice pool skills in open water under instructor supervision.
Ocean Dive 2 — Guided ExplorationSecond dive with more exploration focus. Your instructor guides you through the reef while you practice buoyancy and awareness.
Certification AssessmentInstructor evaluates your comfort, skill execution, and safety awareness across the course. No written exam.
Upgrade path: The SSI Scuba Diver course counts toward SSI Open Water Diver. If you want the full independent certification later, you only need to complete the remaining dives — you do not start over.

Who can take the SSI Scuba Diver course

Age 10 years or older
Ability to swim 200m unaided (or 300m with mask, fins and snorkel)
No prior scuba experience required
Basic medical fitness — complete a medical form on Day 1
Comfortable in open water
If you've already done our Confined Water experience, you're halfway there. The pool skills from that session carry straight over.

Your 2 ocean dives — Grandé Island, Goa

Both ocean dives are at Grandé Island, about 30 minutes by boat from Candolim. The island has several sites that work well for certification dives: calm, clear water with plenty of marine life.

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.

For SSI Scuba Diver students: Dives are at Grandé Reef and Shelter Cove — both shallow enough for the 12m limit, both with good visibility and interesting marine life. Eagle rays, parrotfish, moray eels and the occasional turtle are common sightings.

What's included in this course

SSI Digital Learning Materials
Pool training sessions
2 open water dives at Grandé Island
Full ScubaPro equipment rental
Boat rides to and from the island
SSI Scuba Diver certification card
Insurance coverage

Not Included

  • Optional video editing
  • Personal expenses
  • Damage to rental equipment
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 SSI Scuba Diver certification

Your SSI Scuba Diver certification is a real, internationally recognised qualification. It does come with one limitation:

Important: The SSI Scuba Diver cert allows you to dive to 12m maximum, always with a qualified SSI Professional. You cannot dive independently with just a buddy. If you want independent diving to 18m, you need to upgrade to SSI Open Water Diver.
Dive at any SSI-affiliated centre worldwide with a professional
Upgrade to SSI Open Water Diver by completing the remaining dives — your current progress counts
Continue straight to SSI Advanced Open Water if you upgrade first
Use this as your entry point into a full diving career

Why take your course with FlyingFish in Goa

Here's what actually sets us apart, minus the marketing fluff.

ScubaPro gear, serviced 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 kit our working instructors use.

Maximum 4:1 diver-to-instructor ratio

Your instructor always knows where you are underwater. No crowded groups. If a skill needs more practice, you get the time, not whatever's left over after 8 other students.

Both SSI and PADI certifications at one centre

We teach both agencies at the same location, so you can pick the certification that fits your future dive plans. You get honest advice, not a push toward whichever we sell more of.

A proper base at 5-star Novotel Candolim

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

A 2-day schedule built around you

We arrange the Scuba Diver course so pool training and ocean dives flow naturally across 2 days. No early starts that clash with your travel plans; we adapt the schedule to suit you.

Frequently Asked Questions

SSI Scuba Diver is a limited certification — you can dive to 12m but must always be accompanied by a qualified dive professional. SSI Open Water Diver is the full independent certification that allows you to dive with a certified buddy to 18m at any dive centre worldwide, without a professional present.

Yes — and your progress carries forward. The Scuba Diver course counts toward the Open Water Diver requirements. You only need to complete the remaining confined water sessions and open water dives to earn the full certification. You do not start over.

Yes. It is an internationally recognised SSI certification accepted at SSI-affiliated centres worldwide. The key limitation is that you must dive with a professional escort — most dive centres can accommodate this on guided dives and fun dives.

The SSI Scuba Diver course is specifically designed to cover the essential skills for safe diving within a limited scope — 12m with professional supervision. It is not cutting corners; it is a deliberately limited certification. The full Open Water Diver is the next step.

At Grandé Island's reef sites, certification dive students regularly encounter parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, and barracuda. Hawksbill turtles are occasional sightings. Your dive guide will point out species during the dive.

The SSI Scuba Diver course has no written exam — assessment is practical. If a skill needs more practice, your instructor will work through it with you. We do not fail students arbitrarily — if you need an extra pool session, we arrange it.
A FlyingFish divemaster checking coral on an underwater cleanup dive
Trash-Free Thursday

Dive with a purpose

Every Thursday our team heads out and clears whatever rubbish we can find on the reef and in the water.

Want to help? Ask us about joining a cleanup dive.

Ask about cleanup dives
Dive Club

Keep diving all year

Certified divers get 12 months of unlimited dives at Grande Island for ₹19,800 + GST.

See Dive Club
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.

Posted on Google Google
Rajneesh Kumar profile picture
Rajneesh Kumar
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Professional staff with all safety measures and excellent service and support...!!
Posted on Google Google
MarvelouSiddharth profile picture
MarvelouSiddharth
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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 Google
Mahesh g.warrier profile picture
Mahesh g.warrier
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Had a great experience.
Posted on Google Google
Manna Singh profile picture
Manna Singh
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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 Google
Pranav Jagtap profile picture
Pranav Jagtap
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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 Google
Gurkirpal Bedi profile picture
Gurkirpal Bedi
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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 Google
Joseph Durfey profile picture
Joseph Durfey
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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 Google
Abdul Waheed profile picture
Abdul Waheed
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Best experience we ever had
Posted on Google Google
Anshul Tembhurne profile picture
Anshul Tembhurne
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex 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!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Road50855370209 profile picture
Road50855370209
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
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.
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Freedom58686498324 profile picture
Freedom58686498324
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Scuba Very good experience to much friendly staff members they help you
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Travel25055630721 profile picture
Travel25055630721
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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 🪸💖💙
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Dwarkesh profile picture
Dwarkesh
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Scuba Nitrox Great experience with Ashish & Dinesh! Will come back here next time as well!
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Curiosity20059827591 profile picture
Curiosity20059827591
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Scuba Staff members are excellent!
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Sunshine49195324825 profile picture
Sunshine49195324825
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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!
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Voyager55147331857 profile picture
Voyager55147331857
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Scuba Excellent experience with team of the Novotel 👍
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Excursion31003926877 profile picture
Excursion31003926877
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Scuba diving Best service provider best experience of life very well trained and professional staff
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FarAway38541753570 profile picture
FarAway38541753570
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Scuba diving Very good experience and had a nice time
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OnAir49110026021 profile picture
OnAir49110026021
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Scuba It was fun and comfortable around them first scuba diving totally worth each penny

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₹17,820per person, GST extra
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SSI Scuba Diver Course in Goa