Reviewed · SCUBA DIVING
SSI Advanced Course in Tenerife
If you like the idea of measurable progress in scuba skills, this Tenerife SSI Advanced course is interesting because you get five specialty sessions and real choice. You’re not just repeating the same thing over and over. You can tailor the experience toward what you want to get better at, with SSI specialty credits tied to each session.
Two things I really like about this setup are that scuba equipment is provided so you can pack light, and the course includes the learning materials you need for the SSI Advanced Open Water pathway. One drawback to consider is that the schedule and eligibility depend on paperwork and health checks, plus you need mandatory underwater training insurance in Tenerife.
Key points to know before you book

- Small group size (max 8): You get more attention from the instructor team.
- Five specialty sessions with credits: Each one counts toward the matching SSI specialty course.
- You choose from 15 adventure options: Pick favorites like night, deep-water, and navigation focused sessions.
- Equipment and course materials included: Less packing, less hassle.
- In Tenerife, insurance is mandatory: You can buy short coverage if your travel policy does not fit.
- Start time is 8:00 am at Sand Club: Plan your morning around an early check-in.
Why This Tenerife Course Feels Like Progress, Not Just Practice
I like scuba training that changes how you think underwater, not only what you do with your hands. This SSI Advanced Open Water course is built around skill improvement and confidence, using five adventure specialty sessions across different skill areas. That matters because advanced training is where you start handling real-world conditions with more control.
The value here is also practical. The course includes scuba equipment and learning materials, which means you are not stuck hauling gear across an airport or paying extra for rentals. And because the experience is small, you’re more likely to get the kind of feedback that actually sticks.
The instructor team is part of what makes this feel welcoming. One recent highlight in the vibe: Roberta and Andrea, with Adam supporting, are described as patient, skilled, and enthusiastic. That combination is hard to fake. It usually shows up when a school knows how to keep people calm while still pushing skills forward.
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Your 3-Day Flow, Starting at 8:00 am in Oasis del Sur
This activity runs for about three days, with the day starting at 8:00 am. The meeting point is the Sand Club, 38639 Oasis del Sur, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, and the experience ends back at the same meeting point.
Because the exact breakdown of where each session happens during the day is not spelled out here, I think of it this way: you will have multiple structured blocks across the three days, each focused on a different specialty. Expect a mix of briefing, skills work, and then your underwater practice tied to that specialty credit.
Two practical notes you should plan around:
- Diving is not recommended within 24 hours of flying. If you’re arriving from far away, schedule a buffer day if your dates allow.
- You must complete a health questionnaire before you go in the water. Some conditions can keep you from participating, so it’s smart to handle this early rather than rushing at the last minute.
Also, the course limits bookings to a maximum of 8 participants. That small cap is a big deal. It usually means less waiting, more individual help, and quicker adjustments when someone needs them.
Choosing Your Specialty Sessions From 15 Options

What makes this course stand out is that you get freedom of choice. Instead of a one-size-fits-all advanced program, you pick which specialties you want to practice. The highlights mention examples like night and deep-water sessions, plus navigation and others.
Here’s why that choice can be worth real money. Advanced training is personal. Maybe you want better situational awareness for finding your way back. Maybe you want to feel more comfortable operating at depth. Maybe you want to build confidence in low-light environments. When you can select specialties that match your goals, you tend to leave with stronger confidence, not just new paperwork.
A key detail: each specialty session you complete is a valid credit for that matching SSI specialty course. That means the time you spend is not only for the moment. It’s also building blocks toward future training if you want to continue.
Specialty examples and what they help you do
You might choose:
- Night underwater session: Helps you practice staying calm and coordinated when visibility changes and familiar cues disappear.
- Deep-water underwater session: Builds control, awareness, and comfort working with the depth-related factors you can’t ignore.
- Navigation underwater session: Trains how you manage direction and orientation so you’re not guessing.
- Wreck specialty underwater session: Gives you experience around structures and the special habits needed for safer movement near them.
- One more adventure specialty from the list of 15: You’ll select based on what’s available and what fits the training plan.
I’m keeping this honest: only the examples are named here. The full list of 15 is not printed in the details you provided, so you’ll want to confirm your options directly when booking. Still, even with that limitation, the “choose your mix” concept is one of the biggest reasons this course feels flexible and fun.
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What the Included Gear and Materials Change for Your Trip
Let’s talk logistics, because that’s where many courses lose points.
Here, scuba equipment is provided, and the course includes the learning materials for the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Course. That’s a win because it reduces two pain points:
- You don’t have to bring bulky gear and worry about limits and damage during travel.
- You can focus your attention on the training and not on figuring out rental sizing.
You also get snacks during the experience. That sounds small, but it helps if you’re doing morning starts and active time on the schedule.
Not included: souvenir photos. If photo memory is part of your vacation plan, you’ll want to know you’ll be paying extra for those later.
One more practical point: the provider offers a mobile ticket. That’s the kind of low-friction detail that matters when you’re juggling travel days.
The Instructor Experience: Patient Coaching for Real Skill Gaps
If you’ve ever been disappointed by training that feels rushed, this is worth paying attention to. The feedback around Roberta and Andrea is consistent: patience, solid expertise, and enthusiasm. Adam is mentioned as part of the support team.
That matters because advanced skills often come down to tiny habits:
- How you control buoyancy and body position
- How you manage breathing and timing
- How you handle navigation decisions early, not after you get lost
- How you stay calm when conditions or light change
A patient instructor team helps you fix those habits without turning the experience into a stress test. And because the group is capped at 8, you are less likely to feel like you are on your own.
Also, this course mentions a PADI instructor accompanies you during the dives. That cross-instructor support can be a confidence boost, especially if you’re used to one certification system and you want strong coaching during the water time.
How Each Specialty Session Can Feel Different Underwater
Even if you pick similar goals, each specialty session trains a different layer of scuba confidence. Here’s how to think about the five blocks conceptually, based on the specialties named in the experience details.
1) Night underwater session, for confidence when cues change
At night, the usual light anchors are gone. You need to rely on planned routines and careful checking. I like night work for advanced students because it teaches you not to panic when the environment changes fast.
What to bring mentally: patience. You’re practicing control, not trying to impress anyone.
2) Deep-water underwater session, for better depth management
Deep-water work is where your planning and technique matter more. Even if the plan is within training limits, you will likely get practice in staying smooth as conditions shift.
What I recommend focusing on: calm breathing and steady control. Advanced training rewards the student who moves like they mean it.
3) Navigation underwater session, for finding your way on purpose
Navigation is underrated. It’s the difference between hoping and knowing. Done well, it helps you reduce wasted time and it makes every later session feel easier.
If you’re the kind of diver who sometimes relies on landmarks too much, navigation training is a reset button. It helps you build repeatable habits.
4) Wreck specialty underwater session, for smart movement around structures
A wreck specialty is where you learn to respect space, avoid random contact, and handle turns and visibility changes with discipline.
The big value is learning how to behave when your environment gets busy and attention pulls in multiple directions.
5) One additional adventure specialty from the 15 options
This is your wild card. Choose it based on your goals. If you want variety, pick a specialty that complements what you already chose. If you have a specific weakness, pick the one most directly tied to improving it.
This fifth session is often the one that makes you feel like you really customized the course.
Price and Value: Is $616.69 Fair for What You Get?
The price listed is $616.69 per person, and at first glance, that can look either like a great deal or like a lot, depending on how you compare it.
Here’s what you get that supports the value:
- Five specialty sessions across different skill areas
- SSI course learning materials included
- Scuba equipment provided
- Snacks included
- Instructor support (with Roberta and Andrea mentioned, plus support from Adam)
- Small group size with a maximum of 8
So you’re paying for instruction and structured specialty training, not just for time in the water. If you were to piece this together yourself with rentals and paid coaching, the total tends to add up quickly.
When it might not be a bargain for you:
- If you already own all your own gear and you only need very light practice, you might feel the price more.
- If you need to add the required underwater training insurance on top of your travel policy, that can nudge the total upward. The good news is the insurance options are clearly stated and you can choose daily or weekly coverage depending on how many days you need.
Bottom line: for an SSI Advanced course with five specialty credits and equipment plus materials included, $616.69 is the kind of price that often makes sense, especially if you plan to keep progressing after this.
Insurance, Health Forms, and Timing Rules You Should Not Ignore
This is the part people skim. Don’t.
- Underwater training insurance is mandatory in Tenerife. If your travel insurance does not cover it, you can arrange coverage through DiveAssure for 7 euros per day or 15 euros per week.
- You must fill out a health questionnaire prior to diving participation. Certain conditions, like asthma or heart conditions, may prevent you from participating. If you have anything in that category, ask your doctor.
- Diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended. Give yourself time to recover from travel.
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
These rules are not there to be annoying. They protect you and they protect the instructors and operator. It’s smart to handle insurance and health paperwork early so you do not run into surprises on an 8:00 am start day.
Who This SSI Advanced Course Is Best For
This course fits best if you want structured progression and flexibility. Specifically, it’s a strong match for:
- Open Water certified divers who were told by instructors that advanced training makes the next skills clearer.
- Divers who want to build confidence with coaching rather than just casual water time.
- People who like small groups and dislike feeling rushed.
- Anyone who has goals aligned with the specialty options, like navigation confidence or night confidence.
You should also be comfortable with a moderate physical fitness level requirement, since you’ll be doing active underwater training during the course days.
If you’re brand-new to scuba, this may not be the right step. But if you already have foundational experience and you want to grow fast, this is a practical way to do it.
Should You Book This SSI Advanced Course in Tenerife?
My take: book it if you want an advanced course that is structured, instructor-led, and customizable. The combination of five specialty sessions, equipment and materials provided, and a small group makes this feel like good value, not a mass-market package.
I would skip or at least double-check before booking if:
- you know you might fail the health screening,
- your travel schedule is tight enough that you cannot avoid the 24-hour flying rule,
- or you are unsure you want the specialty credits enough to justify the full cost.
If you do book, do one thing that pays off immediately: line up your insurance and health questionnaire early. Then show up on time at Sand Club around the 8:00 am start. After that, you can focus on the fun part, choosing the specialties you actually care about.
FAQ
What is included in the SSI Advanced Open Water course?
You get snacks, use of scuba equipment, and learning materials for the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver course. Five specialty sessions are included as well.
How many specialty sessions are included?
The experience includes five underwater specialty sessions.
Can I choose which specialties I do?
Yes. You have the freedom to pick from 15 types of adventure specialties, and each session earns a valid SSI credit for that specialty course.
Where do I meet, and what time does it start?
You meet at Sand Club, 38639 Oasis del Sur, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The start time is 8:00 am, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.
Is scuba equipment provided?
Yes. The experience includes the use of scuba equipment.
Do I need underwater training insurance in Tenerife?
Yes. Diving insurance is mandatory in Tenerife. If your travel insurance does not include it, you can arrange one through DiveAssure for 7 euros per day or 15 euros per week.
What if I have a medical condition or recently flew?
You will complete a health questionnaire before participating. Some preexisting medical conditions may prevent you from diving, so check with your doctor. Also, diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.
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