The SSI Scuba Rangers Program is a club that offers numerous diving activities for children ages 8 - 12. Safety is a top priority and Scuba Rangers programs are only taught by specially trained instructors in a pool, or under confined water conditions in a protected area up to a maximum depth of 5 meters. You will earn the Scuba Rangers recognition rating.
SSI Releases its Highly Anticipated Kid’s Program - SSI Explorers
September 27, 2022
SSI is excited to announce the release of the SSI Explorers Program, where kids
aged 6-11 years old can get a taste of the many ways to explore the aquatic
world around them. This exciting program makes diving for kids stress-free,
guiding them in engaging underwater adventures where they can scuba dive, act
like a real mermaid, and go underwater on a single breath with freediving. SSI
has invested much time and energy into re-vamping this child-centered experience
program.
Formerly known as Scuba Rangers, the new SSI Explorers Program is today’s most
extensive aquatic experience program for kids in the dive industry. Children who
have not yet reached the minimum age for scuba diving will not only gain a solid
foundation in ocean conservation, but they will have the opportunity to
experience four main aquatic adventures and many specialties.
Your young aquatic explorer will join Emma and Nico on exciting underwater
adventures with their marine friends, Star the starfish, Shelly the sea turtle,
and Spike the shark. The comprehensive children’s manual is very engaging, with
colorful cartoon drawings and authentic ocean images for this young audience.
Emma and Nico guide children throughout the manual’s educational content in a
fun and engaging way, using Spike as their equipment expert and Shelly as the
ocean environment advocate.
The SSI Explorers materials start by introducing children to the importance of
protecting and preserving our oceans by becoming a Blue Oceans Explorer. After
learning why our oceans are important, about the world’s five oceans, and what
they can do to help protect our oceans, students earn the SSI Blue Oceans
Explorer recognition rating. They can then move on to learn all there is to know
about snorkel equipment and snorkeling in a confined water environment to earn
their Snorkel Explorer rating.
After completing these two initial experiences, SSI Explorers can choose from
one of three aquatic adventures and either become a Scuba Explorer, Mermaid
Explorer, or Freediving Explorer. Better yet, they can continue on to earn all
three ratings!
SSI Mermaid Explorers get to swim around like real mermaids while improving
their swimming skills. SSI Freediving Explorers will go underwater and dive
deeper by holding their breath longer in an encouraging, relaxed environment.
Explorers who have not met the minimum age for scuba diving can try it out
within the safety of a pool or confined water and become an SSI Scuba Explorer.
The fun doesn’t stop there, however! SSI Explorers can go on even more
underwater adventures to earn 22 different Specialty Explorer ratings. They can
improve their explorer skills with exciting specialties like Underwater Model
Explorer, Rescue Explorer, Shark Ecology Explorer, and Search & Rescue Explorer,
just to name a few. Your child can earn the Specialty Explorer recognition
rating by completing two Explorer specialties. When they complete four
specialties, they will become Advanced Explorers, and after completing the
Rescue Explorer specialty, they can become a Master Explorer. SSI Explorers will
even be able to earn real C-Cards just like their parents to show off their
hard-earned recognition ratings.
To look back on their explorer fun, SSI has included a logbook section toward
the back of the colorfully engaging SSI Explorers manual. The Explorer Logbook
is where students can record details of their underwater adventures as they work
through these exciting experiences. Near the logbook, SSI has also included an
area for the Explorer Instructor to place an SSI recognition sticker specific to
each completed explorer activity. Children will be excited to work toward
earning them all!
In addition to English, the SSI Explorers program will be available as a book or
digitally in three languages: German, Spanish, and Italian, with more languages
hopefully coming soon.
Training the next generation of ocean lovers and aquatic enthusiasts is very
important to SSI and all SSI Training Centers and Pros. The SSI Explorers
Program is an excellent way to promote ocean conservation and aquatic safety in
our younger population and prepare them for future open water certification
opportunities once they reach the minimum age for scuba diving.