Advanced Training
SSI Specialty Courses
Go deeper, dive longer, explore further. Private SSI Specialty courses taught one-on-one at Bali's most extraordinary dive sites.
Beyond Open Water
Your Open Water Certification Was the Beginning. This Is Where It Gets Exciting.
Your Open Water Diver certification gave you the fundamentals — how to breathe, how to descend, how to stay safe. But it also opened a door. SSI Specialty courses take you through that door and into the areas of diving that genuinely excite you: descending to 40 metres along dramatic walls, diving at night when the ocean transforms, exploring World War II shipwrecks, or extending your bottom time with enriched air nitrox.
At most dive shops, Specialty courses are taught in groups with mixed experience levels and generic site selection. With Boutique Diving Bali, every Specialty is taught privately — one-on-one with Dominic at the dive sites in Bali that are specifically suited to that specialty. Deep Diving at Tulamben's Drop-Off. Wreck Diving on the USAT Liberty. Night Diving where the nocturnal marine life is richest. The right training at the right site makes all the difference.
Each Specialty you complete also builds toward SSI's recognition ratings — from Specialty Diver through Advanced Open Water Diver to the prestigious Master Diver. Dominic can help you plan a pathway that matches your ambitions, whether you want to complete one specialty this trip or build toward Master Diver over multiple visits.
Choose Your Specialty
Which SSI specialty courses are available in Bali?
Each specialty is taught privately — one-on-one with Dominic at the dive sites best suited for that training.
| Specialty | Depth | Dives | Best site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Diving | 18–40 metres | 3 open water dives | Tulamben Drop-Off, USAT Liberty deep sections |
| Enriched Air Nitrox | Up to 40 metres | Theory + optional dives | Any dive site — Nitrox improves every dive |
| Night Diving & Limited Visibility | Up to 30 metres | 2 open water dives | Tulamben — rich nocturnal marine life |
| Wreck Diving | Up to 30 metres | 2 open water dives | USAT Liberty wreck, Tulamben |
| Navigation | Up to 30 metres | 2 open water dives | Sites with clear reference points around Tulamben and Amed |
| Photo & Video | Up to 30 metres | 2 open water dives | Seraya Secrets (macro), Coral Garden, Jemeluk Bay |
Deep Diving
Explore deeper wrecks, coral walls, and reef systems. Learn to plan and execute dives between 18 and 40 metres safely — including gas management, narcosis awareness, and deep dive procedures.
Best site: Tulamben Drop-Off, USAT Liberty deep sections
Enriched Air Nitrox
Extend your bottom time, shorten surface intervals, and reduce fatigue. Learn to plan and dive with enriched air mixtures up to 40% oxygen. The most practical specialty for multi-dive days.
Best site: Any dive site — Nitrox improves every dive
Night Diving & Limited Visibility
Discover the ocean after dark — when entirely different marine life emerges. Learn torch techniques, navigation in darkness, communication signals, and how to manage limited visibility conditions.
Best site: Tulamben — rich nocturnal marine life
Wreck Diving
Explore iconic shipwrecks safely. Learn penetration assessment, buoyancy control near structures, line techniques, and how to navigate around and above wreck environments.
Best site: USAT Liberty wreck, Tulamben
Navigation
Never feel lost underwater again. Master compass navigation, natural reference techniques, distance estimation, and multi-leg navigation patterns that make every dive more confident.
Best site: Sites with clear reference points around Tulamben and Amed
Photo & Video
Capture your dive highlights and marine life encounters. Learn underwater camera techniques, composition, lighting basics, and how to take images that do justice to what you see below the surface.
Best site: Seraya Secrets (macro), Coral Garden, Jemeluk Bay
Also available: Perfect Buoyancy · Waves, Tides & Currents · Diver Stress & Rescue · Equipment Techniques · Science of Diving — ask Dominic about any specialty that interests you.
What You Get
The Private Specialty Experience
One-on-One Instruction
Every Specialty is taught privately. No group dynamics, no waiting. Dominic's full attention is on developing your skills.
Best-Site Matching
Each Specialty is taught at the Bali dive site specifically suited for that training — not a generic location chosen for group convenience.
Combine Multiple Specialties
Complete two or three Specialties in one trip. Dominic plans the sequence and site selection for maximum learning and enjoyment.
Theory Before Arrival
Complete the digital academics online before you arrive. Your time in Bali is spent in the water, not in a classroom.
Flexible Scheduling
One day or two. Morning or afternoon. Fit your Specialty training around your holiday — not the other way around.
Path to Master Diver
Every Specialty counts toward SSI recognition ratings. Dominic helps you plan a pathway that builds toward your diving goals.
The SSI Pathway
How do I work toward Master Diver?
Every Specialty you complete and every dive you log counts toward SSI's recognition ratings. Here is the pathway.
Specialty Diver
2 Specialties + 12 logged divesYour first recognition beyond Open Water. Demonstrates commitment to developing your diving skills across multiple areas.
Advanced Open Water Diver
4 Specialties + 24 logged divesA significant milestone. Shows you have broad experience across multiple diving environments and techniques.
Master Diver
4 Specialties + Stress & Rescue + 50 logged divesOne of the most elite ratings in recreational diving. Combines deep knowledge, diverse skills, and substantial real-world experience.
Who Are Specialties For?
Whether You Are Newly Certified or Chasing Master Diver
Recently Certified Divers
Just finished your Open Water? Nitrox and Deep Diving are the logical next steps — they open up more sites and longer bottom times immediately.
Holiday Divers
Add a Specialty to your Bali diving holiday. One or two extra days of focused training transforms a fun trip into a skills-building experience.
Experienced Divers
Fill gaps in your training. Navigation, Stress & Rescue, and Night Diving are specialties that make every future dive safer and more enjoyable.
Wreck Enthusiasts
Bali's USAT Liberty is one of the world's most accessible wrecks. There is no better place to earn your Wreck Diving specialty.
Underwater Photographers
Bali's macro sites and coral gardens are a photographer's paradise. The Photo & Video specialty teaches you to capture what you see.
Master Diver Candidates
Planning your path to SSI Master Diver? Dominic can structure multiple specialties across one or more trips to get you there.
Common Questions
Everything You Need to Know
Boutique Diving Bali offers a wide range of SSI Specialty programs including Deep Diving (to 40 metres), Enriched Air Nitrox (32% and 40%), Night Diving and Limited Visibility, Wreck Diving, Navigation, Perfect Buoyancy, Waves Tides and Currents, Photo and Video, Diver Stress and Rescue, and more. If there is a specific specialty you are interested in that is not listed, ask Dominic — he can arrange it or advise on the best path forward.
Most SSI Specialty courses require an Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent from any agency). Some specialties have additional requirements — for example, Deep Diving may require a minimum number of logged dives, and Diver Stress and Rescue requires an Advanced Adventurer rating. Dominic will assess your current certification level and dive experience during the initial conversation and recommend the specialties that match where you are as a diver.
Most SSI Specialty courses take one to two days to complete, depending on the specialty. Each includes academic sessions (completed online before arrival or reviewed in person) and two to three open water training dives. Because your course is fully private, the schedule is flexible — you can complete a specialty in a single focused day or spread it across multiple days to fit your holiday plans.
Absolutely — and this is one of the smartest ways to advance your diving. Many divers combine two or three specialties during a Bali trip, for example Deep Diving and Nitrox, or Night Diving and Navigation. Dominic will help you plan a combination that makes sense for your experience level and the time you have available. Completing multiple specialties also earns you SSI recognition ratings like Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and ultimately Master Diver.
As you complete Specialty programs and log dives, SSI automatically awards recognition ratings. With 2 specialties and 12 logged dives you earn Specialty Diver. With 4 specialties and 24 logged dives you earn Advanced Open Water Diver. With 4 specialties plus Diver Stress and Rescue and 50 logged dives you earn the prestigious Master Diver rating — one of the highest achievements in recreational diving. Dominic can help you plan a pathway that builds toward whichever goal excites you.
Each specialty is matched to the dive sites where it makes the most sense. Deep Diving training happens at Tulamben's famous Drop-Off and the USAT Liberty wreck. Wreck Diving naturally centres on the Liberty wreck — one of the most accessible and beautiful wrecks in the world. Night Diving takes place at sites with rich nocturnal marine life. Navigation training uses sites with clear reference points. Dominic selects the best site for each specialty based on conditions that day.
Every course is individually priced based on the specific specialty, the number of dives required, and whether you are combining multiple courses. Because all instruction is fully private, pricing is prepared as a bespoke proposal after Dominic understands your goals and experience level. There are no hidden costs and no standard group rates. Reach out via WhatsApp or email to discuss your interests.
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Take the Next Step
Ready to Go Deeper?
Tell Dominic which specialties interest you, your current certification level, and when you are visiting Bali. He will build a personalised training plan and proposal.
Or email directly: [email protected]