Unique Specialties Development Description Unique Specialties are courses developed by Advanced Instructors or higher, not by SSI. They meet training requirements for Specialty Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Master Diver certifications. An individual Unique Specialties certification card is also issued. Intent The intent of the Unique Specialties program is to provide a method for SSI Dealers to broaden the specialties they can offer. Numerous parts of the country have unique types of diving requiring specialized training. Many Dealers have unique areas of expertise they teach to divers. The program also offers a way for Dealers in resort areas to make every dive they conduct a specialty dive. This makes each dive a training opportunity, which increases sales of specialties. Procedures To register a Unique Specialty course, an Advanced Open Water or higher level Instructor simply provides an original course outline to SSI, or co-teaches the course with an already approved Instructor. To teach the course and issue certifications for it, Instructors must have the specialty registered at SSI. Creating a new Unique Specialty The Instructor creating the outline must be rated as an SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor or above. Develop a course outline meeting the following requirements: Meet all SSI Training Standards for Specialty Diving Courses. Meet the intent of other SSI Specialty Courses, which is to introduce and familiarize students with diving activities and provide limited experience. Include at least two open water training dives and one lecture. It may have optional pool sessions. Limit required equipment to recreational scuba diving equipment. Lecture sessions should have provisions for objectives, materials, outline and summary. Water sessions should have provisions for objectives, materials, orientation, exercises and evaluation. Develop a resume of practical experience in the specialty area. List previous experience and certifications you have in each specialty area. Also include any additonal formal training you may have in each specialty, how many dives you have in each area and why you feel qualified to teach this specialty. Submit the outline and resume to the Instructor Services department. If the outline is approved, the outline will be retained in the Dealer affiliate's file, and the Instructor is approved to teach the course, issue Unique Specialty certifications, and co-teach the specialty to another Advanced Open Water Instructor. If the outline is not approved, it will be returned with an explanation of what to change. It can be resubmitted. Learning a Unique Specialty from a Qualified Instructor Be rated as an SSI Open Water Instructor or higher. Co-teach the specialty with an Advanced Open Water Instructor, or above, qualified to teach that specialty. Submit a Specialty & Advanced Open Water Instructor Verification Form to the Instructor Services department.