SSI Blue Oceans
You've seen a reef that looked vibrant and alive. You may have also seen one that didn't: bleached, quiet, missing fish that should have been there.
Divers see ocean health up close in a way most people never do. Blue Oceans covers what's actually driving the changes you've witnessed, what conservation work is genuinely effective, and concrete ways to get involved.
Availability: Contact us for booking information
Most of the Concern About Ocean Health Stays Vague. This Course Replaces It With Specifics.
The ocean’s biggest problems are human-made, and the solutions involve human behavior. Blue Oceans moves past general environmental awareness to specific: what is actually harming marine ecosystems, what everyday choices reduce your impact, and how to translate concern into action that reaches further than just your own diving.
Self-paced digital academics open to everyone, no diving certification required. $150. Optional open water application dive for certified divers. View the Dive Calendar →
Blue Oceans Is for the Diver Who Wants to Do Something, Not Just Feel Concerned
You care about ocean health and want to know what actually helps
The course covers which actions have real impact and which are mostly symbolic, and how to build habits that matter.
You visit reefs around the world and want to leave them better than you found them
Understanding what damages reefs and what protects them changes how you interact with every site you visit.
You want to understand marine ecosystem threats in depth
Blue Oceans covers pollution, overfishing, climate impacts, and the science behind ocean degradation in clear, applied terms.
You want to motivate other divers and non-divers around you
The course includes how to share knowledge and encourage better habits in your diving community and beyond.
Course at a Glance
| Price | $150 |
| Format | Self-paced digital academics via MySSI app · no diving required for academic completion |
| Time commitment | Self-paced academics (3–5 hours) · optional open water dive for certified divers |
| Prerequisites | None for academics · Open Water Diver for optional application dive |
| Minimum age | Open to all |
| Certification awarded | SSI Blue Oceans · lifetime, recognized worldwide |
| CE lane | Explore & Enrich → |
Ready to do something about it?
SSI Blue Oceans — $150 · Austin, TX
Self-paced academics, open to everyone. Call (512) 451-3425.
View the Dive Calendar →Self-Paced Academics That Move From Understanding to Action.
Digital academics through the MySSI app, self-paced and open to anyone, with an optional open water conservation dive for certified divers.
Major threats facing oceans: pollution pathways, overfishing and bycatch, climate-driven bleaching, habitat destruction, and invasive species. Specific rather than general.
How everyday choices reduce your footprint: waste, single-use plastics, energy, consumer seafood choices, and responsible travel. Which actions have measurable impact.
How to interact with marine environments without causing damage: buoyancy, touch discipline, photography without impact, and site-specific guidelines that vary by location.
Participating in cleanups, citizen science, and community education. How to motivate others and build habits that extend beyond your own diving.
For certified divers: a conservation-focused dive applying responsible diver behaviors, site assessment, and cleanup participation where available.
Specific Knowledge and Practical Habits That Help
- Understanding of the major threats facing marine ecosystems and their causes
- Specific everyday actions with measurable impact on ocean health
- Responsible diver behaviors that protect the sites you visit
- Ability to participate in and motivate conservation action in your diving community
We Build Divers We Would Trust With Our Own Families.
Tom’s is Austin’s home for SSI conservation education. The SSI Blue Oceans program connects classroom knowledge to action both underwater and beyond. Divers who take this course dive differently at every site they visit afterward.
Tom’s has been Austin’s only SSI Dive Center since 1982, open longer than any other Austin dive shop still in business. Over 400 five-star Google reviews.
No Diving Certification Required for Academics
Non-divers, student divers, and certified divers all benefit from Blue Oceans. The academic content is complete without a dive.
Open Longer Than Any Other Austin Dive Shop Still in Business
Four decades of teaching divers to care for the environments they dive in.
Combine With Marine Ecology for Deeper Context
Marine Ecology teaches you to read the reef. Blue Oceans teaches you to protect it. They pair naturally.
30+ Tom’s Instructors
Tom’s instructor team can facilitate the optional conservation dive and answer questions specific to your diving destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The academic portion is open to everyone. Only the optional application dive requires Open Water certification.
Marine Ecology teaches you to read and identify what you see underwater: reef structure, species behavior, ecosystem roles. Blue Oceans focuses on threats, conservation actions, and your personal impact. They complement each other well.
Yes. Blue Oceans is designed to be valuable for anyone who cares about ocean health, whether or not they dive.
Not for the academic portion. The optional open water dive requires an SSI Medical Statement.
Ready to take action?
SSI Blue Oceans — $150 · Austin, TX
Call (512) 451-3425 to enroll.
View the Dive Calendar →