SSI Scuba Skills Update — Refresher Course
Your certification card has been in your wallet a lot longer than your wetsuit has been in the water.
That gap is normal, and it closes fast with the right coaching. The SSI Scuba Skills Update brings the essentials back in one pool session: equipment setup, buoyancy, mask and regulator skills, and out-of-air procedures, until it all feels automatic again.
Availability: In Stock
Haven’t Dived in a While? You’re Not Alone.
Life gets busy. Months turn into years. And suddenly the thought of getting back in the water feels a little daunting, even for certified divers. That’s exactly what the SSI Scuba Skills Update is for.
This pool-based refresher course is designed for certified divers who want to rebuild their confidence and shake off the rust before heading back to open water. Whether it’s been six months or six years, Tom’s certified SSI instructors will get you comfortable underwater again at your pace, in our warm 91°F indoor pool at 5909 Burnet Rd, Austin TX. No open water dives required. No judgment. Just you, the pool, and your skills coming back. Tom’s has helped over 18,000 Austin divers into and back into the water since 1982.
Course at a Glance
| Price | $175 per diver |
| Duration | Approximately 3 to 4 hours (classroom + pool) |
| Location | Indoor heated pool · 5909 Burnet Rd, Austin TX 78757 |
| Pool temperature | 91°F warm and comfortable year-round |
| Scheduling | Select weeknights · Most Saturday afternoons |
| Minimum age | 15 years old |
| Prerequisites | Any Open Water Diver certification SSI, PADI, NAUI, or equivalent |
| Open water dives | None required entirely pool-based |
| Private option | Private sessions available with 3 days advance notice call (512) 451-3425 |
Ready to get back in the water?
Scuba Skills Update: $175 · Austin, TX
Pool-based, no open water required. Book online or call (512) 451-3425.
Signup now!!Who Should Take the Scuba Skills Update?
The refresher course is for any certified diver who feels uncertain about getting back in the water. Here are the most common situations we see:
Before a Dive Trip
Heading to Bonaire, Cozumel, or a liveaboard? A refresher before you travel means you arrive ready to enjoy every dive instead of feeling shaky on day one.
After a Long Break
Haven’t been in the water for a year or more? Skills fade. This course gets them back quickly in a safe, comfortable pool environment with a patient instructor.
Returning After Kids
Life with young children doesn’t leave much time for diving. Many parents use this course to get back in the water once the kids are old enough to join them.
Returning After Injury
If you’ve had a medical issue or injury, this is a low-pressure way to test your comfort in the water before committing to an open water dive.
DAN Safety Standards
Tom’s follows Divers Alert Network (DAN) safety standards and recommends DAN dive accident insurance for every certified diver. Safety is not a checkbox on our website. It is the foundation of how Tom’s has operated since 1982.
Should I Take a Refresher?
Not sure if you need it? Here’s a simple guide based on how long it’s been since your last dive.
If you feel confident, you’re probably fine. If you feel uncertain at all, a pool session won’t hurt.
Skills start to fade after a year. A refresher will have you feeling sharp before your next dive.
Two years is a long time. Most divers are genuinely surprised how much they’ve forgotten.
Don’t skip it. This course exists for exactly this situation and you’ll be glad you did it.
What to Expect
Here’s exactly what happens during your Scuba Skills Update at Tom’s Dive & Swim in Austin.
Come to Tom’s at 5909 Burnet Rd and bring your certification card, mask, fins, snorkel, swimsuit, and towel. Your SSI instructor will greet you, answer questions, and walk you through what to expect.
A relaxed review of diving physics, equipment, safety procedures, and dive planning. No exam, no pressure just a friendly catch-up to get your knowledge current before you get in the water.
Your instructor walks you through assembling and checking your gear. All equipment is provided regulator, BCD, wetsuit, tanks, and weights. If you have your own gear you’re welcome to use it.
Skills Covered in the Pool Session
Your instructor tailors the session to your needs, but here are the core skills typically reviewed:
What You’ll Leave With
The Scuba Skills Update isn’t just about going through the motions here’s what actually changes after the course:
Back in the water, not just in it
The biggest thing students notice is how much more relaxed they feel. Skills that felt awkward at the start of the session feel natural by the end. That confidence carries directly into your next open water dive.
Sharper skills, safer dives
Better buoyancy means less damage to reefs. Better air consumption means longer dives. Better emergency procedures mean safer diving for you and your buddy. These aren’t abstract they make every dive better.
Vacation-ready
Arrive at your dive destination knowing you’re prepared. No anxiety on the boat. No fumbling with gear. Just the joy of being back in the water somewhere beautiful.
A clear path forward
Your instructor will tell you honestly where your skills are and what makes sense next whether that’s a dive trip, a continuing education course, or more pool time.
What’s Included & What to Bring
Provided by Tom’s:
Please bring:
Common Misconceptions About Refresher Courses
“It’s embarrassing to need a refresher.”
Taking a refresher is one of the most responsible things a diver can do. Our instructors have seen every skill level and every situation there’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
“I only need it if it’s been years.”
Many divers benefit from a refresher after just 6 to 12 months, especially before a significant trip. If you feel uncertain, that’s enough reason to book a session.
“It’s basically starting over.”
Muscle memory is real. Most divers are surprised how quickly their skills return once they’re back in the water. The refresher accelerates that process it doesn’t replace your certification.
“I can just do a checkout dive instead.”
A checkout dive doesn’t let you practice skills in a controlled environment. A pool refresher gives you the space to work through any weak spots before open water.
We build divers we would trust with our own families.
That is not a tagline. It is the standard every Tom’s instructor brings to the water. Since 1982, we have believed that confidence comes from preparation, not luck. That real capability is not something a card represents. It is something you feel the moment buoyancy becomes automatic, navigation feels natural, and you are calm in conditions that would have rattled you six months ago.
We get there by coaching before we criticize, by treating every student as an individual with a specific goal, and by building a team of 30 or more active instructors who are genuinely invested in where you go next. Over 400 five-star Google reviews and more than 18,000 certified divers later, what people tell us they remember is not the card. It is the moment diving clicked.
Open longer than any other Austin dive shop still in business
Tom’s opened in 1982. The other Austin dive shops that are still open today came later. That kind of staying power is not an accident. It comes from building a reputation one diver at a time, over four decades, in the same city, with the same commitment to doing it right. When you train at Tom’s, you are training at the shop Austin’s diving community has trusted the longest.
We coach before we criticize
When something does not click the first time, that is information, not a problem. Our instructors treat every hesitation and every mistake as a signal about what to work on next, not a reason to judge. That approach, calm and honest and focused on what you can do, is what builds the kind of confidence that holds up outside the pool.
Instructors who are divers first
With 30 or more active SSI-certified instructors, we have the depth to match you with the right person for your goals and your schedule. But what matters more than the number is who they are: working divers, active in the water, who teach because the sport means something to them. That shows up in how they engage with every student.
91°F heated pool, on-site
Our indoor pool stays at 91°F year-round. That is warm enough that thermal comfort is never a distraction from learning. You can focus on the skill in front of you instead of managing cold water. For pool-based training, that temperature difference is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
There’s no hard rule it depends on how confident you feel. Most divers consider a refresher after 12 months out of the water. After two years it’s strongly recommended. After five or more years it’s essentially required before any open water diving. When in doubt, a pool session is always worth it.
Yes. The Scuba Skills Update is for certified divers only. You must hold an Open Water Diver certification (or equivalent) from any recognized agency SSI, PADI, NAUI, or others. Please bring your certification card. If you’re not yet certified, start with our Try Scuba experience or the full Open Water Diver course.
No. SSI certifications (and most scuba certifications) never expire. You remain a certified diver regardless of how long you’ve been out of the water. However, dive shops and resorts may ask about your recent dive experience a refresher course and up-to-date logbook entries demonstrate that your skills are current.
No. The Scuba Skills Update is entirely pool-based at our indoor heated facility. There are no lake or ocean dives required. Once you complete the course and feel confident, you’re ready to dive anywhere.
Yes. If you have your own equipment you’re welcome to use it a refresher is actually a great opportunity to get comfortable with your own gear in a controlled environment. If your gear hasn’t been serviced recently, we can help with that too at our full-service repair shop.
Yes. Private refresher sessions are available with at least 3 days advance notice. Call us at (512) 451-3425 and we’ll find a time that works for your schedule.
Refresher courses run on select weeknights and most Saturday afternoons. Check the calendar above for upcoming dates. Private sessions can be arranged at other times just call us.
That’s fine it’s exactly what the course is for. Your instructor will work with you at whatever pace you need. There’s no rush and no failure. If you feel you need more time, we can always schedule another session.
Absolutely. The Scuba Skills Update accepts divers certified by any recognized agency SSI, PADI, NAUI, CMAS, or others. Your certification is what matters, not which agency issued it.
Most divers either book a dive trip or enroll in a continuing education course. Popular next steps include Perfect Buoyancy, Enriched Air Nitrox, or joining the Austin Aquanauts dive club for regular local dives and social events.
What People Say
From our over 400 five-star Google reviews.
“Chuck was awesome with the scuba refresher course. I felt so confident and ready to dive again!”
GG B., Scuba Skills Update
“I have gotten several dive refreshers and they helped me with several aspects of my diving. Especially buoyancy.”
David T., Dive Refresher
“The staff is very knowledgeable and provides a friendly atmosphere. Great place to get back into diving with confidence.”
Chris P., Austin, TX
“I’m new to the diving community but the staff is pleasant, helpful, and patient. They take their time with you and make sure you’re comfortable before moving on.”
Shawn H., Austin, TX
Ready to get back in the water?
Scuba Skills Update: $175 · Austin, TX
Pool-based, no open water required. Book online or call (512) 451-3425.
Signup now!!The Scuba Skills Update Gets You Back to Your Certification
If you are certified but have not dived in a while, this course returns you to where you were. Once you are comfortable again, the full range of continuing education becomes available, right where you left off.
Open Water Certified
You already have the certification. This course rebuilds the in-water confidence that time away took.
Scuba Skills Update
Pool-based refresher. No open water required. Available with 3 days notice, private scheduling available.
Continuing Education
Six CE pathway lanes to build on your certification: Control, Explore, Optimize, Access, Dive Ready, and Lead.
What Comes Next?
The refresher is a bridge back to diving here’s where most divers go from here.