A-1 Extended Range Foundations Program in Denver

Why take this course?

The SSI Extended Range Foundations program provides you with an opportunity to enhance your advanced diving skills in a workshop environment. Learn more about using tec diving gear with any total diving system you are certified to use and build upon your basic skill set to master buoyancy, trim, finning techniques, positioning, and communication. The Extended Range Foundations program provides supplementary training to existing certifications to increase your confidence and in-water control. All in-water sessions are completed in a pool/confined water environment at depths less than 40 feet. You will earn the SSI Extended Range Foundations certification after completing this program.

Diver taking the SSI Extended Range Foundations program

What will I do?

This course focuses on advanced buoyancy, trim, and finning techniques in addition to different gear configurations, including an introduction to both sidemount and back mount double tanks

This is a prerequisite for any other Extended Range (XR) courses.

How long will it take?

  • 3 classroom and pool sessions
  • Complete an equipment configuration session for the applicable certification
  • Complete at least three (3) pool/confined water sessions, with a cumulative time of at least 240 minutes, that include all skills for the applicable certification.
  • Students are encouraged to schedule pool time inbetween each session to practice skills.

  • Minimum age 16 years old
  • Have a minimum of 24 logged dives
  • Certified as an Open Water Diver
  • Have a MySSI account. Be sure to upload a digital photo to your account and enter a complete address. (You’ll need this in order to access your Extended Range Foundations training material.)
  • Have a Recreational Sidemount Diving Specialty certification to use a sidemount configuration

The A-1 instructor will collect the following (completed) documents at the beginning of the first session.  Unfortunately, participants will not be able to continue until the instructor has reviewed them for accuracy.

Please download, initial, date, and sign the student sections of the course documents (see links below)

Required XR Course Documents

IMPORTANT  – For ALL Extended Range courses

When completing the Diver Medical/Participant Questionnaire

  • If there is a YES response to questions 3, 5, or 10 on page 1 of the Diver Medical form or to ANY of the questions on page 2, the participant will need to sign and date the Participant’s Signature on page 1 AND take all three pages of the Participant Questionnaire to their physician for a medical evaluation.  Their medical professional must approve, date, and sign page three, the Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form, and include their medical credentials MD, DO, NP, RN, PA, etc., with their signature.                    

    UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARTICIPANT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER THE WATER, FOR EITHER PROGRAM, UNTIL THE PROPER DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, SIGNED, AND REVIEWED FOR ACCURACY BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR.           

Equipment

The student equipment requirements:

  • Standard Snorkeling Equipment
  • Provide one of the following equipment configurations:
  1. Single-Cylinder Total Diving System
  2. Extended Range Total Diving System  – Twinset backplate & wings, or Sidemount BCD and two (2) primary regulators with single 2nd stage and SPG  – One (1) primary regulator must have at least a seven foot hose for air sharing, and one(1) low pressure inflator hose.

Certification in Extended Range Foundations

  • Successfully completing the course in a recreational single-cylinder configuration is considered a recreational level pass. This is a prerequisite for the Recreational Sidemount course.
  • Successfully completing the course in an Extended Range Twinset or Sidemount Total Diving System configuration is considered a technical level pass. This is a prerequisite for any Extended Range course.

The Extended Range Course, if completed with a Technical level pass, or the Recreational Sidemount course if completed with a Recreational level pass.

Course Fee $350

Course fee includes:

  • Class & Pool sessions.
  • Tank rentals for pool sessions.
  • Air fills for pool sessions.

Course fee does not include:

  • Equipment (see above)

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EXTENDED RANGE FOUNDATIONS

Diver underwater representing the SSI Extended Range Foundations program