What are the most popular SSI Specialty Courses?

The top SSI Specialty Courses at Rich Coast Diving in Costa Rica include Enriched Air Nitrox, Deep Diving, Perfect Buoyancy, Navigation, Wreck Diving, Night Diving, Search and Recovery, Photo & Video, Science of Diving, and Fish Identification.

How much do SSI Specialty Courses cost?

Prices range from $80 to $350 USD depending on the specialty. All courses include professional instruction, learning materials, and use of diving equipment.

Do I need prior certification to take an SSI Specialty Course?

Yes, you must have an Open Water Diver certification or equivalent from any recognized training agency to enroll in most SSI Specialty Courses.

How long does it take to complete a specialty course?

Most specialty courses take one to two days to complete. Some, such as Science of Diving, can be completed entirely online.

Are SSI Specialty certifications recognized internationally?

Yes. SSI certifications are accepted worldwide, allowing you to dive with the same privileges as divers certified by other major agencies.

Top 10 SSI Specialty Courses

Rich Coast Diving
Aug 2
5 min read

Updated: 12 hours ago

At Rich Coast Diving, we offer over 20 SSI Specialty Courses – but divers in Costa Rica consistently gravitate towards the most unique, conservation‑focused, and adventure‑driven experiences. Here are the Top 10 Specialties our guests book again and again — whether they’re looking to extend bottom time with Nitrox, master buoyancy at manta cleaning stations, or learn how to identify the incredible fish life off the Pacific Coast.

1. Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN)

Duration: 1 hour classroom session (Online theory only, no dives required)
Price: $150 USD
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Why It’s Popular: Extends your bottom time—perfect for multi-dive days in Costa Rica.
Course Content: As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins. In this program, you will increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen.

Add it to almost any dive course or package—an easy upgrade with long-term benefits.

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SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Course in Costa Rica

2. Perfect Buoyancy

Duration: 1 day / 2 dives
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $150 USD
Why It’s Popular: Improves air consumption, trim, and control—especially important around delicate reefs and great for photographers and videographers.
Course Content: Practice hovering, streamline your gear, and master trim through skill-based dives.

Highly recommended for new divers and those preparing for Divemaster.

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SSI Perfect Buoyancy Course in Costa Rica

3. Deep Diving

Duration: 2 days (4 dives) + eLearning (2 hrs)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $325 USD
Why It’s Popular: Unlocks access to Costa Rica’s deeper sites (Up to 40 meters) and different marine life like Oceanic Mantas and Bullsharks.
Course Content: The Deep Diving Specialty will teach you all you need to dive to depths between 18 and 40 meters, through a mixture of academic sessions and open water dives.

Essential for those visiting Bat Islands or Caño Island’s deeper ecosystems.

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4. Underwater Navigation

Duration: 1 days (2 dives) + eLearning (2 hrs)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $250 USD
Why It’s Popular: Be the scuba diver everyone wants to follow because you know where you are and where you're going. This course fine-tunes your observation skills and teaches you to more accurately use your compass underwater. If you like challenges with big rewards, take this course and have fun finding your way.
Course Content: Master compass skills, natural navigation, square/reciprocal patterns and more.

Learning to navigate like a pro will improve your air consumption and reduce anxiety.

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Underwater navigation specialty Course in Costa Rica

5. Night & Limited Visibility

Duration: 3 night dives + eLearning (2 hrs).
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $350 USD
Why It’s Popular: Experience the reef’s nightlife—octopus, rays, and bioluminescence await.
Course Content: Night dive prep, communication techniques, torch use, and navigation after dark. The thought of dipping below the surface at night seems mysterious, yet so alluring. Although you've been scuba diving at a site many times before, at night you drop into a whole new world and watch it come to life under the glow of your dive light.

Ideal for Papagayo divers wanting something magical and different.

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6. Shark Ecology Specialty

Duration: Online Theory (2 hrs) ADD-ON: 2-tank dive with your ecology course ($95 USD)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $80 USD
Why It’s Popular: Costa Rica’s Bat Islands are home to bull sharks—learn before you encounter!
Course Content: In the SSI Shark Ecology program, you will learn how to interpret shark behaviour, why they are often misunderstood and how dive with sharks. This is a perfect course if you are planning a trip to (Bullsharks) Bats Islands or want to learn more about our local shark population.

Pair it with your first Bat Islands Bullshark dive

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7. Fish Identification

Duration: Online Theory (2 hrs) ADD-ON: 2-tank dive with your ecology course ($95 USD)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $80 USD
Why It’s Popular: For divers who love knowing what they’re seeing under the waves.
Course Content: In this course, you will be taught all the skills and concepts you need to identify common families of Caribbean, Indo-Pacific and Red Sea reef fish. A great course to combine with a day of local diving and learn more about our local fish population.
Have a look at our online fish ID quiz and study Costa Rica fish species online !

A favorite among underwater photographers and marine life lovers.

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Fish Identification Course in Costa Rica

8. Manta & Ray Ecology

Duration: Online Theory (2 hrs) ADD-ON: 2-tank dive with your ecology course ($95 USD)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $80 USD
Why It’s Popular: Encounter rays at Catalina Islands and Caño—learn how to dive respectfully with them.
Course Content: Join the SSI Manta and Ray Ecology specialty program and you will learn how to dive with rays and recognize different ray species. You will be taught how rays contribute to healthy ocean ecosystems and why these precious animals need our protection. This course is a great option to combine with our Manta Ray trips to Catalinas Islands in the season November to April.

Offered seasonally with Dive trips at Catalinas when oceanic manta sightings are at their peak.

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Manta & Ray Ecology Course in Costa Rica

9. Sea Turtle Ecology

Duration: Online Theory (2 hrs) ADD-ON: 2-tank dive with your ecology course ($95 USD)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver
Price: $80 USD
Why It’s Popular: Costa Rica is famous for its sea turtles. 4 out of 7 species can be seen while diving or on the nesting beaches.
Course Content: This specialty program provides the skills and concepts you need to recognize and identify common sea turtle species. It teaches you about the fascinating history of sea turtles, their role in marine ecosystems and threats to their survival.

Often combined with marine conservation volunteer work or reef monitoring.

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🌎 Bonus: Marine Conservation Package

Includes 5 specialties (Marine Ecology, Fish ID, Sea Turtle, Shark Ecology, and Manta Ray) for $695 USD including VAT.

Perfect for divers looking to earn multiple certifications in one immersive experience while giving back to the ocean.

10. React Right - First Aid Course

Duration: Half day classroom session + eLearning (5 hrs).
Prerequisites: None
Why It’s Popular: This course is the prerequisites for the Rescue Diver course and mandatory for those who want to become dive professionals
This program will give you the tools and confidence you need for emergency response. You will be able to act as an emergency first responder, provide first aid and CPR, administer oxygen and provide AED support in a medical emergency.