CURSOS DE MERGULHO SSI

São Jorge Dive & Sail Center is an SSI-certified operation running the full range of SSI programmes — beginner courses, advanced certifications, specialty modules, first aid, and professional-level training. SSI has been running diver training and certification for over 45 years, and the centre works within that framework for all its course offerings.

For beginners starting from zero, the path goes through pool work first. One reviewer going through an entry-level course described clearly what that stage looked like: theory covered in class (which can also be done remotely before arriving on the island), then confined water practice, then open water. The point of that sequence is that by the time you're in the sea, you've already run through the skills in a controlled setting. Several guests specifically noted feeling safe in conditions that would otherwise have been outside their comfort zone.

Open water sessions run along São Jorge's coast, over volcanic formations and through submerged caves that make up the island's dive topography. Sites like Baixa dos Rosais and Urzelina come up as places where course dives take place — the same spots the guided dive trips visit. That means your training dives happen in real conditions, not a sanitised training environment.

For divers who already have a certification and want to progress, the centre runs advanced courses, specialty modules, and training up to professional instructor level. The specific programmes available span the full SSI curriculum. First aid and rescue training are also offered as standalone modules. Contact the centre directly for the current course calendar and pricing.