Lionfish Awareness: SSI Ecology Specialty · Fully Online

A complete dry land course on one of the worst marine invasions in history. Learn what lionfish are, the damage they cause, how to stay safe, and how you can help. Open to divers and non-divers, ages 16 and up. No diving required.

Start the Course

See What You Will Learn 

Cost: $55

Ages 16+

Everyone aged 16 and up.

~2 Hours

Self paced, four short sessions

No Diving

Dry land course, no dive insurance needed

SSI Card

Digital recognition card that never expires

The Course: Four Sessions, One Mission

The course was written by Roger J. Muller Jr., an SSI Divemaster Instructor, international lionfish hunter, and founder of LionfishDivers.com. Each session ends with a Knowledge Review so you can check your understanding before moving on.

Session 1: Invasion Biology

What lionfish are, where they came from, and how a handful of released aquarium fish became an ocean wide invasion.
30 minutes

Session 2: Ecological Impact

What lionfish eat, how they collapse reef fish populations, and why the damage reaches fishing communities and tourism.
30 minutes

Session 3: Safety and Venom

Venomous versus poisonous, where the 18 spines are, sting symptoms, and the correct first aid (hot water, never ice).
25 minutes

Session 4: Solutions and Action

Reporting sightings, eat them to beat them, lionfish products, and the real steps anyone can take to help.
25 minutes

Built on the SSI Diver Diamond

Every SSI program rests on the same foundation, the SSI Diver Diamond. Four components work together to build a capable, confident diver: Proper Knowledge, Skills, Equipment, and Experience. Lionfish Awareness lives in the first one, Knowledge.

SSi Diver Diamond

Knowledge

Understanding lionfish biology, the invasion, the dangers, and the solutions. This is exactly what the course builds.

Skills

The hands on abilities a diver develops through proper training and practice.

Equipment

Knowing your gear and using the right tools correctly and with confidence.

Experience

Real time in the marine world that turns knowledge and skill into instinct.

What You Get: Everything You Need to Certify

  • Full Student Manual
    A complete illustrated guide covering all four sessions, the glossary, and study tips.
  • Knowledge Reviews
    Short question sets after each session to reinforce what you learned.
  • 25 Question Final Exam
    Pass with 80% (20 of 25). Retake anytime if needed, with no waiting period.
  • Completed Training Record
    The form that finalizes your file and confirms you met every requirement.
  • SSI Digital Recognition Card
    An internationally recognized Lionfish Awareness card in your MySSI app. It never expires.
  • Direct Help From Roger
    Stuck on a Knowledge Review or exam question? Email and Roger will walk you through it.

How It Works: From Signup to Certified, Step by Step

The whole process is simple and self paced. Most students finish in an afternoon.

1: Enroll and Reserve Your Spot

Sign up below to get started.

2: Create Your Free MySSI Account

Download the free MySSI app from the App Store or Google Play, or register at my.divessi.com. When you register, set your Training Center to Middletown Scuba (SSI #800447), Middletown NY. This is where your record and recognition card are issued.

3: Get Your Student Manual

Once you are registered, you will receive the full Lionfish Awareness Student Manual to read and study at your own pace.

4: Work Through the 4 Sections

Read each session in order: Invasion Biology, Ecological Impact, Safety and Venom, and Solutions and Action. Plan for about two hours total.

5: Answer the Knowledge Reviews

Complete the review questions at the end of each session. If anything is unclear, email Roger and he will explain it.

6: Take the Final Exam

Answer the 25 question multiple choice exam. You need 80% (20 of 25) to pass. Miss a few? Roger will review them with you, and you can retake the exam right away with no waiting period.

7: Complete Your Training Record

Sign and return the Lionfish Awareness Training Record. This confirms you finished every requirement and lets Roger process your recognition card.

8: Receive Your Recognition Card

Your SSI Lionfish Awareness digital recognition card appears in your MySSI app. It is internationally recognized and never expires. Welcome to the fight against the invasion.

Special Introductory Rate

$5500one time
  • Full course, manual, exam, and SSI recognition card included.

Sign up today. The goal is simple: teach as many people as possible about the lionfish invasion and how to help.

Questions are always welcome

This is a teaching course, not a test you take alone. Any question on a Knowledge Review, the final exam, or the material itself, just write to Roger and he will answer. Reach him at rjm@mullerinsurance.com.

Ready to Join the Fight? Enroll Now!

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Have you created your MySSI account?(Required)
Download the free MySSI app from the App Store or Google Play, or register at my.divessi.com. When you register, set your Training Center to Middletown Scuba (SSI #800447), Middletown NY. This is where your record and certification are issued.
Please let us know if you have a question for us?
Sponsored by Muller Insurance

Lionfishdivers.com is proudly sponsored by Muller Insurance