Open Water Diver

Details

The Open Water Diver class is organized into 2 parts - The first part consists of academic sessions on 4 weeknights, (2 per week), along with 1 weekend of pool sessions (Sat & Sun).

The second part is the Certification Weekend, where you will demonstrate your proficiency in skills and do some real diving!

We are with you every step of the way to help you become a confident, self-sufficient diver. This page explains more in detail.

Requirements

Minimum age

12

Number of Pool Water Sessions

4 (Sat & Sun)

Minimum dives for certification

4

Maximum Training Depth

60ft

Suggested duration in hours

16-32

Number of Academic Sessions

4

Class Prerequisites

Physically fit to swim. No certification prerequisites.

What will I need?

  • Register for an SSI Diver account.
    There are many benefits to having the account, which are explained later.
  • Secure your spot in class.
    With a minimum $50 sign-up deposit.
  • Purchase personal gear.
    Gear such as mask, snorkel, fins, boots, gloves, and cutting device.
  • Some gear may be rented, but mouthpieces are purchased, not re-used.
  • Complete a Medical Questionnaire.
    Some medical conditions will require a doctor's clearance to dive.
  • Prepare for the academic sessions.
    Consisting of online study at home, before class.
  • The Certification weekend normally requires a motel stay, and transportation to the venue.
    Certification dives typically happen in Monterey, but there are exceptions.

What does it cost?

  • Course Fee: $398
    (Includes classroom instruction, pool sessions, and instructor-led open water dives)
  • Digital Learning Materials: $159.99 Normally $180.99
    (SSI digital book, dive tables, certification card, and logbook)
  • Personal Gear Package (required): $289 – $499
    (Mask, snorkel, fins, boots, gloves & cutting devices) Plus mouthpieces for regulators.

➤ Receive a $100 rebate when gear is purchased through High Sierra Divers.

Rental Gear for Open Water Dives: Special rental rate when you purchase your basic gear from HSD.

We provide all scuba gear for pool sessions, and rental gear is available for your ocean dives.

Part 1 - Class & Pool

Academic Sessions

There are 4 academic sessions, which are held on Tuesday and Thursday for 2 consecutive weeks, from 6pm to 9pm. Topics covered include the gear necessary for diving, the physiology and gas laws associated with diving, and many other sub-topics covering things such as gear setup, proper donning & doffing of gear, and environmental things such as water current, tides, and even weather conditions. Of course, this is a small sample - there is a wealth of information needed to learn to be a safe and responsible diver.

The last academic session is used to finish up any subjects as necessary, and also to take a written exam, which consists of 50 multiple choice questions.

Pool Sessions

Pool sessions are held on the weekend in between the academic sessions.

Saturday Pool sessions:

Keep in mind that safety is of utmost importance, so you'll begin the session with a couple of confidence building swim exercises to ensure you are fit to handle the class. After this, you will learn snorkeling skills, how to use the BCD without a pressurized air source, (the tank), and how to perform some important dive techniques and other surface skills.

After a break for lunch, you will get to start using the tank, and experience breathing underwater! Some very important skills will be taught, and some of these will be tested in the open water sessions the following weekend. (See below)

Sunday Pool sessions:

Typically, Sunday morning starts out with a review of the skills you learned on Saturday. Reinforcement through repetition is stressed throughout SSI classes. We want you to be comfortable and confident in demonstrating these basic skills whenever asked to do so. After the review, you will continue learning new skills, some very important survival skills should the occasion ever arise.

Depending on the speed of the class, you may break for lunch or complete the last remaining skills. During all of these pool sessions, you will be assessed to ensure that you have the skill level to confidently move on to the certification weekend.

Part 2 - Certification Weekend

Typically, we try to certify at a dive site called Breakwater in Monterey. Sometimes, this is not possible, so we have places such as Lake Tahoe that we use for backup. Each day at the dive site begins with a dive briefing. It is IMPORTANT to be there on-time, so you aren't holding up the other divers.

Saturday

Saturday begins with a dive briefing, and then you will have your first dive of the day, which is the snorkeling skills that were taught in the pool. After this, you will don your tank, and you will perform this dive to demonstrate the basic scuba skills, which is a pass/fail assessment. After this dive, you will have 2 more dives to practice skills such as entry and exits, buoyancy, communication with your buddy, navigation, safety stops, etc.

When your diving is complete, it is very important that the gear is rinsed to remove the corrosive salt.

Sunday

Sunday again begins with a dive briefing. There are typically 2 dives, one of which is required, and the last one is optional, but highly recommended. Assuming all went well, you will receive your certification and be ready to conquer the diving world!