SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver Course (10 – 14 years)
and
SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course (15 years +)
is an entry-level certification course designed to give you the necessary skills to safely conduct open water dives. Some of the many skills you will learn include buoyancy, proper weighting, marine conservation, equipment assembly, proper dive planning, and maintenance.
The course covers all the basic knowledge about equipment, physiology and the marine environment while training students to perform basic skills underwater. This course is the key to start exploring dive destinations around the globe or just in your backyard.
Discover the millions of wonderful, colourful and excitingly diversified marine ecology in our oceans. In the midst of fun carefree diving, not only will you encounter fascinating underwater marine life, you will also meet many interesting people too. After all, divers are people who know how to have fun and explore new places. Scuba diving allows you to explore the underwater world – from historic shipwrecks and pristine reefs to the mysteries of your local quarry.
Connect with nature and immerse yourself in new sensations and experiences. Diving will transform your perception of life forever! Become a scuba diver and explore what you’ve been missing!
Prerequisites:
- 10 years of age
- Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water
- Able to swim 200 meters non-stop with no swimming aids
- Able to tread water or float for 10 minutes with no floating aids
Detailed Course Structure
Knowledge Development Sessions Online:
Upon registration you will receive the login and password for online self study. The theory must be completed prior to the confined water pool session.
Confined water pool session:
The confined water pool sessions will take place at either Outram Secondary School or Mana Mana swimming pool. During the sessions, fundamental skills of scuba diving that are required to keep a diver safe will be taught. Divers will also be introduced to all diving equipment needed during the course.
Even though the fees include all gear needed for the duration of the course, it is advisable that divers invest in their personal mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuit prior to the confined water session. Reason being is that students adapt faster using their own personal gear as they will feel more comfortable and relaxed during the training. In addition, their next dive will require little or no adjustment to the equipment because they are already accustomed to their gear.
Students are required to successfully complete the following skills in confined water:
1. Swimming evaluation. Distance swim of 200 metres non-stop using any stroke without the use of mask, snorkel or any swimming aids, or 300 metres non-stop using mask, snorkel, and fins. Survival swim / float of 10 minutes
2. Scuba skills a. Scuba system assembly and disassembly
- Weight system adjustment with proper weighting
- Removal and replacement of weight system on the surface
- Removal and replacement of weight system at depth
3. Pre-dive check of self and buddy
4. Partial mask clear at depth
5. Full mask clear at depth
6. Breathing and swimming underwater without a mask
7. Buoyancy compensator device (BCD) use:
- Inflation and deflation (oral/power) at the surface
- Inflation and deflation (oral/power) at depth
- Removal and replacement at surface
- Removal and replacement at
8. Buoyancy Control
- Hovering
- Controlled ascents
- Controlled descents
9. Regulator use
- Breathing, clearing, and recovery at the surface
- Breathing, clearing, and recovery at depth
10. Underwater swimming; proper use of fins
11. Entries and exits a. Controlled seated entry
- Giant stride entry
- Shallow water exit
- Deep water exit
12. Snorkel use
- Adjustment
- Clearing; blast method
- Regulator snorkel exchange at the surface
- Surface snorkel swim in full equipment
13. Computer use
- Reading and understanding data
- Understanding functions of computer
14. Use of gauges
15. Underwater communications
16. Rescue techniques
- Tired diver tows
- Cramp relief
17. Out-of-air emergencies
- Controlled swimming ascent
- Alternate air source use; air sharing with a buddy while making a controlled ascent
13. Computer use
- Reading and understanding data
- Understanding functions of computer
14. Use of gauges
15. Underwater communications
16. Rescue techniques
- Tired diver tows
- Cramp relief
17. Out-of-air emergencies
- Controlled swimming ascent
- Alternate air source use; air sharing with a buddy while making a controlled ascent
Open Water Evaluation:
This is the most important and exciting part of the course. After all the knowledge and skills development and students showing competency in them, the open water training serves as an evaluation that student divers are able to take care of themselves and their buddy when they complete the course.
Student divers will be evaluated based on all the skills that they have been taught during their confined water training and development. Depending on the trip you select, you will head out for a weekend of fun, sun, sea and great memories to bring home.
What is included in the program?
You will be supplied with all the diving equipment required for the pool and Open Water sessions. Only suitable and maintained equipment will be provided to all students as this not only improves your safety but will also improve your comfort and enjoyment in the water.
All you will need to bring is your swimming attire and towel and your instructor will provide the rest!
- All course materials
- All necessary dive equipment
- Air cylinders
- Dive computer
- Logbook
- Open Water medical statement, safe diving practices and liability release forms
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification card