SSI Open Water Diver

Overview

Open Water Diver is the full entry-level scuba certification, recognised worldwide. Over three days you complete the theory, train in a pool or confined water, and make four open water dives on the Red Sea reef. On completion you can dive independently with a qualified buddy, to a maximum of eighteen metres, anywhere in the world, with no expiry date. Dahab is one of the easier places to learn: most training happens from shore rather than a boat, entries are calm, water temperatures stay comfortable year round, and the reef begins close to the beach. Groups are limited to four students and the course runs for a single person, so you are not waiting for others to book. You must be at least ten years old and able to complete a swim and float assessment during the course. All equipment, digital learning materials and certification are included. A four-day version is available at no extra cost, which spreads the theory and pool work across two days instead of one.

Description

Open Water Diver is the certification that makes you a diver. Unlike shorter introductory programs, it qualifies you to dive without a professional, planning and conducting your own dives with a buddy of equal or greater qualification. It does not expire and it is recognised by dive centers worldwide. How the course is structured The course has three parts, delivered here across three days. Theory. Six academic sections covering how pressure affects your body and your equipment, dive planning, how to use dive tables or a computer, equipment care, the underwater environment, and the safety procedures that underpin everything else. The course finishes with a written exam requiring a score of at least 80 percent. There is no trick to it and your instructor works through the material with you. Confined water. Six training sessions in a pool or shallow confined water, to a maximum of five metres. This is where you actually learn to dive: assembling and checking equipment, mask clearing and removal, regulator recovery, buoyancy control, sharing air with a buddy, controlled ascents, and problem management. Skills are introduced one at a time and repeated until they are comfortable. Open water. Four training dives on the reef. The first two are limited to twelve metres, and the remaining two may go to eighteen metres. Across the four dives you must accumulate at least eighty minutes of bottom time. Each dive combines skill demonstration with actual diving, so you are exploring the reef, not just performing exercises. Three days or four The standard course runs over three days: one day of theory and pool work, then two days of open water dives, two dives each day. A four-day version is available at no additional cost. It splits the theory and pool work across two days instead of compressing them into one. Day one of the three-day course is long, and if you are nervous about the water, or simply want more time in the pool before your first sea dive, the four-day option is the more comfortable choice. It costs nothing extra. The only thing it costs is one more day of your trip. Why Dahab works for learning Training here is predominantly shore based, which removes the boat from the equation entirely. There is no early departure, no crossing, and no seasickness. Entries are shallow and calm, the reef starts within easy swimming distance, and visibility is generally good throughout the year. Water temperatures are comfortable across all seasons. For a student diver, these are unusually forgiving conditions, which is a large part of why Dahab has such a concentration of dive training. Swimming requirement Before your open water dives you complete a water fitness evaluation. You must swim 200 metres with no aids, or 300 metres using a mask, snorkel and fins. There is no time limit and you may take as long as you need, but you cannot stop or stand. You must also float or tread water for ten minutes in water too deep to stand in, keeping your face clear of the surface. Speed and technique do not matter. Comfort in deep water without support does. If you have doubts, mention them when you book. Age and depth The minimum age is ten. Students under fifteen certify as Junior Open Water Diver. Divers aged ten and eleven are limited to twelve metres. Junior divers dive with a dive professional or a certified adult rather than independently, and upgrade automatically to full Open Water Diver on turning fifteen. What you receive Your SSI Open Water Diver digital certification card, which is an ISO-recognised entry-level certification with no expiry date. Full equipment, digital learning materials and certification are all included in the course price. Who this suits Anyone who wants to dive properly rather than sample it. If you expect to dive more than a handful of times, or want to dive with a partner rather than always hiring a guide, this is the course to take rather than the shorter Scuba Diver program.