Open Water Diver Course

Minimum Age

10

Amount of Academic Sessions

6

Amount of Pool/Confined Water Sessions

6

Amount of Open Water Sessions

4

Maximum Training Depth

18 m / 60 ft

Suggested duration (h)

16-32

Certification Prerequisites

Fit to swim, No certification prerequisites

How does it work?

Start your diving adventures with an SSI Open Water Diver course, certifying you to dive without supervision by a professional down to 18 metres with one to one training, or in a group!

If you want to dive anywhere you want, join the Open Water Diver program. This is your international certification to become part of an exclusive group of underwater explorers that most people only dream about joining! Learning to dive is much easier than you think. 

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalised academic training sessions are combined with in-water practice to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Our SSI Open Water Diver Course takes place over 4 days; days 1 & 2 take place in the pool, where you'll enjoy your confined water sessions and learn the essential skills in a controlled diving environment. On days 3 & 4 we'll explore the ocean with 2 Open Water dives on each day - the first part of the course is skills based with a little bit of exploration, and the second half is exploration with a few skills thrown in! 

Before you book you need to understand the risk:

SCUBA Diving inherently involves risks including but not limited to: injury, illness and death, there are risks associated with: swimming, entering and exiting the water, falling on, struck by a boat, holding your breath, pre-existing health conditions, heart failure, over-exertion, panic, drowning, pressure related injuries, decompression illness, environmental and marine life injuries, equipment malfunctions, improper dive planning, or improper action of other divers or support personnel (including failure to rescue, recover, resuscitate, or provide emergency assistance).

 *Please note that minimum participant numbers may apply to Open Water Diver Courses. If we have not been able to make up enough participants, your course may be rescheduled.

We run these courses in Auckland in small groups (maximum 6 students per instructor) to give you plenty of time with your instructor, allowing you to become comfortable with diving concepts, and to master the necessary in water skills to be an SSI Open Water Diver.

These dives allow you to demonstrate what you've learnt in conditions that are just like the kind of “real” dives you'll be doing once you're certified. There are some skills to complete for your instructor but, don't worry, they're nothing that you won't have done before in the pool! This is where it starts to feel like you're a real diver! 

Once you've completed all your dives and skills to a level that your instructor is happy with, we then award you the title of SSI Open Water Diver!

*Please see the medical form attached and please note that in some cases, you’ll need to see a doctor before you can begin any training.

We take safe diving very seriously and your instructor will conduct a risk assessment before selecting a suitable diving site, but it is impossible to eliminate all hazards and risks from adventure activities. Current, surge, waves, rocks and/or white water may be present in the wider area and medical conditions may result from not following training and instruction.

In the underwater environment you will be able to observe many different species of fish and other aquatic life but treat everything you encounter as wild and untamed. Potential serious harm can be caused by bites or stings.

During all water-based activity a dive flag will be displayed, but please ensure you also keep a look out for other boats, jet-skis or alike, as serious harm can be caused through impacts or by spinning propellers. 

Diving and alcohol or drugs (be they legal or illegal) do not mix - you will not be allowed to participate if you are in any way impaired 

Your instructor will provide a specific safety briefing before each dive.