This course does not include the use of our rental equipment (BCD, Regulator, Weights, Cylinders, and Wetsuit), but they will be available to rent. You are required to purchase/have the essential equipment listed below:

• Dive slate
• Manual Compass (Computer consoles or dive slates with a manual compass are acceptable)

• The basics** :

  • Mask
  • Snorkel
  • Fins
  • Hood
  • Boots
  • Gloves
  • 2 Mouthpieces

We recommend purchasing your equipment at Aquatic Specialties so we can personally fit the equipment to you and your body type. We have many different brands, styles, and sizes, and having equipment that fits well will enhance your performance in the water and make your dive experience more enjoyable! We offer our students a 10% discount* on any required equipment that is purchased while actively enrolled in a course! Every customer matters and your support of your local dive shop is the backbone to our success. Your patronage motivates us to keep improving, and allows us to be able to provide you with the services that we do today - together, we will dive into great things!

*Some restrictions apply on select products

**The list of basic equipment would have been purchased for your Open Water certification and is not included in our rentals due to sanitation and fit. 

To ensure a safe, successful, and enjoyable dive experience, we ask that all students take the following responsibilities seriously throughout the course:

GEAR TRANSPORTATION

Students are responsible for transporting their own personal equipment and rental equipment to and from each class and dive session. If you are unable to do so, we may be able to assist with transport for an additional surcharge. Please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements.

PUNCTUALITY & ATTENDANCE

Arrive on time for all sessions. Diving requires structure and safety protocols - late arrivals may miss important briefings and could be asked to reschedule at an added cost. Full attendance is required for certification.

PRE-COURSE STUDY

If your course includes eLearning or textbook materials, they must be completed before your first in-person session. This ensures you understand the theory and can focus on skills during practical training.

MINDSET & FOCUS

Stay attentive and engaged throughout the course. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and support your fellow divers. Please be mindful that this is a classroom setting and we are all here to learn together. If you would like a private class, please contact the shop for more information. Teamwork is a key part of the experience!

MEDICAL & PHYSICAL READINESS

You must complete a medical questionnaire prior to starting the course. If any answers indicate a potential condition, a physician's clearance may be required. Being comfortable in the water and in reasonably good health is essential for completion of the prerequisites of this course.

COMMUNICATION

Keep in touch with us if anything changes - whether it is scheduling conflicts, health concerns, or gear issues. We are here to help, and clear communication ensures a smoother experience for everyone!

Need help preparing or have questions? Reach out to our team at any time - we are here to support you at every step of your diving journey!

The course fee ($250) includes the following:

• Digital learning material, course registration, and certification fees for SSI
  • Lifetime access to SSI's digital learning material, digital logbook, digital certification cards, dive tables, and more

• 1 in-person classroom session 
  • Students must complete the online material and exam prior to attending
  • Allows students to ask questions in real-time and engage more directly with the subject matter
  • Develop a genuine connection with your classmates and instructor
  • Facilitates collaborative work and learning
  • Students will practice navigational skills during class

• 2 Open Water Dives
  • These are both typically done back-to-back on either Saturday or Sunday
    • Dive 1: Natural and compass navigation, different navigational search patterns
    • Dive 2: Navigating a multiple-heading compass course and dead reckoning course

Check out some of our other courses we have available for our certified Open Water students to advance their skills!

Search and Recovery (Ages 12+): In this fascinating program, you will learn all the skills you need to safely and confidently conduct search and recovery dives. You will be taught how to use search patterns, specialized dive plans, and equipment such as lift bags, lines, and reels. By developing your search and communication techniques and practicing searches in a dive team, you will become a confident search and rescue diver in no time. 

Night and Limited Visibility (Ages 10+): Just because the visibility is limited doesn’t mean the opportunities have to be. This program is filled with information about planning and conducting night and limited visibility dives for fun, adventure, and exploration. While diving at night you can discover a different side of this world and you can experience it from a completely different view. It is an unbelievable feeling to discover the mysteries held underwater when the sun goes down. With the right equipment and a powerful torch there is a lot to discover. Night diving is a whole new way to experience the underwater world.

Wreck/Advanced Wreck Diving (Ages 15+): In Wreck Diving, you will be taught how to safely conduct non-penetration dives around wrecks and artificial reefs, up to a depth of 30 meters, and complete 2 dives around the perimeter of a wreck. Advanced Wreck allows limited penetration within the daylight zone into wrecks with an overhead environment. The training required for this type of diving is overhead buoyancy control (We recommend taking a Perfect Buoyancy class), new finning techniques, optional laying safety lines, and the proper use of lights.

Please note: Some courses have other prerequisites or required equipment that is necessary to complete the class. Please see the "prerequisites" and "required equipment" tabs for each individual class for more details.