SDI Open Water Course
The SDI (Scuba Diving International) Open Water Diver Course offered at Dive Subculture Technical is your passport to underwater exploration and the beginning of a lifetime adventure. This globally recognized certificationallows you to dive independently with a buddy, reaching depths of up to 18 meters (60 feet) at dive sites around the world. Whether you’re planning tropical reef dives or dreaming of exploring local dive spots, this course equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to dive safely and responsibly.
At Dive Subculture Technical, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest standards of instruction within the SDI system. We focus on hands-on learning, ensuring every diver not only understands the theory but also becomes comfortable in real-world diving scenarios. Our course emphasizes practical skills, safety protocols, and environmental responsibility, helping you develop essential habits that will make your dives both safe and enjoyable.
What sets Dive Subculture Technical apart is the expertise of our instructors. With backgrounds in both recreational and technical diving, our team brings a wealth of experience to your learning journey. This dual perspective ensures that you’re not only prepared for leisure diving but also introduced to advanced dive techniques that lay the groundwork for future courses, such as deep diving or sidemount diving.
Our instructors will guide you every step of the way, building your skills, knowledge, and confidence through a combination of classroom sessions, confined water dives, and open water training. Whether it’s your first dive or a step toward more advanced diving certifications, our mission is to create a safe, fun, and supportive environment where you feel empowered to explore the underwater world.
Upon completion, you’ll earn your SDI Open Water Diver certification, granting you access to incredible dive sites across the globe. More importantly, you’ll leave with a sense of accomplishment, a solid foundation of essential skills, and memories of your first steps into the vast and captivating world beneath the surface.
Why Choose Us?
Experienced Instructors
Learn from seasoned technical divers who are passionate about teaching.
Stunning Dive Locations
Train in the spectacular waters of Khao Lak, Malapascua and Yangon.
Personalized Learning
Enjoy small class sizes for tailored instruction and maximum attention.
Top-Quality Gear
Dive with state-of-the-art equipment that is meticulously maintained
SDI Open Water Course Outline
The SDI Open Water Diver Course is perfect for:
- Beginners with little to no prior scuba experience looking to explore the underwater world.
- Adventurers seeking new ways to connect with nature, travel, and experience marine life firsthand.
- Snorkelers who want to take their skills to the next level and experience deeper underwater exploration.
- Travelers looking to dive independently with a buddy at dive sites worldwide.
- Anyone interested in building a solid foundation for further training in recreational or technical diving.
To enroll in the SDI Open Water Diver Course, participants must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum Age: 18 years old, or 10 years old with parental consent.
- Physical Health: Participants must be in good health and comfortable in the water (a medical clearance may be required if needed).
- Swimming Ability: Must be able to swim 200 meters (any stroke) or snorkel 300 meters and float/tread water for 10 minutes.
- No prior diving experience is required – the course is designed for complete beginners.
The course covers a variety of essential topics and practical skills, such as:
- Equipment Assembly and Maintenance: Learn how to set up, check, and maintain scuba gear.
- Physics and Physiology of Diving: Understand the effects of underwater pressure on your body and equipment.
- Dive Planning and Safety Protocols: Develop skills to plan dives safely, including managing air supply and avoiding decompression sickness.
- Buoyancy Control and Underwater Skills: Master neutral buoyancy, mask clearing, and regulator recovery.
- Emergency Procedures and Rescue Techniques: Learn to handle out-of-air emergencies and practice buddy rescue skills.
- Navigation and Environmental Awareness: Use a compass for underwater navigation and learn how to protect marine environments during your dives.
By completing the SDI Open Water Diver Course, you’ll gain:
- SDI Open Water Diver Certification, allowing you to dive with a buddy to a depth of 18 meters (60 feet) without supervision.
- Access to dive sites worldwide, unlocking new travel destinations and underwater experiences.
- A solid foundation of dive skills that prepares you for advanced training, such as deep diving, wreck diving, or sidemount diving.
- The confidence to explore marine environments safely and responsibly.
- A network of fellow divers and access to the global diving community through Dive Subculture Technical.
- A lifetime of adventure, with endless opportunities to explore and learn.
To successfully complete the SDI Open Water Diver Course, students must:
- Complete all Knowledge Development sections, either online or through classroom sessions.
- Participate in at least 4 Confined Water Dives to develop basic skills.
- Successfully complete 4 Open Water Dives at real dive sites, demonstrating core skills like buoyancy control, navigation, and emergency procedures.
- Perform a 200-meter swim (or 300-meter snorkel) and tread water/float for 10 minutes without assistance.
- Pass a written exam, covering essential topics in dive theory and safety.
Upon meeting these requirements, you will earn your SDI Open Water Diver certification, opening the door to a world of underwater exploration.
SDI Open Water Course Structure
Dive into the theoretical foundations of scuba diving through either interactive eLearning modules or engaging in-person sessions. This section lays the groundwork for your diving journey, covering the following topics:
- Dive Equipment: Learn how to properly assemble, maintain, and troubleshoot your scuba gear.
- Underwater Physics & Pressure Effects: Understand how pressure affects your body and equipment to dive safely and comfortably.
- Dive Planning & Safety Protocols: Develop skills for planning dives, setting limits, and following safety guidelines, including understanding decompression.
- Basic Scuba Skills & Emergency Procedures: Explore practical strategies to handle unexpected situations underwater.
- Environmental Awareness: Gain insights into protecting fragile marine environments through responsible diving practices.
Develop your skills in a controlled pool environment where you’ll practice the fundamental techniques necessary for open water dives. These sessions allow you to build comfort and control in the water.
Key skills include:
- Equipment Use & Buoyancy Control: Master neutral buoyancy to glide effortlessly through the water and prevent damage to marine life.
- Mask Clearing & Regulator Recovery: Overcome common challenges by learning how to clear water from your mask and recover your regulator with ease.
- Emergency Procedures & Buddy System: Practice essential safety drills, such as air-sharing techniques, and learn how to be a reliable dive buddy.
- Underwater Communication: Use hand signals to communicate effectively and stay connected with your dive partner.
Test your newly acquired skills in real-world dive sites under the guidance of an instructor. You’ll complete four open water dives, each building on what you’ve learned in confined water.
These dives focus on:
- Safe Entry & Exit Techniques: Learn how to safely enter and exit various types of dive environments.
- Navigation with a Compass: Develop confidence using a compass and natural references to find your way underwater.
- Marine Life Identification & Interaction: Enhance your awareness of local marine species and practice respectful interaction with underwater ecosystems.
Course Duration - 3 - 4 Days
Academics 1 Day
Pool Session 1 Day
Open Water 4 Dives
Dive Confidently with DAN: Free Medical Coverage for Every New Diver
At Dive Subculture Technical, the safety of our students is paramount. As part of our commitment to responsible diving education, all students enrolled in our entry-level courses—whether in scuba or freediving—are automatically covered under the DAN Student Medical Expense Coverage at no extra cost.
This exclusive program, fully subsidized by Divers Alert Network (DAN), offers up to US$25,000 in medical expense coverage for any injury sustained during training. The coverage is comprehensive, protecting students from injuries both in and out of the water, such as barotrauma, decompression illness, or even non-dive-related accidents like a dropped tank injury.
- Full Coverage from Day One: The insurance starts from your first confined-water session and continues until the last certifying dive, or up to 180 days from the date of registration, whichever comes first.
- Diving and Non-Diving Injury Coverage: Covers injuries ranging from marine life encounters to equipment mishaps during training.
- Global Emergency Medical Assistance: Immediate support through DAN’s 24/7 Emergency Hotline, with medical professionals ready to coordinate care and emergency evacuations worldwide.
Highest Safety and Standards
Dive Subculture Technical is fully committed to your safety. We conduct our courses following the highest SDI Certifications
Certification, Unlimited Adventures
You’ll unlock access to dive sites worldwide, preparing you for exciting underwater journeys and lifelong exploration.
Personal Learning Experience
We tailor our instruction to match your learning pace and comfort level, ensuring every student builds confidence and skills.
What's Included :-
At Dive Subculture Technical, we provide everything you need for a seamless and enjoyable learning experience. Our SDI Open Water Diver Course ensures that you are fully equipped and prepared for your underwater adventure. Here’s what’s included:
Comprehensive Learning Materials
– Access to eLearning modules or printed manuals or through our DST App, covering the theory and fundamentals of diving.
– Classroom sessions (if applicable) for further discussion and Q&A with instructors.
Full Equipment Rental Use of premium scuba gear, including:
– Mask, fins, and snorkel
– Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)
– Regulator with alternate air source and gauges
– Dive computer for real-time monitoring
– Wetsuit appropriate for the dive environment
Confined Water and Open Water Sessions
– Confined water training dives to develop essential skills in a safe and controlled environment.
– Four open water dives at scenic dive sites, applying what you’ve learned under the supervision of our expert instructors.
Certification Fees and SDI Certification Card
– SDI Open Water Diver certification card upon successful completion of the course, valid worldwide.
DAN (Divers Alert Network) Insurance
– Complimentary DAN insurance coverage during the duration of your course, offering peace of mind and emergency assistance coverage.
– Optional upgrades for extended or higher-level coverage available upon request.
Logbook
– A dive logbook to document your training dives and track future dives, building your diving portfolio.
Refreshments and Surface Intervals
– Snacks and refreshments during surface intervals to keep you hydrated and energized throughout the day.
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