Open Water Course

📋 Prerequisites

• 👌 Age 15+ (12–14 for Junior Open Water SCUBA Diver)
• 👌 Medical questionnaire or physician approval (Download here)
• 👌 Signed waiver and release (Download here)
• 👌 Competent swimming ability (without mask, snorkel, fins or other swimming aids):
  • Prerequisite requirements: (prior to SCUBA training)
  • 200 yard surface swim
  • 25 ft underwater swim (no push off)
  • 10 min treading water/survival float
• 👌 Junior Open Water SCUBA Diver students must also meet the following:
  • Permission of parent or guardian to take course is required
  • Pre-course interview with instructor and parent(s) is required.
  • Attendance at all sessions of the course by parent or guardian is required unless Junior Waiver has been signed by a parent and properly witnessed.

  Note: See Renewal below for more information on Junior Diver.

🎒 Equipment

Students will use the Minimum Student SCUBA System.

📚 Materials

• Required Text: Leaird or Graver (preferred: Leaird)
• SCUBA Educators International Open Water Diver Student Kit *
• SCUBA Educators International Air Diving Tables *
• SCUBA Logbook *

* Included in Student Kit

📘 Course Requirements

1. Classroom and Pool: The SCUBA Educators International Open Water Diver course includes classroom or online learning and pool or confined water. Students whose understanding or water skill is less than average may require additional time.

2. Open Water Training: Students are to participate in at least one skin and four SCUBA dives prior to certification. Two dives in one day are traditional. However, no more than three SCUBA dives may be conducted on any given day. These dives may be a combination of required training dives and additional excursion dives. The open water training shall be conducted during daylight hours with clear access to the surface at all times.