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sdi courses

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(Scuba Diving International)

LEARN TO DIVE

scuba divers

Davey Bones and SDI make it possible for you to complete all of the academic requirements for your entry-level scuba diver certification online. You can get started right now and, when you are done, you will then complete your in-water skill-development sessions and final open-water training at a nearby dive location.

ADVANCED ADVENTURE

Tiger Beach

The SDI Advanced Adventure course will give you an overview of five different SDI specialties. Two of the required specialties are the Deep Diver and Navigation Diver specialties which are the foundation of continuing diver education. The remaining specialty dives you can opt for include: Advanced Buoyancy Control, Wreck Diver, Search and Recovery Diver, Computer Nitrox Diver, Drift Diver, Marine Ecosystem Awareness & Many more!

RESCUE DIVER

Rescue Diving

Designed to develop the knowledge and necessary skills to effectively perform diver rescues and assist and administer the necessary first aid in the event of an emergency. You'll learn skills such as how to perform self-rescue, buddy rescue, recognize and calm potential panic divers, administer proper first aid to divers that have experienced dive-related injuries, conduct effective search patterns and manage accident scenes. 

MASTER DIVER

Diver above a whale

The SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program was created to make true master divers. The program requires a new open water diver to complete four SDI, TDI, or ERDI Specialties, the SDI Rescue Diver Course, and log 50 dives. SDI feels a diver will be a true master scuba diver after these steps are accomplished.

DIVEMASTER

diving class

This is the first professional level certification. During the course, you will learn how to work with divers, lead certified divers, and act as a dive guide showing divers underwater dive sites and the marine life that inhabits those dives sites. You will increase your knowledge about physics and physiology as well as increase your proficiency with your scuba and snorkeling skills.

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

diving instructor

Designed to gain practical teaching experience, learning to prepare lesson plans, and give academic presentations. Once you complete the Specialty Instructor training with a qualified SDI Instructor Trainer, you can become qualified to teach several SDI Specialty Diver courses.

ADVANCED SCUBA DIVER

scuba gear

This was created to make truly “Advanced Divers.” During the course your Instructor will take you through four complete SDI, TDI, or ERDI specialty courses (for example; Deep, Navigation, Search and Recovery, Wreck, Intro to Tech, Nitrox, etc.) covering all the skills and subjects, so that by the end you will feel comfortable to conduct dives of a similar nature.

ADVANCED BUOYANCY CONTROL

buoyancy control

This specialty is designed to increase the open water diver’s understanding of the factors that influence buoyancy and to train the diver how to use the means available to him as methods for controlling his buoyancy. The added benefits to the marine and freshwater environments, cannot be overstated; as well as a diver that has better control of himself in conjunction with his environment.

COMPUTER DIVER

personal dive computer

The SDI Computer Diver Course is designed to expand a diver’s knowledge in the use of their personal dive computer (PDC) and is primarily intended for divers who are certified with agencies using traditional dive tables for planning, rather than PDC’s throughout training.

COMPUTER NITROX

nitrox

Nitrox is a breathing gas that has a lot of benefits for both new and experienced divers. This course will cover the use of nitrox mixtures from 22 to 40 percent oxygen.

DEEP DIVER

Underwater plane-wreck

This is a must for any diver wishing to explore a little more, go a little deeper, and learn the risks and benefits associated with deep diving. The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary training to plan and execute dives that are beyond 18 metres/60 feet and to a maximum depth of not greater than 40 metres/130 feet. 

DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE DIVER

diver propulsion vehicle

The SDI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Diver Course is designed to train divers in the use of a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) and familiarize them with the skills, knowledge, planning, organization, procedures, techniques, problems, and hazards of using a DPV in a non-overhead environment.

DRIFT DRIVING

scuba tours

Drift diving allows a diver to travel over a large area without expending much energy. You simply get neutrally buoyant and enjoy the dive as the scenery moves past you. The SDI Drift Diver Course covers the academics of drift diving from, how to enter and exit drifts, what to do if you get caught in a drift and wish to get out, how to get out of the drift to observe something special, and much more. The course will also introduce you to the various types of drift currents you may be diving in.

DRY SUIT

dry scuba diving

Many of the diving environments around the world are better experienced in a dry suit. Why? These areas have an abundance of marine life waiting to be seen and photographed – they just happen to be a little colder! Dry suits are also used in tropical water during the cooler months.  It will discuss the types of dry suits, accessories, maintenance and how to make basic repairs.

NIGHT/LIMITED VISIBILITY DIVER

night scuba diving

Many divers find that night diving is their favorite type of diving. As with all specialty diving applications, procedures are different than those associated with open water diving. The purpose of this course is to acquaint the open water diver with the procedures, techniques, and potential hazards associated with diving at night, or in limited visibility. Becoming familiar with the use of dive lights, and night diving techniques such as navigation, buddy system procedures, communications, buoyancy control, and interacting with nocturnal aquatic life, the diver can safely enjoy night diving.

SEARCH AND 
RECOVERY DIVER

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This specialty is designed to acquaint the diver with special skills and techniques necessary to
successfully plan, execute and evaluate a search and recovery dive.

SOLO DIVER

Solo Diver

Being one of SDI’s most popular courses, the Solo Diver course stresses proper dive planning, personal limitations, and accident prevention, as well as the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo. You will also learn the additional equipment that is required for solo diving including its proper usage and assembly. This is the perfect course for underwater photography and underwater video divers as well as those diving with their children or buddies that may not be very experienced in scuba diving.

UNDERWATER NAVIGATION

Underwater Navigation

Your SDI Underwater Navigation Specialty course will help you overcome the obstacles inherent to finding your way underwater. You will learn how easy and simple navigation can be and how it will help you both above and below the surface. During this course, you will review natural aids such as sand ripples or reef formations, which can accurately predict your route. Tools such as mechanical or digital compasses are a surprising challenge to the novice but we will help you unravel the challenge and teach the practical skills and techniques you’ll need to use them effectively.

VISUAL INSPECTION
PROCEDURES

Tank Inspection

This Cylinder Inspection Course is designed to promote safety in the care and maintenance of high-pressure scuba cylinders. The VIP program is intended to demonstrate to the scuba industry, a need to meet and exceed the minimum standards established by the Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, it is intended to train inspectors in the proper handling, filling, and inspection techniques, including the identification of the various defective conditions that can lead to cylinder rejection or condemnation. The course will also cover the operation and repair of valves, cleaning and maintenance and the operation of high-pressure compressor systems.

WRECK DIVER

million-hope-wreck-diving

Wreck diving can be one of the most exciting aspects of sport diving, however every effort must be made to maximize safe diving techniques. The SDI Wreck Diver Course will discuss the equipment and techniques commonly employed while wreck diving. This course may be taught as a non-penetration, 2 dives required, or as a limited-penetration course, requiring 3 dives. Limited- penetration is defined as a swim through or within the ambient light of entry point.

FULL FACE MASK DIVER

Full Face Mask Diver

Divers often have a need, or want, to effectively communicate underwater. The SDI Full Face Mask Course is the perfect starting point. Full face mask diving allows the diver to relax and enjoy diving while not worrying about maintaining the second stage regulator. In addition, the full face mask will help insulate the diver from a coldwater environment.

EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST DIVER

Scuba Gear

This course is designed to give an in-depth look at how dive equipment works. It will cover general repairs and maintenance of various types of exposure suits, BCD’s, regulators, and other accessories.

COURSE DIRECTOR

instructor-teaches-woman-dive

The SDI Course Director Course is the first module of SDI’s Instructor Trainer (IT) Development Program. This program trains candidates to conduct the SDI Instructor Development Course (IDC) independently. In addition, SDI Course Directors are qualified to conduct the SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor Course and specialty ratings for SDI Instructors and Assistant Instructors.

NON-DIVING INSTRUCTOR

dive-master-student-asian-diving-school

The SDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor course is designed to teach members of the scuba diving industry such as: store owners, service technicians, and employees the knowledge to safely function as an independent instructor of the non-diving specialties listed below:

  • Visual Inspection Procedures

  • Air Fill Station Technician

  • Other non-diving specialties, i.e. unique specialties, offered by SDI (subject to headquarters’ approval)

  • SDI Snorkeling

OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVER INSTRUCTOR (OWSDI)

scuba-divers-swimming-live-coral-reef-full-fish-sea-anemones

The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor (OWSDI) course is designed to teach current Divemasters or Assistant Instructors certified with a recognized dive training organization the knowledge to effectively function as an open water scuba diver instructor. This program is divided into two sections, an instructor development course (IDC) and an instructor evaluation course (IEC).

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