The Open Water Diver Course is the most popular course and the first opportunity to introduce you to the SCUBA diving lifestyle. You’ll know why the first time you take a breath underwater. Your course begins with an at home study program of elearning, followed by a classroom review session, pool session and your first Open Water dives. These will be at the world famous Blue Heron Bridge.  This site has been voted one of the best shore dives in the U.S. every year. Your final day of open water training will be aboard one of our boats  where you can gain valuable Drift and Boat Diving experience in the company of your SCUBA Instructor.

Stuart Scuba and its Professional SCUBA Instructors want your SCUBA diving experience to be extraordinary. Please review the Student Registration  and Medical Statement (NAUI, PADI, SDI) relevant to your specific certifying agency. Answering YES to any question on the medical statement doesn’t automatically disqualify you from diving. It only means there’s a condition your instructor needs to be aware of to insure your safety while SCUBA diving. If thought necessary your physician may need to sign the Physicians release portion of the medical statement prior to any in water instruction.

Who this course is for:

• Persons desiring to obtain a Scuba Diving certification
• Persons interested in underwater exploration

Course prerequisites:

• Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent

See Junior Open Water Scuba Diver Course here. (10 – 14 years old)

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course will cover all of the necessary skills and knowledge for open water scuba diving, including:

• The aquatic environment: vision, light, sound, heat loss, tides, currents, waves, surge, etc.
• Physics and physiology: buoyancy, pressure, air spaces, breathing compressed air, mixed gases, etc.
• Dive equipment selection, assembly, use and maintenance
• Dive planning
• Basic scuba skills including mask and regulator skills, swimming underwater, buoyancy control, basic rescue techniques, and emergency procedures
• And much more!

What’s in it for you:

Upon successful completion of the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course, graduates may:

• Conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training
• Continue their dive education by enrolling in SDI Advanced Diver and Specialty courses

SDI Open Water Scuba Diver minimum requirements:

• Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
• Satisfactorily complete the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver knowledge quests or equivalent online learning course
• Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently

Open Water Certification Pricing:

• Group Classes age 12 and above, starting from $500 per student
  • This class will have 5-8 student divers
  • All SCUBA rentals are included (BCD, Wetsuit, Regulator with gauges and compass)
• Semi Private Classes starting from $650 per student
  • This class will have 3-4 student divers
  • All SCUBA rentals are included (BCD, Wetsuit, Regulator with gauges and compass)
• Private Classes starting from $899 per student
  • This class works on a customized schedule organized by Stuart Scuba and the student diver. This course is closed to other divers and training venues are restricted. Please contact the store for details on any Private Courses.
  • All SCUBA rentals are included (BCD, Wetsuit, Regulator with gauges and compass)

Gear requirements for classes:

• OPEN WATER - Basic Gear is a requirement for all students which consists of personal Mask/Fins/Snorkel.