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SDI and TDI Course Information Both students and instructors have embraced the no nonsense approach that the SDI training system offers. We have streamlined the course materials to let students study the essential academics with an emphasis on practical diving skills learned in both the pool and open water environments. SDI is the only agency to require students to be taught with modern dive computers from the onset of training. Travel & Lodging Fees may apply if travel is required for all courses Recrational & Professional Core Classes
Recreational Specialties Technical Specialties
We're in the process of expanding the course descriptions below. Please feel free to drop me an e-mail regarding any questions or concerns... The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course is an entry-level certification course designed to give you the necessary skills to safely conduct open water dives. Some of the many skills you will learn include buoyancy, proper weighting, marine conservation, equipment assembly, proper dive planning, and maintenance. The course covers all the basic knowledge about equipment, physiology and the marine environment while training students to perform basic skills underwater. This course is the key to start exploring dive destinations around the globe or just in your backyard. Prerequisites: Complete medical questionnaire (with doctor approval upon request), and must demonstrate acceptable swimming skills. $300 / Student (Local) 4 pool sessions and 4 open water dives. Included: Virtually All Inclusive! We provide all necessary equipment, air fills, and Madison Quarry passes (not valid for other locations). Students will also receive an attractive SDI carrying case to store your log book and other important papers.. What you'll need to provide:
For those who want to test the waters, this is the course for you. The SDI Scuba Discovery Program gives you a glimpse into what you can expect to see in the underwater world as well as what you could expect to learn in the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Course. You will be shown the basic safety procedures for enjoyable scuba dives under the watchful eye of an SDI instructor. You will learn skills like equalizing your ears, buddy checks, basic buoyancy control, and underwater communication. You will also be given an introduction to basic scuba equipment and scuba skills followed by an underwater tour in the local marine environment. If you enjoy this experience then the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course is your next step.
$20 / Student
Do you have a family and you want to get your children involved in scuba diving so you can all dive as a family? Then SDI has the program for them. The SDI Future Buddies program is a half day course for children between the ages of 8 & 9. The program provides a safe and easy introduction to scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of an SDI instructor. Your children are given the opportunity to try breathing underwater in confined water setting – a swimming pool or a certified confined water area. Your child(ren) will learn about the history of diving, diving equipment and the marine environment. If you after completing the SDI Future Buddies Program your child(ren) loves scuba diving and wants to become a certified diver then once they are 10 years old they can enroll in the SDI Junior Open Water Diver course. There are some pre requisites for the SDI Future Buddies Program:
Please note that children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times during this course. $75 / Student
You’ve taken your open water scuba diver course and now your ready to expand your knowledge but you would like to see what is out there first. The SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course will give you an overview of five (5) selected SDI specialties. We suggest SDI Deep Diver, Navigation Diver, Night Diver, Search & Recover Diver, and Wreck Diver, which are the foundation of continuing diver education. These dives can be applied to the required dives for the specialty at a later date. Prerequisite: "Open Water" from any agency. $200 / Student (includes Madison Quarry passes and air fills) 5 Open Water Dives Scuba diving from boats is an everyday occurrence. Whether on a private vessel or one of the many charter dive boats available worldwide, divers are frequently not aware of the special procedures and etiquette used when boat diving. The SDI Boat Diver course will introduce you to some different types of boat diving and the skills needed to plan and conduct a boat dive with maximum safety. The list of skills and knowledge you will obtain during this course is long an includes
$200 / Student 2 Open Water Boat Dives
Introducing a diver to the benefits of controlling theire buoyancy has great positive effetc that will enhance the divers sense of enjoyment and feeling of accomplishement. This specialty is designed to increase the divers understanding of the factors affecting their buoyancy and to train the diver in using those means available to him as methods of controlling his buoyancy. The added benefits to the marine and fresh water environments cannot be overstated as well as we have divers that have better control of themselves in conjuction with their environment. Minimum age of 10. $200 / Student 2 Open Water Dives
This is the first (1st) stage of training in the series of TDI’s tech diver development program. The objective of this course is to train the divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for utilizing Enriched air nitrox twenty one (21%) percent through to one hundred (100%) percent oxygen for dives not requiring staged decompression. To a depth of forty (40) msw, one hundred thirty (130) fsw this course can be combined with Decompression Procedures at the discretion of your instructor. • Minimum age of eighteen (18) This course is run over three days if taught stand alone or five days if combined with the TDI Decompression Procedures course. Students looking at moving into further technical diving courses will need Advanced Nitrox certifications to enroll on the higher technical dive courses. $350 / Student Classroom 6-8 Hours 4 Open Water Dives
The SDI Computer Diver course is for divers how have not yet used a dive computer or for divers that want to learn a little more about the computer they are using. During the course and the two dives that go along with it, your SDI Instructor will cover;
Personal Dive Computers are used by the vast majority of divers today and have proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring and documenting dives. $200 / Student 2 Open Water Dives
The SDI Computer Nitrox course is a great next step after the Open Water Diver certification and is structured in an easy to understand manner by making use of a Nitrox programmable computer. Nitrox as a breathing gas has a lot of benefits for both new and experienced divers. The course will cover the use of Nitrox mixtures from 22 to 40 percent oxygen. The benefits of using Nitrox include;
$125 / Student Online $150 / Student Classroom
The CPROX course is a straight forward no nonsense approach to teaching you as the first responder to an emergency how to handle the situation. The course is Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Oxygen Administration combined into one program. You will learn how to use what is at your disposal to treat and stabilise victims until medically trained professionals arrive. Subjects that are covered include;
$125 / Student
The CPR1st course is one of the two first responder courses that SDI offers. CPR1st, like SDI’s other course CPROX, is a straight forwarded program that teaches what you need to know to respond to an emergency until trained professionals arrive. The course is Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid combined in a comprehensive easy to remember format. You will learn the basics of;
$125 / Student
The TDI Decompressions Procedures course combined with the TDI Advanced Nitrox course form the foundation of all other technical courses. After these two courses and some additional experience, the stage has been set for you to move onto additional technical levels. Some of the materials you will be using include the TDI Divers Guide to Decompression Procedures, US Navy or Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables (made of vinyl for easy in-water use and storage). $500 / Student Classroom 6-8 Hours 4 Open Water Dives SDI’s Deep Diver course is a must for any diver wishing to explore a little more and will teach you the risks and benefits of deep diving. Many interesting sights lie just beyond 18m/60ft such as beautiful wall dives, ship wrecks, and critters that don’t come into the shallows. During the course, your SDI Instructor will take you on two covers skills like
By the end of the course your knowledge and comfort level will have increased. The Deep Diver course has a maximum depth of 40m/130, the suggested sport diving limit. $225 / Student 2 Open Water Deep Dives
For those divers wishing to go a little father or a little faster the SDI Diver Propulsion Vehicle course (DPV) is the perfect course. This course is also ideal for divers needing a little assistance getting through the water due to leg problems. While taking the course your SDI Instructor will teach you about
$225 / Student 2 Open Water DPV Dives
Some of the best dives in the world are found in currents where the nutrients are rich and ready to be feed on by soft corals, sponges, and Manta rays. Whether you’re planning on drifting down a wall or shooting through a passage, the SDI Drift Diver course will teach you the techniques for doing it safely. The course covers
$200 / Student 2 Open Water Drift Dives Necessary Equipment: Safety Sausage, Wreck Reel, and/or Finger Spool. Available for purchase from Better Diver.
The SDI Dry Suit Diver course will open up a whole new world of diving to you. Many of the waters around the world are better dove in a dry suit. These waters have an abundance of marine life waiting to be seen and photographed, dry suits are also being used in tropical waters during the cooler months. Your SDI Instructor will teach you
Why be cold? $200 / Student This class is FREE with the purchase of any of our recommended Dry Suits! 2 Hour Pool Session/Classroom 2 Open Water Dives
There are many things that you as a diver can do to maintain your equipment and the SDI Equipment Specialty course is just the place to learn how to do that maintenance. This course covers BCs’, regulators, wetsuits, dry suits and many more of the equipment items used while diving. Your SDI Instructor will teach
$175 / Student 6-8 Hour Classroom
Divers often have a need or want to effectively communicate underwater. The SDI Full Face Mask Diver course is the perfect starting point. Full face masks are also often used in waters with low visibility that may be contaminated or waters that are colder. Using a full face mask will protect you from the elements. You will learn what mask is right for you, how to don a full face mask, and care and maintenance along with many other topics of interest. $200 / Student 2 Open Water FFM Dives
The TDI Intro to Tech course is the perfect course for divers who have heard about technical diving and want to find out more about this exciting branch of advanced recreational diving. This course walks students through the special techniques, planning procedures and skills that set technical diving apart from traditional sport diving. It will show them how to improve their dive planning methods, in-water skills and streamline their existing gear configuration, in a non-threatening and fun learning environment. The specific skills this course will highlight are:
TDI’s Intro to Tech course is a useful stand-alone course for the diver who wants to become a more skilled, more proficient diver regardless of if he intends to move on to technical diving. The course may also be used as an introduction to the TDI Advanced Nitrox course and the TDI Decompression Procedures course. And finally, it is also a good refresher for certified technical divers who may want to refresh their skills or have them re-evaluated by a TDI technical instructor. $250 / Student Classroom 4-6 Hours 3 Open Water Dives
As divers, we have a vested interest in protecting the marine environment. In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about their own local sites. The SDI Marine Ecosystems Awareness specialty will increase the Open Water Diver’s understanding of marine environments, the problems facing these unique ecosystems, and the role that divers can play in protecting our marine resources. Your SDI Instructor will cover your local diving ecosystems as well as others around the globe. $175 / Student
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 the SDI Night & Limited Visibility Diver course is to acquaint the Open Water Scuba Diver with the procedures, techniques, and potential hazards associated with diving at night or in limited visibility. By becoming familiar with the use of dive lights and night diving techniques such as navigation
You will be able to enjoy night diving with maximum safety and comfort. $200 / Student
TDI Nitrox course is an entry level course for divers wishing to utilize enriched air nitrox as a breathing gas. Little else has impacted recreational diving more than the introduction of nitrox, allowing more time underwater. During this course, you will learn the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for diving with EAN 22 to EAN 40 your TDI Instructor will also cover
$175 / Student
The SDI Research Diver course will acquaint the Open Water Diver with the fascinating topic of Research Diving. After the completion of this course, you will be better able to discover, explore, and appreciate the underwater environment by using research techniques to better preserve and protect the underwater environment. Some of the topics your SDI Instructor will cover include;
$175 / Student
The SDI Rescue Diver Course is designed to develop your knowledge and necessary skills to effectively perform diver rescues and assist, and administer necessary first aid. You will learn skills such as how to perform self rescues, buddy rescues, 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. After the SDI Rescue Diver Course you can enroll in the SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program or start in the professional ranks and sign up for the SDI Divemaster Course. Rescue is a prerequisite to SDI leadership and DAN Oxygen Provider as well as First Aid & CPR are requirements for Rescue. $350 / Student Classroom 4-6 Hours Open Water Dives
SDI’s Search and Recovery Diver specialty will teach you the basic of searching for a lost object from outboard boat motors to jewelry. You will also learn to recovery the object once it is located this includes the use of lift bags and tying lines underwater to secure and lift the object. Your SDI Instructor will cover skills such as
$200 / Student
Many great dives are located just off shore and can be easily accessed from shore. The SDI Shore and Beach Diver course will teach you the proper techniques for entries and exits, navigation, avoiding currents, and planning of safe shore dives $200 / Student 2 Open Water Shore Entry Dives
This course is designed to teach certified divers how to safely utilize side-mounted primary cylinders as an alternative to the traditional back-mounted configuration. $200 / Student 2 Open Water Side Mount Dives
One of SDI’s most popular courses, the solo diver program teaches experienced recreational divers how to safely dive independently of a dive buddy or strengthen your buddy team skills. The course stresses on proper dive planning, personal limitations, 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 it's proper usage and assembly. This is the perfect course for underwater photography and underwater video divers. $250 / Student 100 Logged Dives and Advanced Certification required 2 Open Water Dives
One of the most important skills a diver can have is good navigation, this could be with a compass or by natural formations. The SDI Underwater Navigation Diver course will teach you the necessary skills to navigate using a compass and natural navigation. During the course your SDI Instructor will teach you
$200 / Student
Making a dive and seeing wonders of the aquatic environment can only be topped by taking pictures of it to share with friends and family. The SDI Underwater Photography course allows you to experience some of the special considerations of underwater photography, with a discussion of many areas of interest to the photographer. Your SDI Instructor will assist you in selecting a camera, good buoyancy techniques, lighting, and framing of the perfect shot. Whether you want to use film or digital this course and your SDI Instructor will teach you what you need to know. $200 / Student
Most divers have a desire to bring home the sights and sounds of being underwater, if a picture tells a thousand words a video tells a thousand words per second. The SDI Underwater Video course makes it possible for you to save your underwater experiences and share them with others. Shooting underwater video is fun, exciting, and easy to learn. Some of the things you will learn during the course are equipment, techniques, and procedures needed to plan and shoot underwater video with maximum safety. $225 / Student
During the SDI Visual Inspection Procedures course you will learn to promote safety in the care and maintenance of high-pressure scuba cylinders by way of your SDI Instructor and a comprehensive Visual Inspection Procedures manual. One of the goals is to raise the consciousness of the industry to the need to meet and exceed the minimum standards established by local Regulations. Another goal is 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. $150 / Student Special Bonus! Bring in up to two cylinders and we will VIP them as part of your course! (We provide the visual inspection stickers.) Please Note: This course is designed to actually qualify individuals whom work in the dive industry to perform Visual Inspections on SCUBA cylinders, however, divers are cautioned that inspections should only be performed by an insured dive training or repair facility. In fact, retailers generally only recognize VIP stickers affixed to cylinders by reputable dive businesses. This doesn't mean that recreational divers won't benefit from this course, but unless employed by a dive business; leave the actual inspections up to them.
Wreck diving can be one of the most exciting aspects of sport diving and can uncover pieces of history seen by few others, however every effort must be made to maximize safe diving techniques. In the SDI Wreck Diver course, we will discuss and use equipment and techniques commonly employed while wreck diving. This course may be taught as a 1) non-penetration (2 total dives) or 2) limited-penetration (3 total dives) course. In the event of “Limited Penetration Training,” limited penetration is defined as “swim through or within the ambient light of entry point,”. Your SDI Instructor will teach you how to safely plan and execute wreck dives in a fun and enjoyable way. $200 / Student (includes text) Non Pentration $225 / Student (includes text) Limited Penetration Necessary Equipment: Wreck Reel available for purchase from ECD.
Advanced Development Programs
After completeing 4 specialties and obtaining 25 dives, you deserve to be recognized for your acomplishments. Visit us and bring along all your accomplishments in diving, don’t forget the logbook with your 25 dives, the we will reward all of your hard work by submitting for your Advanced Diver certification. $25 Certification Fee
You have already shown that diving is the sport for you by completing your Open Water Scuba Diver certification, Advanced Scuba Diver certification, Rescue Diver certification and you have logged 50 total dives, now take the next step. The SDI Master Scuba Diver Development Program is an earned certification and the highest non professional level of certification. Visit us and bring along all your accomplishments in diving, don’t forget the logbook with your 50 dives, the we will reward all of your hard work by submitting for your Master Scuba Diver certification. So now that you have earned the highest of non professional training what’s next? You can continue to take SDI specialties that interest you like Computer Nitrox, Diver Propulsion Vehicle Specialty, Dry Suit Diver, and many more or sign up for the first professional level of training SDI Divemaster. $25 Certification Fee
Leadership The SDI Divemaster Course is the first professional level certification. During this course you will be challenged and learn what it is like to work with divers as they experience the underwater world for the first time and you will learn how to lead already certified divers and show them some of your favorite critters or dive sites. Your SDI Instructor will also teach you how to manage divers, work the dive deck of a boat, and conducting safe and enjoyable dives. Other things you can expect to learn is diving Physics and Physiology, and being a professional SDI Divemaster. Your skills will be refined to demonstration quality and your knowledge increased to that of a professional. After you have completed the SDI Divemaster course you can move onto the SDI Assistant Instructor Course where you will learn more about academic presentations and have the ability to teach certain SDI specialties. $500 / Candidate Includes all necessary materials for classroom, pool, open water. Student will be responsible for purchase of an SDI standards manual.
This course enables the successful candidate to engage leading certified technical divers in an open water environment. Upon certification the student can receive credit for assisting TDI instructors with training. The student must: Four (4) days including including six (6) technical dives within current level of skill and training. $500 / Candidate Includes all necessary materials for classroom, pool, open water.
The SDI Assistant instructor course is designed for you to gain practical teaching experience with an active SDI Instructor or Instructor Trainer. You will help an Instructor teach an Open Water Scuba Diver course, Advanced Diver Course, and Rescue Diver Course. Your SDI Instructor will also teach you to
Upon completion of the course you may teach and certify Skin Divers, conduct the Inactive Diver Program, and conduct the knowledge Quest review in the Open Water Diver Course. With some additional training, you could go on to teach the following SDI courses;
$500 / Candidate Includes all necessary materials for classroom, pool, open water. Student will be responsible for purchase of an SDI standards manual.
The SDI/TDI/ERDI Non-Diving Specialty Instructor course is designed to teach members of the SCUBA Course Duration: 40 hours
Instructor Course
The SDI IT Staff Instructor course will train candidates to conduct the SDI Instructor Development Course
Course Duration: 40 hours
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