The SSI Open Water Diver program provides students with the knowledge and training necessary to dive autonomously with an equally- or more-qualified buddy, in environments equivalent with their training and to depths shallower than 18 meters.
- No more than two (2) participants per instructor or certified assistant may be under the age of 12, and none of the remaining participants may be under the age of 15.
- An active status Assistant Instructor may directly supervise all academic sessions, pool/confined water activities (with the exception of emergency ascent skills), and surface skills during open water training dives under the indirect supervision of an active status Open Water Instructor.
- An active status Open Water Instructor must introduce and directly supervise all emergency ascent skills during in-water training.
- A certified assistant may directly supervise a maximum of two (2) students during the excursion portion of any open water training dives after the completion of Open Water Training Dive 2.
- If navigation training is being conducted during Open Water Training Dive 4, the instructor may choose to indirectly supervise these skills.
- If dry suits are used during training, the Open Water Instructor directly supervising the program must also be an active status SSI Dry Suit Diving Specialty Instructor.
- During in-water skill evaluations, the students must remain under direct supervision of the SSI Professional so that physical contact can be made at any time.
- Complete all academic sections and assessments outlined in the instructor manual for Open Water Diver.
- Complete all pool/confined water sessions and skill evaluations outlined in the instructor manual for Open Water Diver.
- Complete the Student Water Fitness Evaluation outlined in the SSI General Training Standards. Water fitness evaluations must be completed before participating in any open water training dives.
- Complete at least four (4) open water training dives on scuba and all of the skill evaluations outlined in instructor manual for Open Water Diver.
Note | Open Water Training Dives 1 and 2 of the Open Water Diver program may be completed in indoor diving facilities as defined in the General Training Standards.
- Open Water Training Dive 1 may be conducted prior to completing the academic requirements and pool/confined water requirements for the program. This dive must meet the requirements of the Open Water Training Dive from the Basic Diver program.
- Open Water Training Dive 2 may only be conducted after all requirements and evaluations for Academic Sessions 1-3 and Pool/Confined Water Sessions 2-3 of the instructor manual for Open Water Diver have been met or exceeded.
- Open Water Training Dives 3-4 may only be conducted after all requirements and evaluations for Academic Sessions 1-6 and Pool/Confined Water Sessions 4-6 of the instructor manual for Open Water Diver have been met or exceeded.
- The skills from Pool/Confined Water Session 1 may be combined with any/all in-water training sessions, but must be completed prior to certification.
- Upon completion of all academic and in-water requirements, including a water fitness evaluation and final exam, an Open Water Instructor may issue the Open Water Diver digital certification card.