Complete overview of open water diver course

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28th Jun 2021

Open water diver

What is the SSI open water diver course?

Are you ready to transform your body with Gills to breathe ( the best theoretical knowledge ) and Finns to swim ( repetitive skills practices and practical dives ) underwater so that you can explore the oceans like a mature fish?

Our experienced instructors train you to that level in transforming yourself into a complete, confident as well as comfortable open water diver with the help of 20 skills and 6 dives during your SSI open water diver course in India.

You can choose to complete the open water diver course either within 3 days or 4 days. We have seen people don’t want to spend time reading academics during their holidays in Andamans. It is strongly recommended to sign up for the course at the elearning option for freeand start the academic session now from the comfort of your home.

During 6 open water dives, You learn how to gain control over your body by maintaining buoyancy, sharpen up your breathing techniques, swim efficiently underwater using fins. You should rely on your instructor as well as cooperate with him 100 % so that he can assist any time you find difficulty in learning. Ok, let’s get started.

Day one

There is a short introduction session within you, an open water course, and your instructor. Your instructor assists you in completing the paperwork, which is required for the activity such as registration form, privacy policy, divers code form, liability release form, and medical questionnaire.

Post breakfast, There is not only a descriptive but also an interactive briefing session involved about what does S.C.U.B.A. stand for, what are the names and functions of each part of the scuba equipment, How we assemble them ( demonstration and practice of assembling and dissembling of the scuba unit ), The importance of theory and the basic knowledge of marine life, How does change in pressure effect on our body, how we breathe and what are the techniques to breathe to become more comfortable for scuba diving in Andaman.

Going for confined water session

Confined water session

You need to go for a short swim test ( 200 meters ), Snorkelling test ( 300 meters ), and float test of 2 minutes. As the open water diver course requires you to perform these prerequisites to proceed further. Don’t worry, You can take your time to complete the swim test. You will find snorkelling very interesting after seeing the school’s colourful fish during the snorkelling test.

We take a break for a coffee and some refreshments so that you can restore the stamina, you already spent swimming and snorkelling. We demonstrate only ten skills on day 1 and we would like you to practice the skills repetitively to become comfortable and confident for deepsea diving in Andaman. Skills are written below.

1.Regulator remove and replace ( removing water from the regulator using purge method )

2.Regulator Remove and replace ( removing water from the regulator using blow method )

3.Regulator retrieval ( using swipe method )

4.Regulator retrieval ( using reach method )

5.Mask clearing half-flooded ( removing water from mask using blow method )

6.Mask clearing full – flooded ( removing water from mask using blow method )

7.Alternate air source breathing stationary.

8.Buoyancy Check with a Total Diving System

9.Mask Removal and Replacement

10.Neutral Buoyancy ( confined water )

Open water dive 1

Always remember to PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN. Your instructor teaches you how to plan a dive by explaining the entry and exit methods, steady

breathing pattern, regular equalisation as well as the dive site topography,

and the fish life. You should not rush things and calmly follow the instructions.

It is strictly instructed to performing a buddy check before every dive of your life to ensure every piece of equipment is working properly and do not fiddle with any button unless directed. The easiest way to get off from the boat is a back roll entry and while doing that our crew assists us.

We inflate our Buoyancy compensator fully while breathing through the regulator just before getting off the boat so that we buoyant up at the water surface, We signal each other to begin the descend. We need to deflate to go down while Keep equalising

regularly using our other hand upon feeling squeeze discomfort on our eardrums.

After reaching the point as planned, we need to become neutrally buoyant and start swimming. While scuba diving in Havelock, your instructor always stays at most an arm’s length away from you and you can see him/her all the time.

Your air consumption plays a vital role, Slow, steady, and long breathing is recommended, and that way the tank lasts longer so you get extra time to explore more. But mostly the dive time is at least 45 minutes. Remember Never hold your breath.

Your instructor presents an encouraging debriefing about how you did it, what are the key points you should focus on to dive comfortably, the marine life you have seen while being diving as well as some magic tricks to improve your diving ability.

Open water dive 2

Open water dive 2

We take a break between 2 dives and it is usually called a surface interval, There we make a nice plan for the next dive over a cup of coffee. The next dive requires you to perform few skills underwater such as regulator removal and replacement, half-flooded mask clearing along with neutral buoyancy.

Do keep in mind that never exceed the ascent rate of 9 meters per minute or 30 feet per 60 seconds. Your instructor watches you whether you use the skills and techniques in real dive or not. So do use them to master. Again pre-dive safety check along with performing proper steps to get in the water is a must to do things.

Your instructor will be pointing out fish and interesting stuff so that besides learning you can enjoy your dive too. As usual, your instructor presents a nice and effective debriefing along with the description of the marine life you just saw during your dive. Most importantly never forget to ask your instructor about another magic trick to use for the next dive.

Day two

Starting a new day with a short briefing about the schedule and how we proceed further to finish the remaining 10 skills and 2 open water dives. Do insist on checking all your equipment as well as their sizes too before we head to the confined water skills. It is

instructed to assemble your scuba unit and do a quick pre-dive safety check to ensure everything is working properly.

Confined water session

Your instructor demonstrates the other 10 skills and urges you to practice them repetitively. You need to repeat the skills you learned on day 1 too. Your instructor evaluates all the skills as per the performance requirements. Skills are written below.

Confined water session

1.BC remove and replace underwater

2.BC remove and replace at the surface

3.Weight belt remove and replace underwater

4.Weight belt remove and replace at the surface

5.No musk swimming while breathing from a regulator

6.Free flow regulator

7.Tired diver toe

8.Air depletion practice

9.Emergency swimming ascend ( ESA )

10.Emergency buoyant ascend ( EBA )

Open water dive 3

At this stage, you need to make a dive plan taking information about the dive site and reef structure from your instructor. Do not exclude the entry and exit method points from the plan. Follow all the mustdo steps to proceed to dive and start using all the skills as well as tricks on your dive to fine-tune your diving ability.

Ascending scuba diver

Your instructor and you require to perform a safety stop ( 3 minutes at 5 meters of depth ) once you abort the dive and start your ascent. Your instructor provides all necessary signals and steps to do that before the dive so that it goes as planned.

Besides watching the amazing marine life, Do not forget to equalise on time and respect the environment. After the dive, you will be debriefed about what you have done the best as well as the mistake you need to work on to become not only just a diver but also a SSI Open water diver.

Open water dive 4

It’s time to take a break for surface interval andlet the boat crew arrange your equipment for the next dive. Your instructor provides you some basic knowledge about underwater navigation as well as how to use a campus down there. Do make a quick plan for the next dive with your instructor. The key points to make a successful and safe dive plan are written below.

1.predive safety check

2.entry and exit method cum points

3.controlled decent

4.regular equalisation to avoid squeeze discomfort

5.repeat signals

6.controlled ascent

7.emergency procedure

8.emphasis on continues slow steady and deep breathes

9.safety stop

10.any local tidal or weather condition

Go on following the steps to start your 4th dive. Besides the enjoyment, your instructor asks you to perform a few skills such as neutral buoyancy, mask clearing, and weight belt removal replace to evaluate them as per course requirement. Finish your dive safely come up relax and keep listening to your instructor while debriefing the skills and dive done by you.

Day three

There will be a short briefing about the schedule and how we proceed further to finish the remaining 2 open water dives and a few skills ( if not perform satisfactorily ). You should check all your equipment as well as their sizes too before we head to the ocean. You need to assemble your gear and do a quick pre-dive safety check to ensure everything is working properly.

Morning briefing for open water dive 5 and 6

Confined water session

We only go for a confined water session if any of the skills is not performed satisfactorily during day 1 and day 2.

Open water dive 5 and 6

To enjoy your dive to the fullest, we keep dive 5 and 6 at the best two dive sites in Havelock but do keep it in mind you need to plan your dive according to the above written 10 key points with the assistance of your instructor. It is recommended to perform an emergency air sharing accent during your 5th dive.

Try navigating your way while diving under the supervision of your instructor. Keep using the skills you learned and the tricks are given each time you dive. Remember to take a safety stop for 3 minutes at 5 meters depth of seawater.

On the 6th dive, your instructor gives you a dive computer and makes you understand the basic information on how to use a dive computer while diving. Try listening to him very carefully so that during the dive you can use and get benefited.

Respect the marine life

Do respect the marine life and try not to screw them even after being a confident and comfortable open water diver. Upon ending your 6th dive at the surface only, You receive the word congratulations from our boat crew as well as your instructor.

After coming back from the ocean, you need to give the easiest exam of your life, finish up some paperwork along logging your dives on a customised logbook given by Seahawks SCUBA.

Welcome to the new world of Open Water Divers. Happy Diving forever.

Open Water Diver Certificate

We do encourage you to consider doing your Advanced Open Water Diver course with us in the next 6 months becausescuba diving in Andaman costis reasonably affordable and being a loyal customer, you get 25 % flat off on your next course fees at Seahawks SCUBA.

Thank you so much. We hope you enjoyed reading and will be enjoying your scuba diving days with us soon. The next blog will be coming about Advanced Open Water Diver Course soon. Stay tuned.