Scuba Diving Courses in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with Beyond Diving
Learn to dive or take another certification course during your vacation in the Riviera Maya and gain more experience and knowledge!
Playa del Carmen is the perfect spot for taking a scuba diving course. It doesn't matter if you are beginner who is just looking at doing a Scuba Discovery program, you want to do your Open Water Diver course, advance on your diver training by doing a diver specialty course.
We have sites that are appropriate for all levels, and our experienced instructors will be more than happy to guide you and teach you to ensure that you have the skill level required to successfully complete your scuba diving course in Playa del Carmen.
Beyond Diving is proud to offer the following Recreational Scuba Diving Courses through SDI (Scuba Diving International).
If you’ve never heard of SDI, let us explain a little bit about them.
SDI is the sister agency of TDI (Technical Diving International). It was started because TDI was only providing training for technical diving. The need for a progressive recreational diving program was filled by creating SDI.
SDI was the first agency to introduce E-Learning.
SDI was also the first agency to have a "Solo Diver" Course.
SDI not only encourages instructors to teach while neutrally buoyant, it is a requirement. Proper buoyancy control is one of the best signs of a well rounded, well trained diver. Over-weighing students and kneeling them on the bottom (especially during open water checkout dives) is a violation of SDI's training standards and philosophy.
In its 20+ years of existence, SDI has been at the forefront of diver education.
The difference between SDI and the other agencies is that SDI is based on the principles of technical diver training. Also, all of the standards for every course were written by actual diving instructors and instructor trainers. Every person who works at SDI-TDI-ERDI is an active scuba diver, scuba instructor and/or instructor trainer.
This means that the courses will be taught at the highest standards available in scuba diver training today and your SDI certification will be recognized by any dive shop, charter or liveaboard worldwide.
At Beyond Diving, we take pride in training all of our students to not just certification card carriers. We do our very best to ensure that our students are safe, qualified, competent and independent divers who will be able to conduct dives within their training, certification and experience level anywhere in the world without the need of an instructor or divemaster to hold their hand.
All of our courses include:
- Learning Materials
- Certification Fees
Equipment rental is not included in continuing education courses unless specified in the description. Equipment can be rented from Beyond Diving for an additional $20/day.
SCUBA DIVING COURSES
SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Program
Price – $155 – Includes pool/theory session, 2 open water dives. The SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Program is designed to update and review the knowledge and skill level of an inactive diver. SDI encourages the use of this program for instructors, assistant instructors, divemasters, and resorts or dive facilities that have questions regarding the diving history of an individual. This program can also be used as a catalyst for continuing education programs.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver who has been inactive for a period of time and wishes to review the scuba skills and academic information before starting to dive again
Course prerequisites:
To participate in the SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Course, the individual must:
- Have proof of an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver
OR
- SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver certification or equivalent from a recognized dive training organization.
What you can expect to learn:
Although one in-water training dive is required, the instructor or assistant instructor may use their discretion with reference to the skills needed to complete the dive. SDI offers the following outline:
- Plan Dive
- Equalization techniques
- Communication signals
- Lung over-expansion problems
- Review of dive computer
- Scuba system assembly
- Weight adjustment
- Mask defog
- Don scuba system SDI Instructor Manual
- Adequate entry for site conditions
- Controlled descent
- Computer check, if used
- Regulator clearing
- Regulator recovery
- Mask clearing
- Fin use
- Buoyancy control; hovering
- Underwater tour
- Computer check
- Controlled ascent; computer assisted
- Exit
- Disassemble scuba system
- Log dive
- Air sharing ascents
- Underwater emergency scenarios
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
SDI Inactive Diver/Refresher Diver minimum requirements:
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
SDI Open Water Scuba Diver
3 Days - Pool Session and 4 Open Water Checkout Dives.
Price $570 - Includes E-Learning Access Code, all necessary equipment, certification fees upon successful completion.
Who this course is for:
- Persons desiring to obtain a Scuba Diving certification
- Persons interested in underwater exploration
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18 (10 with parental consent - at least one parent must be present during all parts of the training.)
What you can expect to learn:
- History of diving
- Aquatic environment
- Marine life injuries
- Physics and physiology
- Repetitive dives
- Safety stops
- Emergency decompression
- Omitted decompression
- Nitrogen Narcosis
- Oxygen toxicity
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Mixed gases
- Hyperventilation, shallow water blackout
- Scuba equipment
- Mask, fins, and snorkel
- Exposure protection
- Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)
- Regulators
- Cylinders
- Weight systems
- Underwater instruments
- Compass
- Accessories
- Dive flag
- Planning your dive
- Diver fitness and overexertion
- Orientation to new or local diving environments
- Boat diving procedures
- Buddy system
- First aid
- Underwater Navigation
- Compass
- Natural
Some of the in-water skills include all of the following and more!
- Swimming evaluation (Must be completed prior to any scuba skill being taught)
- Distance swim of 200 metres non-stop using any stroke without the use of mask, snorkel or any swimming aids, or 300 metres non-stop using mask, snorkel, and fins
- Survival swim/float of 10 minutes
- Swimming evaluation (Must be completed prior to any scuba skill being taught)
* Note: If an exposure suit is worn for any of the above skills, the wearer must be neutrally buoyant at the surface.
- Scuba skills
- Scuba system assembly and disassembly
- Weight system adjustment with proper weighting
- Removal and replacement of weight system on the surface
- Removal and replacement of weight system at depth
- Pre-dive check of self and buddy
- Partial mask clear at depth
- Full mask clear at depth
- Breathing and swimming underwater without a mask
- Buoyancy compensator device (BCD) use:
- Inflation and deflation (oral/power) at the surface
- Inflation and deflation (oral/power) at depth
- Removal and replacement at surface
- Removal and replacement at depth
- Buoyancy control
- Hovering
- Controlled ascents
- Controlled descents
- Regulator use
- Breathing, clearing, and recovery at the surface
- Breathing, clearing, and recovery at depth
- Underwater swimming; proper use of fins
- Entries and exits
- Controlled seated entry
- Giant stride entry
- Shallow water exit
- Deep water exit
- Snorkel use
- Adjustment
- Clearing; blast method
- Scuba skills
What’s in it for you?
- Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may conduct dives in conditions similar to their training and enroll in the Advanced Adventure Diver program, along with other individual SDI Specialties appropriate for their age
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 Quest or equivalent SDI online learning exam with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor.
- Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently
SDI Referral Open Water Scuba Diver Course - $350.
Includes equipment rental, 4 dives over 2 days and certification fees upon successful completion.
You started your Open Water Scuba Diver Course at your local dive center, but local conditions for the checkout dives don't sound too appealing (murky water, cold), and you want to finish your course in a beautiful tropical destination such as Playa del Carmen? Well, at Beyond Diving we accept referrals from any recognized agency. As long as it has not been over 1 year since you've completed the academic and confined water portions of you course, we will conduct the checkout dives and once successful, issue you an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification valid worldwide.
Please note that if it has been several weeks/months since you completed your academic and pool sessions, it is highly recommended that you contact your original instructor/dive center for a skill refresher session in the pool.
SDI Advanced Adventure Diver
Price – $550. Includes equipment rental, manual, 5 open water dives +1 free dive. If you would like to upgrade and do 2 dives in Cozumel, please add $130.
If you’ve taken your Open Water Scuba Diver course and are now ready to expand your knowledge but would like to see what is out there first, then the SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course is for you! 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
- Boat Diver
- Drift Diver
- Marine Ecosystem Awareness
This course is intended to introduce you to each of the five specialties selected; not complete comprehension of the chosen specialty. One dive from each of the chosen specialties may apply towards the completion of a specialty certification.
Who this course is for:
- Any certified open water scuba diver who wishes to expand their diver knowledge and skill set
- Any certified open water scuba diver who would like to advance in dive training
- Any certified open water scuba diver who would like to experience an introduction to SDI specialties
Course Prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent*
*Note: Junior divers (10-15) can only take specialties approved for their age, and a parent must be present during all stages of training.
Limits for Junior Divers: Deep Diving: Maximum depth for divers 10-15 is 21 metres/70 feet Dry suit; minimum age 12 Wreck: Limited penetration minimum age 15
What you can expect to learn:
- An overview of the SDI Deep Diver and SDI Navigation Diver specialties
- Basic insight to three other chosen specialties of your choice as an introduction to that specific area in diving
Some of the in-water skills include:
- Successfully perform skills listed for dive one of the three chosen specialties as well as both core specialties
- Deep Diver open water dive
- Test and check all equipment
- Familiarization with dive site
- Descend to planned depth, do not exceed any pre-planned limits
- Dive according to plan at a depth limited to 30 metres/ 100 feet Divers between the age of 10 and 15 cannot exceed 21 metres/70 feet
- Ascend to safety stop
- Exit and log dive
- Navigation open water dive
- Establish a reference point, plan dive, and enter water from shore/boat
- Practice out and back technique on surface
- Squares and triangles on surface
- Perform a square on the bottom
- Perform a triangle on the bottom
- Ascend to safety stop
- Exit and log dive
- Deep Diver open water dive
What’s in it for you?
- An opportunity to experience several SDI specialties
- Continue diver education, skills, and knowledge
- Ability to enroll in and complete selected specialties
- After successful completion, ability to enroll in the SDI Recue Diver course
SDI Advanced Adventure Diver minimum requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the appropriate SDI Advanced Adventure Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor
- Complete all course requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
SDI Computer Nitrox
Price –$250 Including 2 dives in Playa del Carmen. E-learning access codes and certification fees are included. If you would like to upgrade to Cenote Dives, please add $110 for basic cenotes.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver looking to advance their knowledge and skill set
- The certified diver looking to extend their no decompression time limits
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent, or current enrollment in one of those courses
What you can expect to learn:
- Physiology of using different breathing gas mixtures and equipment considerations for using nitrox
- How to safely use nitrox mixtures up to 40 percent with a dive computer
- Advantages and disadvantages of utilizing nitrox mixtures, how to analyze a nitrox mixture
What’s in it for you? The benefits of using Nitrox including:
- Increased safety margins
- Reduced post dive fatigue
- Extended no-decompression times
SDI Computer Nitrox minimum requirements:
- 100 percent comprehension of questions and answers at the end of each chapter in the SDI Computer Nitrox Diving Course
- Analyze at least two nitrox cylinders
- Log at least one nitrox cylinder
- Program a nitrox computer to a mix between 22-40 percent oxygen
Price – $450. 2 Days - Includes e-learning code, classroom sessions & open water checkout dives. Does not include equipment. If you are looking at being a Solo Diver, you should have your own equipment.
SDI Solo Diver
At one point or another, many divers have found themselves alone during a dive, whether it was intentional or not. SDI’s Solo Diving is the practice of self reliant scuba diving without a “dive buddy.”Solo diving, once considered technical diving and discouraged by most certification agencies, is now seen by many experienced divers and some certification agencies as an acceptable practice for those divers suitably trained and experienced. Rather than relying on the traditional buddy diving safety system, solo divers should be skilled in self-sufficiency and willing to take responsibility for their own safety while diving.
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.
Who this course is for:
The certified SDI Advanced Diver (or equivalent) who is interested in learning how to dive independent of a dive buddy, or looking to strengthen your buddy team diving skills.
Course prerequisites:
- Minimum age 21
- Certified SDI Advanced Diver or equivalent
- Provide proof of 100 logged dives
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Solo Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Why solo dive?
- History of buddy diving
- Pros and cons of buddy diving and solo diving
- Legal liability assumed by buddy diving
- How to use the SDI Solo Diving waiver and release
- Who must solo dive?
- The solo diving mentality
- When not to solo dive
- Equipment for solo diving
- Planning and conducting a solo dive
- Navigation
- Management of solo diving emergencies
- Review the SDI Solo Diver Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk Agreement Form
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include all of the following and more:
- 200 metres/600 feet surface swim in full scuba equipment, configured for local diving conditions; must be non-stop and performed in an open water environment
- Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning
- Plan dive limits based on personal air consumption rate
- Plan exact dive
- Properly execute the planned dive within all predetermined limits
- Equipment configuration appropriate for solo diving
- Proper descent/ascent rates
- Proper safety stop procedures
- Monitoring of decompression status equipment; tables, computers, equipment, etc.
- Navigation skills – demonstrate proficiency of navigation with compass
- Demonstrate emergency change over to redundant air supply (not to exceed 30 metres/100 feet)
- Deploy surface marker buoy (SMB)
- Use of audible signaling device
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in solo diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor as long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
The SDI Solo Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to complete the SDI Advanced Diver Development program or SDI Master Scuba Diver Development program.
SDI Solo Diver minimum requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the SDI Solo Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor.
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver
- Price – $350. Includes e-learning access codes, 1 pool session, 2 dives in Playa del Carmen and certification fees upon successful completion. You can upgrade to Cozumel or cenote dives for $130.
- Introducing a diver to the benefits of controlling his buoyancy usually has a great positive effect, an effect that will enhance the diver’s sense of enjoyment and feeling of accomplishment. 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.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver looking to improve and/or fine-tune their buoyancy to prevent damage to the underwater world.
Course prerequisites:
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
What you can expect to learn:
- The SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
Why do we care about buoyancy?
Don’t touch the aquatic life, save the environment
Less fatigue, less effort required, more fun
Reduced air consumption = more bottom time
Able to control buoyancy = better pictures or video
When must a buoyancy check be performed?
When equipment is changed
When diving environment is changed
Have not been diving for a while
During every dive
Buoyancy factors
- Additional equipment; photo, video, extra cylinder, extra equipment, dive lights, etc
- Cylinder weight changes during a dive as air is consumed from the cylinder, dependent on cylinder size
- Using lungs vs. BCD.
- Using BCD vs. dry suit
- Staying physically fit
- Breathing patterns and technique
- Compression of suit due to water pressure
- Weights – position and distribution and what impact that may have
- Streamlining equipment
- Streamlining body (body positions)
- Efficient kicking style
- Practicing your skills
- Weighting
- Swimsuit
- 3mm and 5mm wet suit
- Cold-water suit with hood
- Dry suit
- How to perform a standard buoyancy check; with an almost empty cylinder
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
- Assembling of dive equipment
- Pre-dive check
- Perform a pre-dive buoyancy check with almost empty cylinder
- Adjust weight to achieve correct buoyancy
- Change cylinder and use a full cylinder
- Do a pre-dive buoyancy check with full cylinder
- Controlled descent
- Hovering exercises
- Fine-tune with breath control
- Fine-tune with BCD or dry suit
- Close to bottom exercises, no touch
- Swimming exercises
- Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering; simulate safety stop if in pool
- Log dive, noting the amount of weight used
- Change to a full cylinder
- Do a pre-dive buoyancy check with the full cylinder
- Controlled descent
- Hovering exercises
- Fine-tune with breath control
- Fine-tune with BCD or dry suit
- Close to bottom exercises, no touch
- Ascent that includes a safety stop hovering; simulate safety stop if in pool
- Log dive, noting the amount of weight used
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:
The diving activities approximate those of training
The areas of activities approximate those of training
Environmental conditions approximate those of training
*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in advanced buoyancy diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
The SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.
SDI Advanced Buoyancy Diver minimum requirements:
Complete all open water requirements efficiently
Demonstrate sound buoyancy techniques
Price – $400 Includes 4 dives in Playa del Carmen, E-learning access codes, certification fees upon successful completion. If you would like to upgrade and do 2 of the dives in Cozumel, please add $130.
SDI Deep Diver Course
SDI’s Deep Diver Course 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. Many interesting sights lay just beyond open water diver training limits such as: beautiful wall dives, shipwrecks, and critters that don’t come into the shallows.The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary training to plan and execute dives that are beyond the depth range experienced during an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course, specifically beyond 18 metres/60 feet and to a maximum depth of not greater than 40 metres/130 feet. By the end of the course your knowledge, awareness, and comfort level with deep diving activities will have increased.
Who this course is for:
- Any certified open water scuba diver who wishes to expand their diver knowledge and skill set
- Any certified open water scuba diver who would like to advance their dive training
Course prerequisites:
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
What you can expect to learn:
How to plan and execute dives that are outside the range of depths that are experienced during an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course, and more!
Topics from the SDI Deep Diver course include:
- History of dive tables and computers
- Equipment needed for deep diving
- Physics and physiology of deep diving
- Emergency procedures for deep diving and first aid
Some of the in-water skills you will complete include:
- Open Water Dive 1
- Test and check all equipment, i.e. depth gauges, bottom timers/watches and computers
- Familiarization with area
- Descend to planned depth and do not exceed any pre-planned limits
- Dive according to plan at a depth limited to 30 metres/100 feet for first dive
- Ascend to safety stop
- Open Water Dive 2
- Monitor depth/time/air consumption, figure all times on slate
- Descend to planned depth and do not exceed any pre-planned limits
- Execute a simulated emergency that is to be assigned underwater by the instructor
- Dive according to plan at a depth limited to 40 metres/130 feet
- Ascend to safety stop
What’s in it for you?
You will receive the necessary training that will allow you to venture beyond 18 metres/60 feet and to a maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet.
The SDI Deep Diver minimum requirements:
Students are required to successfully complete the following:
- Satisfactorily complete the SDI Deep Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Price – $400
SDI Wreck Diver
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.
Who this course is for:
Individuals who wish to know more about the wreck diving including:
Researching wrecks
Mapping wrecks
Proper use of lines while wreck diving
Exploring underwater history
Course prerequisites:
SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent
Minimum age 18, 15 for limited penetration course with parental consent
Minimum age 10 with parental consent for a non-penetration course
Junior Open Water Divers may not participate in any penetration activities or dives deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
Divers must have a deep diver specialty certification or be able to provide proof of experience in order to dive deeper than 18 metres/60 feet in this course
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Wreck Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
Why wreck dive?
Surface supports
Communications, when and if necessary
Back-up procedures
Buddy system
Buddy contact
Contact with varied visibility
Buddy lines
Line signals
Buddy positioning in close proximity
Navigation/charting
Usage of the slate
Larger than normal
Pre-dive marking
Pre-planning the dive using charts, other information
Directional determination
Disorientation
With/without buddy
Lost buddy
Light failure
Emergency procedures
Special equipment
Lights: primary and backup, size, burn time, and usage
Knifes and cutting devices
Limited visibility diving
Silt-out
Psychological considerations
Light usage
Importance of light and backup
Dark vision, don’t shine light in buddy’s eyes
Life lines and reels
Type of line
Tie-offs
Directional markers
Line handling and reeling must be practiced on land prior to performing this skill underwater
Special emergency procedures
Safe Wreck
Hazardous or otherwise unsafe wrecks
Mapping the wreck
Vertical, horizontal, and feature identification
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course graduates may:
Dive wrecks that are similar to the type of wrecks they were exposed to during training
Plan and execute a wreck dive
Also, the SDI Wreck Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.
SDI Wreck Diver minimum requirements:
Open Water Dive 1
Pre-dive review of dive computers
Plan dive
Test lights
Familiarization with areas
Basic charting outside wreck
Usage of lines outside wreck, optional
Surface and log dive
Open Water Dive 2
Plan dive
Figure surface interval
Descend
Team complete mapping
Usage of lines outside wreck, optional
Surface and log dive
Open Water Dive 3
Plan dive
Descend
Usage of lines inside wreck, optional
Surface and log dive
Open Water Dive 4 (Optional)
Plan dive
Planned dive explained
Dive/explore as determined
Surface and log dive
SDI Drift Diver
Price – $300 Including 2 dives in Playa del Carmen and e-learning codes. If you would like to change to Cozumel dives, please add $130
SDI Drift Diver
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 “how-to’s” 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.
Who this course is for:
- This course is designed to teach divers the skills, knowledge, and necessary techniques to properly conduct drift dives
Course prerequisites:
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Drift Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- The Aquatic environment: causes and effects
- Tides
- Currents
- Waves
- Surge
- Equipment
- Floats
- Lines
- Reels
- Compass
- Planning and procedures
- Buddy organization
- Problems and hazards
- Buoyancy control
- Navigation
- Communications
- Safety stop procedures
- Entries and exits
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
- Plan a drift dive
- Briefing on dock before departure
- Review of drift diving procedures
- Captain’s brief and travel to dive destination
- Entry
- Exit
- Log dive
- Care of equipment
- Attempt to use a different types of drift s or, at least, use a different entry point from the drift during the course
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI
Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in drift diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
Also, the SDI Drift Diver Certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.
SDI Drift Diver minimum requirements:
- Complete two open water dives to a maximum depth no greater than 18 metres / 60 feet
- Follow the instructor on the first dive while he demonstrates proper use of float, lines and reels
- On the second dive the students must execute the skills learned on the first dive such as: planning, demonstrating and executing the skills they learned from the first dive
SDI Boat Diver
Price – $250. Includes E-learning access codes and 2 open water dives in Playa del Carmen. If you would like to do Cozumel instead, add $130
SDI Boat Diver
Boat Diving occurs every day around the world; whether is it an inland lake or in the Caribbean, South Pacific or Read Sea, divers can explore the underwater world located off-shore. Dive boats vary from small private vessels to a large live-aboard dive boats. The SDI Boat Diver Course covers the “how-to’s” of boat diving from how to board, proper boat etiquette, entry(s) and much more. The course will also introduce you to the various types of boats you may be diving from.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver looking for more information to maximize the use of boats for scuba diving
Course prerequisites:
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Boat Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Types of boats and features of those boats
- Live-aboard
- Charter boat
- Private boat
- Safety features
- Life preservers
- Life boats
- Flares SDI Instructor Manual
- Radio
- Throw rings
- US Coast Guard requirements
- First aid kit
- Oxygen kit
- Exiting and boarding the boat
- Type of ladder
- How to use ladder
- Entries
- Planning boat trips
- Types and sizes of boats
- Location
- Degree of difficulty of dives
- Air availability on boat
- Food/beverages available
- Sleeping equipment necessary?
- Weather
- Dive planning
- Determining necessary equipment
- Use of a checklist
- C-card and log book
- Extra cylinder
- All open water equipment
- Spare parts kit
- Camera/photo equipment
- Game equipment
- Boat procedures
- Loading
- Captain and crew briefs of special procedures
- Special rules
- Crowded area procedures
- Lines
- Anchor line
- Descent lines
- Tag line
- Stern safety line
- Decompression bar
- Underwater navigation from a boat
- Natural navigation
- Anchored
- No current
- Current
- Drift diving
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
- Plan a boat dive
- Briefing on dock before departure
- Review of boat diving procedures
- Captain’s brief and travel to dive destination
- Entry
- Exit
- Log dive
- Care of equipment
- Attempt to use a different types of boat s or, at least, use a different entry point from the boat during the course
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in boat diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
Also, the SDI Boat Diver Certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development program.
SDI Boat Diver minimum requirements:
- Satisfactorily complete the SDI Boat Diver Knowledge Quests with a passing score of 80%, followed by 100% remediation by the Instructor
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver
Price – $300 - includes 2 dives in Playa del Carmen (Cozumel upgrade available for extra $130), e-learning access code, and certification fees upon successful completion.
SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver
Divers have a vested interest in protecting the marine environment. In many cases, divers do not have environmental information about local sites. This specialty is designed to increase the open water diver’s understanding of marine and freshwater environments, the problems facing these unique ecosystems, and the role that diver’s play in protecting our marine resources.
Who this course is for:
- The certified diver looking for more information to about the underwater world and the impact of divers as well as others have on the environment. How we can preserve the underwater world for generations to come
Course prerequisites:
- SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Diver, or equivalent
- Minimum age 18, 10 with parental consent
What you can expect to learn:
The SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:
- Physical attributes
- Temperature and thermoclines
- Salinity and halocline
- Dissolved gases
- Light, as it applies to photosynthesis
- Nutrient circulation
- Waves and tides
- Currents and nutrient cycling
- Topographical features
- Marine organisms
- Plankton
- Aquatic plants
- Aquatic animals
- Specific local animals
- Aquatic food webs
- Behavioral changes due to daily cycle
- Ecosystems
- Tropical reef
- Temperate
- Freshwater
- Environmentally friendly diving techniques
- Buoyancy control
- Kick technique
- Local considerations
- Issues facing marine ecosystems
- Issues of local interest
- Global habitat destruction and pollution
- Over fishing
- Coral bleaching
- Diver animal interactions
- Intrusive
- Non-intrusive
- Feeding
- Treating marine life injuries
- Observation Techniques
- Grids
- Passive observation
- Collection Methods
Some of the required skills you will have to demonstrate include:
At various sites complete the following:
- Maintain good buoyancy control
- Make general observations
- Location
- Bottom composition
- Marine life
- Special characteristics
- Indications of human impact
- Grid observations
- Make two separate sets of grid observations during each dive
- Describe all marine life for later identification
- Record behavior
- Log Dives
- Compare and contrast the dive sites
- Discuss the effect of human impacts
- Discuss ways to minimize human impact
What’s in it for you?
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in diving activities without direct supervision of the SDI Instructor* so long as the following limits are adhered to:
- The diving activities approximate those of training
- The areas of activities approximate those of training
- Environmental conditions approximate those of training
*Note: Junior divers (ages 10-14) must participate in diving activities with a parent, guardian, or dive professional.
Also, the SDI Marine Eco Systems Awareness Diver certification counts towards a single specialty rating to achieve the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.
SDI Marine Eco Systems Diver minimum requirements:
- Complete all open water requirements efficiently
- Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
