SDI Scubility Open Water Diver

This entry-level certification course is designed to give physically or mentally disabled students the necessary skills to conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training without the direct supervision of an instructor.*

*Note: Diving under the supervision of a qualified SDI Dive Buddy may be required.

Who this course is for:

Physically disabled individuals wishing to become certified scuba divers

Course prerequisites:

Minimum age of 18, 10 with parental consent
Students between the ages of 10 through 14 may obtain a age related restricted SDI Scubility Scuba diver certification if the following conditions are met; students are to train and dive under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or active leadership level diver with an SDI Dive Buddy certification
When a age related restricted SDI Scuba Diver reaches the age of 15, they can upgrade to the SDI Scubility Open Water Scuba Diver certification

What you can expect to learn:

Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics.
The following topics must be covered during this course:

History of diving
Aquatic environment
- Vision
- Light
- Sound
- Heat loss; emphasis on specific disability
- Tides
- Currents
- Waves
- Surge
- Marine life injuries
Physics and physiology
- Buoyancy
- Pressure
- Boyle’s Law
- Air spaces
- Breathing air under pressure
Scuba Equipment; modified and special equipment must be covered on each part of this section
- Mask, fins, and snorkel
- Exposure protection
- Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)
- Regulator
- Cylinders
- Weight systems
- Underwater instruments
- Accessories
Planning your dive
- Special considerations for the disabled diver
- Buddy system
- First aid

Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements

Students are required to successfully complete the following skills:

Swimming evaluation
- 100 metre distance swim, using any stroke or 150 metre distance swim using mask, snorkel and fins or webbed gloves; wetsuit can be worn
- Survival swim of 10 minutes; wetsuit can be worn
Scuba skills
- Scuba system assembly and disassembly; minimal assistance
- Weight system adjustment with proper weighting; minimal assistance
- Removal and replacement of weight system:
Pre-dive check of self and buddy
Mask clear:
- Partial, at depth
- Full, at depth
Breathing and swimming underwater without a mask; distance 12 metres
Buoyancy compensator device (BCD) use:
- Inflation and deflation (oral/auto)
- Removal and replacement:
Buoyancy Control
- Hovering
- Controlled ascents; minimal assistance- dependant on disability
- Controlled descents; minimal assistance- dependant on disability
Regulator use
- Breathing, clearing, and recovery:
- Alternate air source use (air sharing with a buddy; stationary and while making a controlled ascent)
Underwater swimming (proper use of fins and/or webbed gloves)
Entries and exits
- Controlled seated entry; if suitable for level of disability
- Back-roll entry; if suitable for level of disability
- Giant stride entry; if suitable for level of disability
- Shallow water exit; assistance of up to 100% depending on level of disability
- Deep water exit; assistance of up to 100% depending on level of disability
Snorkel use
- Adjustment
- Clearing (blast method)
Computer use
- Reading and understanding data
- Understanding functions of computer
Use of gauges
Underwater communications
- Special signals for sight impaired diver
Rescue techniques
- Tired diver tows; instructors discretion
- Cramp relief
Out-of-air emergencies
- Simulated swimming ascent

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may:

Conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training
Enroll in the Advanced Adventure Diver Program, individual SDI Specialties or the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program

Dive-Buddy System
The Dive-buddy system puts flexibility into the training program by allowing certification according to which performance requirements have been met.

DB1:

All of the performance requirements have been met; the diver has demonstrated the ability to perform self rescue and can provide equal assistance to his/her buddy should it become necessary. This diver can dive with any other certified diver.
DB2:

All of the performance requirements have been met; the diver has demonstrated the ability to perform self rescue but is not able to provide assistance to his buddy should it become necessary. This diver must dive with 2 adult certified divers, one of which must be a qualified Rescue Diver or equivalent.
DB3:

The physical performance requirements have been met; the diver has demonstrated the ability to safely use scuba in an open water environment. But the diver does not have the ability to perform self rescue or provide assistance to his buddy should it become necessary. This diver must dive with 2 adult certified divers, one of which must be a qualified SDI Scubility Dive Buddy.

SDI Scubility Open Water Diver minimum requirements:

In order to complete this course, students must:

Demonstrate mature and sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution
Satisfactorily complete the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Knowledge Quest or equivalent SDI electronic / online learning exam. Instructors my use additional exams that can be found on the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Instructor Resource CD
Complete all open water requirements safely and efficiently