The SSI Open Water Diver certification allows you to dive anywhere in the world!
Getting your SSI Open Water Diver license on Koh Tao will open up a whole new world of wonders for you to explore…plus the certification lasts for life.
Students who complete the SSI Open Water Diver course will gain the necessary knowledge and training to dive with a buddy who is equally or more qualified, in conditions and environments equivalent to their training, in depths shallower than 18 meters/60 feet.
With its calm and clear waters and abundance of fish, Koh Tao is the ideal place to learn to dive safely around the world in what is typically a very easy diving environment.
A relaxed schedule takes place over three days, giving students plenty of time to practice their new skills. The course consists of three phases; knowledge development, a confined water dive and four open water dives.
You must be at least 10 years old and be able to swim if you want to get a diving license. A Junior Open Water Diver must dive with a certified adult in conditions and environments equivalent to their dive training under the supervision of a dive professional or under the supervision of a dive professional. Only 12 meters/40 feet of depth can be certified for students younger than 12 years old.
A certain level of fitness is required to participate in this course. For certification, you must be able to swim 200 meters without aids and float or tread water for 10 minutes.
For the SSI Open Water course, we limit the number of students per instructor to six.
All equipment, boat trips, etc., will be provided by Big Blue Diving.
The schedule is as follows.
Open Water Diver course itinerary
Day 1 – Confined Diving
08:45-12:00
When you meet your instructor and your fellow students for the first time, you’ll spend the morning at our al fresco classroom on the beach, discussing what your course will entail over the coming days, viewing the equipment we’ll be using, and learning the basics of scuba diving.
13:00-17:30
During the afternoon, you will take part in a confined water session at the swimming pool to develop and hone basic scuba abilities. This is when most folks doing this class will place a regulator into their mouths for the first time! Your instructor will display techniques for you and it’s required that you replicate them back. We will start in shallow water, so if there are any issues or queries, all they have to do is stand up. As confidence grows, we’ll go no deeper than 3 meters later on.
Day 2 – 2 Open Water Dives max depth 12 meters.
09:00-11:30
On the morning of day 2 you’ll meet up with your group again in our classroom/restaurant. This morning you’ll do a bit more academic work with your instructor before you sit your final exam. There’s no need to stress over last-minute studying and cramming, as this is just a multiple choice exam designed to remind you of what’s important. With a passing score of 80%, this exam is straightforward.
12:30-17:30
On day 2, you’ll head out on one of our large dive boats for your first dive in the open sea. This is the most exciting part of the course. We’ll take you to two shallow and sand dive sites around the island to practice the skills you learned in the pool the day before. The maximum depth for these first two dives is 12 meters (36 feet).
Day 3 – 2 Open Water Dives max depth 18 meters.
06:40-12:00
There are two dives left in your Open Water Diver certification. This time, you’ll dive to exciting dive sites. You’ll work on any skills you haven’t demonstrated to your instructor in open water, or rework any skills that need some practice. You will dive up to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet on these two dives. After the dives, you will log your dives to become a certified Open Water Diver.
What comes next?
The world of scuba diving training with Big Blue Diving really opens up after you earn your Open Water Diver certification.
Get your Advanced Diver Certification and dive to 30 meters.
Our Fish and Coral Identification courses will teach you about the ocean.
Due to the extra nitrogen your body builds up while scuba diving, you cannot fly within 24 hours of your last dive.
Can you dive?
The sport of scuba diving requires a certain level of physical fitness. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may need medical clearance to enroll in a diving course.
I’d like to book, how do I do that?
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