Start Learning to Dive Today SDI makes it possible for you to complete all of the academic requirements for your entry-level diver certification on line. You can get started right now and, when you are done, complete your in-water skill-development sessions and final open-water training dives at Heartland Scuba Center, or at a popular vacation destination.

The SDI Open Water Scuba Diver course is an entry-level certification course designed to give you the necessary skills to safely conduct open water dives.  Some of the many skills you will learn include buoyancy, proper weighting, marine conservation, equipment assembly, proper dive planning, and maintenance. The course covers all the basic knowledge about equipment, physiology and the marine environment while training students to perform basic skills underwater.  This course is the key to start exploring dive destinations around the globe or just in your backyard.

Getting your entry-level diver certification is a three-step process:

• The first step is to acquire all of the important academic information every certified diver must know. (This is the underwater equivalent of a student pilot going through “ground school.”) Traditionally, this required attending several hours of formal classroom training. Now, through on-line training, you can complete this phase through self-study, at your own pace, in the convenience of your home or office.
• The next step is to complete your in-water skill-development training. This takes place in a swimming pool or similar body of confined water. Here you will learn the fundamental skills that every diver needs to know. (It’s also a lot of fun.)

• The final step is complete four or more open-water training dives under the supervision of your SDI Instructor. Here you will apply what you have learned during your academic and skill-development sessions, while learning practical lessons that can only be gained through real-world experience in open water.

You have several options to complete the in-water phases of your training:

• You can complete both the skill-development sessions and open-water training dives at Heartland Scuba Center.
• You can complete the skill-development sessions at Heartland Scuba Center, and do your open-water training dives at the vacation destination of your choice.

Whatever option you choose, Heartland Scuba Center can help you with the arrangements. When you are done with all three phases of your training, your SDI Dive Center will order your permanent certification card.

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