How to Start

 

Several diving courses and levels are taught throughout the year at Open Waters due to the favourable weather conditions in the Algarve. At our headquarters you will find a classroom where theory is taught and a swimming pool for practical diving lessons. The courses are given to groups of 8 people by qualified instructors, who carefully follow and guide the students throughout their learning process and therefore guarantee that each one will be in safe hands! We lend a full set of equipment to students who join our courses (diving suit, mask, tube, vest, tank, regulator, fins and weight belt) without any additional costs.

 

As a PADI and SSI certified center we offer a wide range of learning levels from begginers to experienced and speciality courses.

 

Follow the links bellow and find all our courses.

 

To find out what certification suits you better please consult us.

 

 

 

SSI - SCUBA SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL

 

SSI BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE

 

> Try Scuba

> Try Scuba Diving

> Indoor Diver

> Scuba Skills Update

 

 

RECREATIONAL DIVING

 

> Scuba Diver

> Open Water Diver

> Advanced Adventurer

 

 

CONTINUE YOUR ADVENTURE | SPECIALITY PROGRAMS

 

> Deep Diving

> Diver Stress & Rescue

> Search and Recovery

> Nitrox Speciality

> Night Limited Visibility

> Boat Diving

> Dry Suit

> Wreck Diving

> Navigation

> Speciality Science of Diving

> Speciality of Equipment Techniques

> Perfect Buoyancy

> UW Communication

> Fish Identification

> Digital Underwater Photography

> Full Face Mask

> Dive Guide

> Dive Master

 

> 1st AID - React Right

 

 

> SSI BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE | SSI Try Scuba

Pool

Requirements: minimum age: 8 years

 

Duration:  1 to 2 hours

 

 

 

> SSI BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE | SSI Try Scuba Diving

Pool + Ocean

Requirements:  minimum age: 10 years

 

Duration: 3 hours

 

 

 

> SSI RECREATIONAL DIVING  | Scuba Diver

Requirements minimum age:  10 years

Duration 16-32 hours

 

 

> SSI RECREATIONAL DIVING  | Open Water Diver

Requirements: minimum age:  10 years

 

Duration: 16-32 hours

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY  | Diver Stress & Rescue

Programme:  3 Practice dives

 

Requirements:

OWD or JOWD

Minimum age: 15 years

 

Duration:  10-15 hours

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY  | Nitrox Speciality

Programme: Optional

 

Requirements:  OWD or JOWD

 

Minimum age: 12 years

 

Duration:  3-6 hours

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY  | Deep Diving Specialty

Deep diving speciality with 1 dive credit from Advanced Adventurer Programme

(or from other recognised organisation) when deep dive is done or Open Water student

has done at least 1 deep dive.

 

Programme:  3 dives

 

Requirements:  OWD

 

Minimum age: 15 years

 

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Science of Diving

Specialty Science of Diving (no practice dives).

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Equipment Techniques

Specialty of Equipment Techniques (no practice dives).

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Digital Underwater Photography

SSI Digital Underwater Photography

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Search and Recovery

SSI Search and Recovery

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Night Limited Visibility

SSI Night Limited Visibility

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Boat Diving

SSI Boat Diving

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Dry Suit

SSI Dry Suit

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Wreck diving

SSI Wreck diving

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Navigation

SSI Navigation

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Perfect Buoyancy

SSI Perfect Buoyancy

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Fish Identification

SSI Fish Identification

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | UW Communication

UW Communications

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Full face Mask

Full face Mask

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Dive Guide

Guia de Mergulho

 

 

 

> SSI SPECIALITY | Dive Master

Dive Master

 

 

 

> SSI RECREATIONAL | Advanced Adventurer

Advanced Adventurer (optional programme – similar to “Advanced Open Water” from other organisations).

 

Programme: 5 Dives

 

Requirements:  OWD or JOWD

 

Minimum Age: 12 years

 

 

 

> SSI Advanced Nitrox

The Extended Range divers course can be completed as a stand alone program

encompassing advanced nitrox or as a shorter, add on program for divers who have completed

the Advanced Nitrox certification course. Extended Range is a prerequisite for any technical

diving program in the SSI TXR Range.

 

Programme:

Diver at Depth

Equipment for Extended Range Diving

Equipment Configuration

Dive Planning

Diving Procedure

 

Requirements:

    Minimum age: 18 Years

Certification: AOWD, Deep, Nitrox and Stress / Rescue Certification, Navigation or Wreck or Cavern Diver certification (only one is needed)

Minimum dives: 50

Valid DAN insurance

Valid diving medical report

 

Equipment:

    Mask

Boots

Fins

Gloves

Exposure suit

Backplate & harnesses

Wing ( with appropriate lift capacity and power inflator )

Redundant lift device

Twin cylinder ( Minimum 11 liters )

Stage cylinder / Oxygen cleaned ( Minimum 5.5 liters )

Back gas air delivery system ( 200cm LP hose, 56cm / 60cm LP hose, 56cm LP Inflator hose x 02 , 60cm HP hose, First stage x 02, Second stage x 02, Necklace )

Stage gas air delivery system / Oxygen cleaned ( 100cm / 150cm LP hose, 15cm HP hose, SPG x01, First stage x 01 Second stage x 01 )

Stage cylinder rigging hardware

Nitrox computer or Electronic Depth Gauge/Timer ( with ascent rate )

Redundant nitrox computer or Electronic Depth Gauge/Timer

One submersible pressure gauge for each cylinder ( one per twin set )

Diver's tool or cutting device x 02

Compass

Primary light ( Burn duration 4 hrs )

Back up light

SMB & reel

Underwater Slate & pencil

DiveLog

First Aid kit ( recommended )

 

    Classroom Session x 3 horas

    Pool session x 06 horas

    Open water dive x 06

 

 

 

 

 

> TECHNICAL FOUNDATIONS | SSI Advanced Nitrox + Extended Range

Included: Lodge, Boat and Mix Gas included

 

 

 

> SSI 1st AID | React Right

 

 

 

 

 

PADI | Professional Association of Diving Instructors

 

 

RECREATIONAL DIVING

> Discover Scuba Diving in the pool

> Discover Scuba Diving in the sea

> Bubble Maker

> Jr. Open Water Diver

> Open Water Diver

> Advanced Open Water

> Rescue Diver

 

UPGRADE DIVER

> Scuba Review

> Crossover Outras Organizações / PADI

 

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

> Dive Master

 

SPECIALITIES

> Nitrox

> Buoyancy Control

 

FIRST AID

> Emergency First Response

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Discover Scuba diving in the pool

Programme:

Diving practice can start here with this unique experience. Presentation of the equipment and basic diving rules for a safe diving practice is part of the program.

1 theory lesson

1 practical lesson

 

Requirements:

> Minimum age: 10 years

> Know how to swim

> Sign the PADI term of responsibility (if minor the tutor must sign the responsibility term)

 

Duration: 2 hours

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Discover Scuba diving in the sea

Programme:

Diving practice can start here with this unique experience. Presentation of the equipment and basic diving rules for a safe diving practice is part of the program.

1 theory lesson

1 practical lesson

 

Requirements:

> Minimum age: 10 years

> Know how to swim

> Sign the PADI term of responsibility (if minor the tutor must sign the responsibility term)

 

Duration:  ½ Day

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Bubblemaker

Programme:

> 1 Module of underwater games:

> Swimming with fins

> Using mask and tube

> Playing games holding your breath and using basic equipment

> Diving equipment and swimming with it

> Breathing underwater

> Using vest and floating with it

> Exercises underwater

> Team Games

> At the end children receive a certificate.

 

Requirements:

> Minimum age: 8 -12 years

> Tutor Authorization to be filled out with the PADI instructor

> 2 Photos

> Copy of ID card

> Medical Authorization for diving.

 

Duration: 1 hour

 

The price includes all documentation and equipment rental:

> Be Happy Dive PADI Decal (sticker)

> Bubblemaker Emblem (patch)

> Bubblemaker Certificate & Participation card

> Bubblemaker Decal (sticker)

> Bubblemaker Temporary Tattoo

> Bubblemaker Toy

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Junior Open Water

Programme:

> 1 module - Introduction

> 5 modules - Theory

> 5 modules – Pool practice

> 4 modules – Sea practice

 

Requirements:

> Minimum age: 10-14 years

> Tutor Authorization to be filled out with the PADI instructor

> 2 Photos

> Copy of ID card

> Medical Authorization for diving

 

Duration: 31 hours

 

Includes: Equipament rental

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Open Water Diver

Programme:

5 Theory modules

Module 1: Introduction; The underwater world; Diving equipment; Scuba systems; Double systems; first pool lesson; Knowledge review.

Module 2: adapting to the underwater; breathing; diving equipment; communicating while diving; buddy system; second pool lesson; Knowledge review.

Module 3: Diving environment; Planning; Procedures - Diving from a boat; managing problems; third pool lesson; general open water tasks; first and second sea dives; Knowledge review.

Module 4: Accessory diving equipment; health to dive; breathing in depth; Introducing dive tables; using Recreational Dive Planner; Fourth pool lesson; Knowledge review

Module 5: Special circumstances - Recreational Dive Planner; How to calculate breaks; Knowledge review; Basic navegation with compassing; fifth pool lesson; third an fourth sea dives; Knowledge review.

 

9 Practice Modules

5 Pool Modules: Pool lesson are at our headquarters after labour hours and weekends.

4 Sea Modules: 4 dives max. 18m depth as long weather conditions permit.

Equipment you'll use during the course includes: mask, fins, snorkel, tank, regulator, buoyancy compensator, submersible pressure gauge and exposure protection as required by the local environment.

 

 

Requirements:

> Know how to swim

> Minimum age: 16 years, Good health, reasonable fitness and comfort in the water.

> 4 Photos

> ID Copy for student and tutor

> Medical Authorization for diving.

 

Includes:

> Theory and practice lessons

> International PADI Certification

> Rental of all diving equipment

> PADI Open Water Crew-Pack

> PADI Open Water Video or DVD

> Log Book

> Personal accident insurance during the course

 

Duration: 31 hours

 

 

 

Optional: Personalised theory and practice lessons

 

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Advanced Open Water

Requirements:

> Must be a PADI Open Water Diver (or qualifying certification from another training organization)

> Minimum age: 15 years

> 3 photos

> Copy of your "Open Water Diver" certification or any other equivalent certificate (being diving knowledge tested)

> ID Copy for student and tutor

> Medical Authorization for diving and fill out a PADI clinical history

> You must have your own equipment or you can rent ours.

> Adventure Dive options include altitude diving, AWARE-fish identification, boat diving, deep diving, diver propulsion vehicle use, drift diving, dry suit diving, multilevel and computer diving, night diving, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery, underwater nature study, underwater navigation, underwater photography, underwater videography and wreck diving

> Each Adventure Dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course may credit toward the first dive of the corresponding PADI Speciality Diver course

 

Duration: 15 hours / 2-3 weekends

 

Includes:

5 Sea Practice lessons and 1 theory lesson (viewing of the video "Adventures in Diving")

> International Advanced Open Water Card

> Adventures in Diving Crew-Pack,

> Adventures in Diving manual and video

> logbook

 

Not included:

> Certified divers other than PADI or inactive divers must be submitted to a Test (equipment rental not included)

> Night Diving / photography

> Equipment rental (for 5 dives)

 

 

 

 

 

 

> PADI | Rescue Diver

Programme

> Self-rescue and diver stress

> Emergency management and equipment

> Panicked diver response

> In-water rescue breathing protocols

> Egress (exits)

> Dive accident scenarios

 

Requirements

Be an Advanced Open Water or equivalent; equivalent certification is defined by having a minimum of 20 logged dives making proof of having experience of deep diving.

> Minimum of 20 logged dives

> Curso de Emergency First Response (EFR)-PADI ou RCP de uma organização idónea há menos de dois anos

> Minimum age: 15 years

> Medical authorization for diving

> 2 photos

> Copy of Logbook

> Copy of RCP certification

> Copy of ID and tutors ID (if minor the tutor must sign the responsibility term)

> Copy of OWD certification or equivalent

 

Duration: 25 Hours

 

Includes:

> Theory and practice lessons

> Rescue Diver Manual + Rescue table

> Rescue Diver certificate

 

Not included:

> Certified divers other than PADI or inactive divers must be submitted to a Test (equipment rental not included)

> Equipment rental (each session)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

> RECREATIONAL PADI | Scuba review

Programme:

Knowledge review

1 Practice review

1 Sea lesson.

 

Requirements:

> Hold a scuba certification or be enrolled in a scuba certification course

> Minimum age: 10 years old;

> Registration form;

> 2 Photos;

> Copy of ID card;

> Medical Authorization for diving.

 

Duration: 6 hours

 

 

 

 

> UPGRADE DIVER | Crossover from other organizations/ PADI

Consult OPEN WATERS staff for further information.

 

 

> ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR  | Divemaster

Requirements:

> Be a PADI Advanced Open Water diver or equivalent certification;

> Be a PADI Rescue Diver or equivalent certification;

> PADI - Emergency First Response (EFR) or RCP Course taken in the last 2 years;

> Proof of at least 60 logged dives

> Minimum age: 15 years

> 2 photos

> Copy of Logbook

> Copy of certification card

 

Includes:

> International PADI certification

> PADI Divemaster Manual

> PADI Enciclopedia

> Dives + Tank + air

 

 

 

 

> SPECIALITY COURSES | NITROX

 

 

 

> SPECIALITY COURSES | BUOYANCY CONTROL

 

 

 

> FIRST AID | EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE (EFR)

Programme:

Emergency First Response gives you the confidence to respond to medical emergencies - not just in the diving world, but in your every day world with your family, friends, neighbours and co-workers too.

 

CPR for adults

First aid for adults

Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training

 

Requirements:

IMinimum age: 12 years

Any one can take this course, even if you're not a diver.

 

Duration: 12 horas