Open Water DIVING COURSE

SSI OPEN WATER DIVER

The SSI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE IS YOUR GOLDEN TICKET TO EPIC UNDERWATER ADVENTURES ACROSS THE GLOBE!

Ready to take the plunge and unlock a whole new world beneath the waves? This is where your dive journey begins – your official gateway to the deep blue.

With this certification in your pocket, you’ll be free to buddy up and explore down to 18 meters, no dive pro required. That means live-a-board expeditions, outer reef trips, guided group dives and even renting gear for your own independent ocean escapades. The underwater world will officially be your playground!

And there’s no better place to learn than right here at Pleasure Divers on Magnetic Island, a tropical island paradise where the water’s warm, the reefs are thriving and every dive feels like a dream. When you're not underwater with us blowing bubbles, soak up the island vibes with beach hangs, hiking trails and laid-back local cafes.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make some waves! Check out the course details below and get ready to take your first breaths underwater!

LOCALS TIP: book an extra night on the island after your course… once you get to the island, you’ll realise how much you don’t wanna go back to mainland reality! Stay a while, embrace “island time” and take the break you deserve!

Itineray

- Meet your instructor
- Pool skills
- First ocean dive
- Ocean dive 2, 3 and 4
- Finish with an exam
- Receive your licence

Details
SSI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE

At Pleasure Divers, we keep it small, personal and all about you! Our small class sizes mean you’ll get loads of one-on-one time with your instructor, making your dive training super smooth, stress-free and way more fun. More attention, more confidence and more good vibes - just the way learning to dive should be!

Cost $499 per person (incl GST)

Duration 2 days; 8.30am to 4.30pm each day

Participants Max 4 people in the class

When Usually offered twice a week. Weekend courses available. See our calendar for available course dates.

Includes

Digital kit of e-learning materials that is yours to keep forever! Great for future reference
SSI certification - a licence to dive to 18m
Pool training
4 ocean shore dives off Magnetic Island’s beautiful bays/ beaches.
Full gear hire for 2 days
EMC “Environmental Management Charge”

1. Swim 200m without mask, snorkel or fins
2. Float or tread water for 10 minutes without flotation device
3. Complete medical screening questionnaire (and possibly get a dive medical, if the screening questions indicate this is necessary)
  The SSI Pre-Dive Medical screening questionnaire can be downloaded here.
To secure your place in the course, we require a non-refundable $100 deposit.
See our T&C’s and cancellation policy.
Read the blog by our local island Dive Doctor, Dr Jay Short. Booking details at end of article.

FAQs

You cannot fly immediately after diving. You’ll need a surface interval before any air travel. Current recommendations are 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after multiple dives. Conservative recommendations suggest 24 hours.
We finish our Open Water course diving by 4.30pm at the latest, so we recommend you book flights after 10.30am the next day. Speak with us if you need to book flights earlier than this.
Scuba/ Snorkel Equipment
Your booking includes full gear hire for 2 days of your course. However, if you already have any of your own items like mask, suit or fins, please bring them along. It is always nicer to dive with your own equipment
If you are looking to start investing in your own dive equipment, we offer discounted package deals for our Open Water students. Please browse our range in store and speak with our friendly staff to get you started with a few bits and pieces of your own, at a hot price.
Clothing & Protection
We spend a lot of our course time outdoors. Please bring footwear, swimwear, towel, sun protection and wet- weather protection. And warm clothes if necessary.
Lunch
Food/ drinks are not provided on the course. You will be given a lunch break every day. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and store in our fridge until lunch time. Alternatively, the Arcadia General Store and Arcadia Bakehouse are both within walking distance to purchase your lunch.
Please bring a refillable drink bottle. Hydration is key when scuba diving and you will need to drink a lot. You can refill your reusable water bottles at the dive shop.
Your scuba gear is an investment! A big one! We recommend completing your Open Water course before you consider purchasing items like regulators and BCD’s!
However, if there is ONE item you should consider purchasing straight away - it is your own scuba mask. A mask is a very personal item! You want yours to fit without leaking, to feel comfortable on your skin, to look good and feel great. Our Open Water students receive a 10% discount on scuba stock in our shop. Browse in store and perhaps pick up your own mask to use during your Open Water course.
If you wear contacts you are able to wear these with a scuba mask. Just inform your instructor on the day that have contacts in place.
If you use glasses for long distance vision, a prescription mask can help you see underwater into the distance. Find out what number your prescription is. We have a small range of rental prescription masks.
Your $100 deposit is non-refundable. This is because we will have already used your deposit to purchase your digital e-learning kit from SSI.
If you’re unable to attend the course with us, you have the option to reschedule with us for another date. We have an additional transfer fee of $50. Transferring is dependent on places available on another course.
Travel insurance is highly recommended to cover additional expenses when things don’t go to plan.
Refunds are not available for students unable to complete their course (due to any reason, including but not limited to ear equalizing, medical conditions, panic, anxiety, inability to complete skills required or other circumstances)
At the discretion of the Dive Manager a reschedule may be permitted, but will incur the transfer fee of $50.
In some circumstances, the student may need to book a new Open Water course and start over.
Travel insurance is highly recommended to cover additional expenses when things don’t go to plan.
Learning to scuba dive requires safe dive conditions.
Typical diving on fringing island reefs, means visibility is typically between 4m-6m. If visibility becomes too poor and comprises safety we may cancel the ocean dives. Similarly, if wind is too strong and prohibits safe entries and exits we may cancel the ocean dives.
We do our best to monitor the weather conditions and update students accordingly. Our refund policy takes into consideration poor weather conditions: If we need to cancel due to poor conditions, you’ll be offered a different date (with no transfer fee) or a full refund if the course hasn't started yet.
We know how exciting it can be for certified divers watching their loved ones becoming certified!
Our Open Water courses are designed specifically for unqualified beginners and we want all of our new learners to get the most out of their learn-to-dive experience and time with their instructor. So we prefer qualified family members to give the learners the time and space they need to focus on tasks at hand.
Certified divers (especially parents of kids doing Junior Open Water) are welcome to purchase a spot on any open water course for $499 and participate in the entire course with their family member. Completing the skills and exercises as a buddy to the learner diver, is a great way to refresh and update your own diving skills.
Pleasure Divers can also arrange a private experience for you and your family to cater for a mix of abilities and qualifications. A private experience, without any other class members, allows certified divers to enjoy some fun dives alongside their family members completing their skills.
Alternate ways to experience the thrill of diving together with your loved ones, once they’ve finished their Open Water course requirements:
1) Book a post-course guided shore dive for $120pp.
2) Book a dive trip to the outer reef or MOUA with Adrenalin Dive $490pp
3) Book a continuing education course. Do your Advanced/Rescue or other Specialty courses together as a family.

$499 per student — this includes:

• EMC $8 per student
• GST
• SSI Digital kit
• 2 days of scuba gear hire
• Scuba Instruction
Just two days! Plus some some self-paced at-home e-learning to be completed beforehand.
Arrive time: 8.30am
Finish time 4.30pm
*About half an hour for lunch break each day
We have mid-week courses and weekend courses. See our calendar.
In school holidays we add additional courses and also offer specialised kids courses for children aged 10-14.
Our 2 day courses are capped at a maximum of 4 students. This is what makes Pleasure Divers different and special! Small class sizes allow for close supervision and attention from your instructor.
If you have a big family, sports group, school group etc, liaise with us and we’ll accomodate your larger group with additional instructors.
The minimum age to join our regular scheduled Open Water courses is 14yrs.
However, students as young as 10yrs are permitted by SSI to enrol in a Junior Open Water course. Not all children are ready for this qualification.
If you’d like to consider enrolling your 10, 11, 12 or 13yr year old child, please speak with Pleasure Divers to assess your child’s readiness and arrange a special course. Kids courses for 10-13yr olds are run every school holidays.
There is no maximum age for enrolment in an Open Water course! However, people over the age of 45yrs may be required to obtain a physicians approval for diving. The medical form will indicate this.
1) Medical: Participants must complete a medical screening declaration. Depending on the answers to this screening, participants may need to undergo a physician's evaluation prior to commencing their course. Your booking confirmation will contain an attachment - please fill out this medical form. If the form indicates you need to, please book a doctor appointment before your dive course commences. Book an on-island dive medical here
2) E-learning: Participants must complete the pre-course study prior to arrival. The material is provided by SSI online via the phone app or desktop version. It is self-paced.
3) Swim test: participants must swim a continuous distance of 200m without swimming aids like fins, mask, wetsuit. This is assessed on-site at Pleasure Divers
4) Floatation test: participants must float or tread water for 10 minutes. Assessed on-site at Pleasure Divers
Email us!
If you already have a group of 4, we may be able to add in an additional course on dates that suit your group.
We can also create a private course for you. Additional costs apply.
Yes! We can offer a private instructor for 2 days to teach you one-on-one and really maximise your experience. Email us to request and coordinate dates. Price is $1,996 and includes everything the standard course includes plus the private tuition.
Our online bookings close 3 days before the start of a new course. This is to give participants the adequate time to register their SSI account and complete the SSI e-learning required.