SDI OPEN WATER COURSE
Open Water Scuba Certification in Jacksonville, FL
Your adventure starts here.
Never been scuba diving before? You’re in the right place.
Our Open Water course takes you from zero experience through online learning, pool training, and four open-water checkout dives. Classes are limited to six students so you receive more time with your instructors, more individual coaching, and less time waiting for your turn.
You’ll train directly with Daniel and Tony, the owners and instructors behind Precision Depth Diving. We take certification seriously, but we do not believe your support should end when the class is over.
Cost: $525 (due on first day of class)
Beginner Friendly | Max 6 Students | Veteran Owned | SDI Training Facility
Course price includes your student kit, SDI eLearning, certification card, and required rental scuba equipment. Students provide personal gear and are responsible for site entry fees.
We teach people to build a lifetime love of diving.
Scuba diving should be one of the most enjoyable things you ever learn.
It opens doors to places most people never experience.
It creates friendships and moments you will remember for years.
It gives you a sport you can take almost anywhere in the world.
WHY WE TEACH
WHY DIVERS CHOOSE
PRECISION DEPTH DIVING
We teach every class ourselves
When you train with Precision Depth Diving, you train directly with Tony and Daniel. We do not rotate instructors or hand students off halfway through a course. From your first questions through your final checkout dive, we are personally invested in your success.
Small classes mean better coaching
Maximum of 6 students in open water classes. For minors, we maintain a 1:1 student-to-instructor ratio..
As fathers ourselves, we give young divers the same attention and care we would want for our own children.
We are active divers, not just instructors
Outside the classroom, we are active divers who enjoy wrecks, reefs, and Florida springs. That real-world experience shapes how we teach and the habits we emphasize from the beginning.
We are here long after your certification
We want you to become a lifelong diver. Whether you need gear advice, help planning your next trip, or guidance on what to do after certification, we are still only a call or text away.
We don't measure success by the number of divers we certify. We measure it by the number of students who fall in love with diving.
01
We'll start by building a strong foundation. Complete SDI's online course at your own pace before step 2, then we'll bring it all to life together in the pool.
Learn the Basics
What happens after you enroll?
Once you register, we’ll send your SDI eLearning access, confirm your pool session, and make sure you know what gear to bring before your open water checkout dives.
Your Path to Becoming a Certified Diver
Your certification is completed in three parts: eLearning, pool training, and open water checkout dives. We'll guide you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.
02
Next, you'll work directly with Tony and Daniel in the pool, where you'll get comfortable with your equipment, practice essential scuba skills, and build confidence before heading into open water.
Build Your Skills
HOW IT WORKS
03
Start Diving
Finally, you'll complete your four open-water dives alongside Tony and Daniel, putting everything you've learned into practice. Once you've successfully completed the required skills, you'll earn your SDI Open Water certification and be ready to explore the underwater world.
Scuba Equipment Basics
Learn how your mask, fins, BCD, regulator, tank, weights, and gauges work together so your gear feels less intimidating.
Core Dive Skills
Practice essential skills like mask clearing, regulator recovery, air sharing, ascents, descents, and controlled breathing.
You'll leave confident and prepared
By the end of the course, you'll have the skills, knowledge, and experience to dive with a buddy and continue exploring the underwater world.
Questions about the course?
We're here to help! Reach out anytime.
Skills That Help You Become a Capable Diver
Open water training teaches the core skills every new diver needs, from understanding your equipment to communicating underwater and managing common diving situations with your buddy.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Buoyancy and Body Position
Leave class confident in your trim and achieving neutral buoyancy - a critical skill for new divers that will help you swim more efficiently, use less air, and feel more comfortable in the water.
Dive Planning & Awareness
Learn how to track depth, read dive tables, time, air, conditions, team diving, and buddy awareness.
Underwater Communication
Learn common scuba hand signals to communicate effectively underwater.
Open Water Checkout Dives
Apply what you've learned at a dive site in North Florida while completing required dives for certification.
Included with tuition:
INCLUDED IN YOUR COURSE
SDI eLearning / student materials
Access your online training and digital resources.
Certification Processing
We handle all the certification paperwork and fees
Pool Training Session
Practice essential skills in a controlled environment
Open Water Checkout Dives
Complete your required dives in open water
Rental Equipment
Your buoyancy compensator, regulators, tanks, and weights are provided
Not sure what to buy?
We are happy to help you choose appropriate personal gear before class so you do not waste money on equipment that does not fit well or match local diving conditions.
We are here to help!
Everything You Need to Start Training
Your course includes the major equipment you need to complete Open Water training. We'll also help you understand what personal gear you need before class so there are no surprises.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
STUDENT PROVIDES
You'll need personal gear
Mask
Fins
Snorkel
Booties or neoprene socks
Exposure protection (wetsuit)
If you tend to get cold easily, consider a suit with 3 mm arms and legs with a 5 mm core, or talk with us before purchasing.
Site Entry Fees
BEFORE YOU ENROLL
A Few Things You Need to Know
We want you to understand the course requirements, what to bring, and what happens if plans need to change.
Age Requirement
Minimum age 18; 10 through 17 with written parental consent. Students between the ages of 10 through 14 may obtain a SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver Certification if the following conditions are met: once certified, junior divers are to dive under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or active dive professional.
Medical
All students complete a standard diver medical questionnaire before training begins. Your instructor will send a copy of the most up to date questionnaire to you before your course. Some answers may require physician approval before you can participate in scuba activities. Please complete this early so it does not delay your course.
Physical Requirements
Swimming evaluation (Must be completed prior to any scuba skills taught): a. Distance swim of 200 metres non-stop using any stroke without the use of mask, snorkel, or any swimming aids, or 300 metres nonstop using mask, snorkel, and fins. b. Survival swim / float of 10 minutes.
Dive Site Fees
Course tuition includes training, certification processing, and core rental scuba equipment. Dive site entry fees vary by location.
Weather & Schedule Changes
Open water dives are weather- and site-condition dependent. If conditions do not allow us to complete training as planned, we will work with you to reschedule the affected portion of the course.
Cancellations & Rescheduling
Because class sizes are limited and training requires advance planning, please review our course policies before registering. Contact us as early as possible if you need to reschedule.
READY TO GET CERTIFIED?
CHOOSE YOUR
OPEN WATER COURSE
Small class size for personalized instruction
Flexible scheduling and supportive instructors
Train in beautiful Florida springs
$525
SDI OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVER
Total
Includes eLearning, pool training, checkout dives, certification processing, and core rental scuba equipment.
UPCOMING CLASSES
Need a different date or want a private course?
Contact us and we will help you find the next available class or arrange a private class.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This course is designed for beginners and does not require previous scuba experience.
Not at all. Our Open Water courses are designed for everyday recreational divers, people who want to explore Florida’s springs, enjoy diving on vacation, spend time with family and friends, or simply try something new.
You do not need any previous experience, specialized equipment, or plans to pursue advanced diving. We work with complete beginners and teach at a pace that allows each student to become comfortable without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
Daniel and Tony have technical and cave-diving experience, but we do not teach beginner courses as preparation for cave diving, nor do we encourage new divers to enter caves or other overhead environments. Cave diving is a separate, advanced discipline that requires extensive additional training and experience.
Our background simply helps us understand the skills we teach at a deeper level, explain the reasoning behind them, recognize problems early, and help recreational divers build strong habits from the beginning. Our goal is to help you become a safe, capable diver who enjoys being in the water, whether that means local springs, tropical reefs, or an occasional vacation dive.
You do not need to be a competitive swimmer, but you do need basic comfort in the water. Students must complete either a 200-meter nonstop swim without mask, snorkel, fins, or swimming aids, or a 300-meter nonstop swim using mask, snorkel, and fins. Students must also complete a 10-minute survival swim or float.
Students are required to bring their own mask, fins, snorkel, booties, and exposure protection. For Florida spring training, we recommend at least a 3mm wetsuit with a 5mm vest. Before purchasing any gear, we recommend reaching out to your instructor.
The course includes your student kit, SDI eLearning, certification card, instruction, and required rental scuba equipment (BC, regulators, tanks, weights). Students are responsible for their personal gear and site entry fees.
Most students complete the course over 3–4 days, depending on schedule, eLearning completion, training site availability, weather, and student progress.
Yes. Students can begin scuba training at age 10, and we welcome youth divers in our Open Water courses.
For students ages 10–17, we maintain a 1:1 instructor-to-student ratio. Each student is assigned a dedicated instructor who is responsible for working with them throughout the entire course, from confined-water training through their open-water certification dives.
Daniel and I are both fathers, and we take the responsibility of teaching young divers seriously. We want every student to receive the individual attention, supervision, and time they need to become comfortable and capable in the water.
Students ages 10–14 earn a Junior Open Water certification, which includes age-appropriate depth and supervision limits. Students age 15 and older earn the standard Open Water certification.
That is normal. We teach with patience, calm repetition, and clear explanations so students can build comfort without feeling rushed.
Your instructors are still a resource after class. We are happy to help with gear questions, dive planning, local dive opportunities, and choosing the next step in your training.