SDI OPEN WATER COURSE
Open Water Scuba Certification in Jacksonville, FL
Your adventure starts here.
Learn to dive in a small class taught directly by Daniel and Tony. Your course includes online learning, required rental gear, pool training, and four open-water dives, with plenty of instructor time along the way.
$525 total — reserve your seat with a $150 deposit
The remaining $375 is due on your pool-training day.
Students provide their own mask, fins, booties, snorkel, and wetsuit. We provide the BCD, regulator, tanks, weights, and dive computer used during training, and we’re happy to help you choose or order your personal gear.
Beginner Friendly | Max 6 Students | Veteran Owned | SDI Training Facility
PRECISION DEPTH DIVING
We teach every class ourselves
Daniel and Tony personally teach the course from beginning to end.
Small Classes for a Reason
We limit class size so we have time to actually know how each student is progressing and give them more time where they need it.
We Teach Toward Independence
We want you to finish the course knowing how to plan a dive, work with your buddy, manage your equipment, and make decisions without relying on an instructor to do it for you.
WHY DIVERS CHOOSE
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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.
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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
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.
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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
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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.
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.
YOU DON’T NEED TO BUY EVERYTHING AT ONCE
Start With the Scuba Gear You Actually Need
You don’t need to buy a full set of scuba gear before your course. To get started, you’ll only need your own mask, fins, booties, snorkel, and wetsuit. We provide the BCD, regulator, tanks, weights, and dive computer for your Open Water training.
In the video below, Tony breaks down what gear is worth buying first, what can wait, and how to build your setup over time.
Need help with your personal gear?
Students are responsible for their own mask, fins, snorkel, booties, and exposure protection. As an authorized Cressi dealer, we can help you select properly fitting equipment and order it before your course. Contact us at least seven days before your pool session so we have time to get everything in.
We also have partnerships with local dive shops to find the right equipment for you.
$525
Includes eLearning, pool training, checkout dives, certification processing, and core rental scuba equipment.
UPCOMING CLASSES
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SDI OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVER
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.