SSI Open Water Diver eLearning

SSI Open Water Diver — eLearning & Certification Credit Only

Begin your underwater adventure and earn the world’s most recognised entry-level diving certification with the SSI Open Water Diver course. This programme gives you the knowledge and confidence to dive safely to 18 metres, anywhere in the world. This product provides your academic training and certification credit only — you’ll complete all theory online before booking your required pool and open water sessions with an SSI Dive Centre.

What you’ll learn online

• Fundamentals of scuba diving, equipment, and dive planning
• Understanding pressure, buoyancy, and air consumption
• Dive physics and physiology for safe diving
• Hand signals, buddy procedures, and underwater communication
• How to manage common dive problems and improve comfort underwater
• Environmental awareness and responsible diving practices

Required practical training (booked separately)

To become a certified SSI Open Water Diver, you must complete both confined water (pool) sessions and open water dives with an SSI Instructor. These practical sessions develop your skills step by step and typically include:

• Pool or confined water training to master foundational scuba skills
• Four open water dives applying those skills in real-world conditions
• Buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, and safety ascents
• Buddy diving, dive planning, and environmental awareness

The in-water training is not included with this eLearning product and must be arranged separately with Dorset Diving or another SSI Dive Centre offering the Open Water Diver course.

Important

• Always confirm that your chosen dive centre offers SSI Open Water Diver training before booking practical sessions.
• You must be at least 10 years old and comfortable in water to enrol (junior certification limits apply for under 15s).
• This certification qualifies you to dive to 18 metres with a buddy, anywhere in the world.

Free registration

Start your scuba journey today by creating a free SSI account and affiliating with our dive centre here:
Register with Dorset Diving.

What’s next?

Once certified, expand your diving skills with SSI specialties such as Perfect Buoyancy, Navigation, or Enriched Air Nitrox — or continue your adventure with the Advanced Adventurer programme to explore even further.