SDI Deep Diving Training
Develop safe descent, gas planning, and depth-management skills for advanced dives
SDI Deep Diver Certification in Nanaimo
Go beyond recreational limits and explore deeper sites with confidence.
Many of Vancouver Island’s most dramatic underwater features sit below the standard open water depth range. Deeper walls, advanced wreck sites, unique marine life, and colder water layers all become accessible once you have proper deep-diving training. The SDI Deep Diver course teaches you how to plan and complete dives beyond 18 metres (60 feet) and down to a maximum of 40 metres (130 feet), while managing the increased risks and challenges that come with depth.
Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters gives you hands-on deep-diving experience in the cold, clear waters around Nanaimo, one of Canada’s top regions for advanced diving.
Who will benefit from the Deep Diver course?
The SDI Deep Diver course is designed for certified divers who want to:
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- Expand their depth range safely
- Improve dive planning and problem-solving skills
- Prepare for advanced recreational and technical diving
- Access deeper walls, wrecks, and marine environments
Minimum age is 18, or 10–17 with parental consent depending on agency standards. Students must hold an SDI Open Water Diver certification or equivalent.
How we run the Deep Diver course in Nanaimo
We teach the Deep Diver course year-round using local dive sites that allow safe access to deeper depths. Training includes classroom work and two supervised deep dives.
A typical schedule includes:
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- Classroom review covering physics, physiology, computers, and gas planning
- Gear preparation and pre-dive checks specific to deep exposure
- First deep training dive to 30 metres (100 feet)
- Second deep training dive to a maximum depth of 40 metres (130 feet)
This schedule gives you time to become comfortable with your equipment, work on controlled descents and ascents, and develop deeper-water awareness.
What to expect from your Deep Diver training
The Deep Diver course has three key learning phases:
#1. Knowledge development
Complete your SDI eLearning at home before class. You’ll learn:
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- How depth affects your gas consumption and bottom time
- How computers and tables apply to deep-dive planning
- Equipment considerations for deeper diving
- First aid and emergency procedures specific to depth
- How narcosis and gas density affect awareness and performance
#2. In-water training
You’ll practice and demonstrate:
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- Testing and checking all deep-dive equipment
- Slow, controlled descents using proper buoyancy
- Maintaining awareness of depth, time, and gas
- Managing narcosis and monitoring your breathing rate
- Navigation and buddy procedures at depth
- Controlled ascents with a stable safety stop
#3. Two open-water deep training dives
Your training includes two deep dives at local Nanaimo sites:
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- Deep Dive 1 (to 30 metres / 100 feet):
Equipment checks, controlled descent, depth awareness, and executing your pre-planned dive profile. - Deep Dive 2 (to 40 metres / 130 feet):
Monitoring depth and gas closely, completing a simulated emergency assigned by your instructor, and demonstrating stable ascent procedures.
- Deep Dive 1 (to 30 metres / 100 feet):
Equipment needed for the Deep Diver course
Gear rentals are available through Nanaimo Dive Outfitters. You’ll use:
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- Mask, snorkel, fins
- BCD and regulator
- Dive computer
- Cylinder and weight system
- Drysuit and thermal undergarments
- Additional deep-dive accessories as needed
All deep diving in our region is conducted in a drysuit due to temperatures around 8°C to 10°C. You’ll learn how drysuit buoyancy changes with depth and how to manage expanding and compressing air during ascents and descents.
deep diving cold-water skills, worldwide confidence
Training for deep diving in British Columbia gives you the skills and confidence to handle advanced dives anywhere you travel. If you can manage depth, buoyancy, and awareness in cold water with full gear, deeper dives in tropical conditions feel significantly easier. Your SDI Deep Diver certification is globally recognized and builds a strong foundation for further training, including TDI Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, and more advanced TDI training down the road.
What’s included
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- SDI Deep Diver eLearning
- Two deep training dives
- All essential scuba gear available for rent
- Instructor-led planning and safety drills
- Small class sizes for focused training
Student perks: You’ll receive discounts on gear purchases and can join our regular club dives to continue practicing advanced skills.
Coming from out of town?
If you’ve already started your Deep Diver course elsewhere, we can finish your training through a multi-agency referral. Many divers travel to Nanaimo specifically for deep-water experience due to our wall systems and cold-water conditions. Contact us for scheduling and availability.
Deep Diver Course FAQ
How do I know if I’m personally ready for deep diving?
Most divers feel ready when they’re already comfortable at 18–20 meters and can maintain buoyancy, awareness, and air management without stress. Your instructor can assess your readiness during earlier dives.
Is deep diving physically harder than regular diving?
Not usually, but colder water, increased gas consumption, and heavier gear can make it more demanding. Good fitness and comfort in the water help a lot.
How fast will my air supply run down on deeper dives?
Air consumption increases significantly at depth. Many divers are surprised at how quickly a cylinder drains at 30–40 metres, which is why gas planning is a major part of the course.
Will we be doing any overhead or wreck penetrations in this course?
No. Deep Diver training focuses on depth skills, not overhead environments. Wreck penetration is a separate specialty.
How dark is it at 40 meters on Vancouver Island?
Light fades noticeably. Most divers bring a primary light so they can monitor gauges and enjoy the dive. Your instructor will advise based on site and season.
What if I struggle with buoyancy at depth?
Instructors expect this at first. You’ll practice descents, mid-water control, and controlled ascents at increasingly deeper levels before reaching max depth.
Is deep diving safe for older divers?
Age alone isn’t a barrier. Fitness, mobility, and overall comfort underwater matter most. Many older divers enjoy deep training successfully.
Do deep dives feel stressful or claustrophobic?
Most divers describe them as calm and quiet. The course teaches pacing and mindfulness so you feel in control at every stage.
How much surface interval do deep dives require?
It depends on depth and bottom time, but typically an hour or more. Dive computers calculate safe intervals and your instructor will review planning.
After finishing this course, what’s the best next step?
Many divers continue with SDI Nitrox, Advanced Buoyancy, or Navigation. Those interested in technical development often progress later into TDI programs such as TDI Advanced Nitrox.
Start Your Adventure
Are you ready to start your journey to exploring and diving the deeper sites?
