SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification in Nanaimo
Learn to dive in one of the best cold-water destinations on the planet
If you’ve always wanted to explore the underwater world, discover marine life up close, or start a new lifelong adventure, the SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification is your gateway. Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters gives you a solid foundation in safe scuba diving while introducing you to the incredible cold-water environment that Vancouver Island is famous for.
You’ll learn online at your own pace, develop skills during pool sessions, and complete your certification with supervised ocean dives at our local sites.
Why get certified in Nanaimo?
Learning to dive here means you start your adventure in an environment filled with life:
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- Giant Pacific octopus
- Wolf eels
- Puget Sound king crabs
- A few dozen species of rockfish
- Colorful nudibranchs
- Plumose-covered walls
- Wrecks like the HMCS Saskatchewan and Cape Breton waiting for you after advanced certification
Cold-water diving on Vancouver Island is unique, accessible, and rewarding. Once certified, you’ll be able to dive anywhere in the world, but there’s something special about earning your first certification in these waters.
Who is the open water course for?
The SDI Open Water course is designed for anyone who wants to:
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- Learn scuba diving from the ground up
- Explore the underwater world safely and confidently
- Start a new recreational activity filled with travel, adventure, and community
Minimum age for eLearning is 13, and participants must be fit for scuba activities. Junior Open Water certifications are available for ages 13-15. The biggest challenge with young divers in our cold-water environment is our heavy gear. A diver might be entering the water with 80+lbs of gear.
Open water course format (Nanaimo Dive Outfitters)
We run a new course every month. Training takes place over five evenings and one weekend, all starting and ending at our shop.
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- Friday 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Classroom orientation
- Monday 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Classroom + pool training
- Wednesday 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm Classroom + pool training
- Thursday 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm Drysuit class + pool training
- Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Ocean dives 1 & 2
- Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Ocean dives 3, & 4
This schedule gives you plenty of time to learn skills, build comfort, and prepare for your ocean dives.
What you’ll learn in your open water course
The open water diver course has three main phases:
#1. Knowledge development
Complete your SDI eLearning at home before class. You’ll learn:
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- How pressure, buoyancy, and air spaces work underwater
- How tides, currents, surge, and cold-water conditions affect diving
- How to plan dives and use the buddy system
- Essential safety procedures
#2. Confined-water (pool) training
In the pool, you’ll learn and practice:
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- Buoyancy control
- Regulator skills
- Mask clearing
- Swimming techniques and finning
- Emergency procedures
- BCD and weight system use
- Proper equipment handling
You get about 6 hours of in-water pool time, which gives you lots of practice before the ocean.
#3. Open-water ocean dives
You’ll complete four open-water dives at local Nanaimo sites that could include the following sites depending on the weather and tides during your course:
Here you’ll demonstrate your skills in real conditions and start exploring our local marine life under your instructor’s supervision.
Your gear you will use in the open water course
During the open water course course your gear will be included. You’ll use:
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- Mask, snorkel, fins (recommended to purchase)
- BCD and regulator
- Dive computer
- Cylinder and weight system
- Wetsuit (first night in pool)
- Drysuit (for the rest of the class)
Wetsuit or drysuit?
You’ll earn both your Open Water and Drysuit certifications in this program. The waters surrounding Vancouver Island sit around 8°C - 10°C at depth year-round. Learning to dive in a drysuit is the most comfortable option, especially when doing multiple dives per day. Our team will ensure you’re fitted properly so you stay warm and comfortable.
Cold-water training, warm-water confidence
Learning to dive in British Columbia sets you up for success anywhere in the world. If you can dive here, you can dive in warm, tropical destinations with ease. Your certification is recognized globally and is the foundation for all future training, including wreck, night, navigation, and nitrox courses.
What’s included
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- SDI eLearning
- All pool sessions
- All required scuba gear
- Drysuit certification
- Four ocean dives
- Small class sizes for personalized instruction and a high dive professional to student ratio
Student perks: You’ll receive discounts on purchasing your own gear, plus one free gear rental package after you certify. You’re also invited to join our regular club dives.
Coming from out of town?
If you’ve already started your Open Water course elsewhere, we can finish your certification through a multi-agency referral. Contact us for details.
Open Water Course FAQ
Ready to become a certified diver?
Scuba diving opens the door to new experiences, travel, and friendships. Training with Nanaimo Dive Outfitters gives you confidence in one of the richest cold-water ecosystems in the world.
Start your SDI eLearning today or contact us to reserve your spot in an upcoming class.
Start Your Adventure
Are you ready to start your journey to becoming a scuba diver?
