Courses

Welcome to our world, the underwater environment. If you are interested learning to dive this is the place to start. Here you will find a complete description of our Open Water certification course and what you’ll need to get started.

Already a diver? Scroll down for a complete list of continuing education/specialty, professional development, technical and public safety diving courses.

Blue Marble Divers is a Divers Alert Network (DAN) Training Facility and Business Member and, American Red Cross CPR and 1st Aid Training Provider, so you know our first priority is SAFETY.

Our philosophy on dive training is a simple one; To provide a fun and enjoyable course, at a reasonable price which produces knowledgeable, competent, confidant and safe divers.

OPEN WATER DIVER

$325 / Student
Prerequisite: None
Classroom: 10 hours
Pool Time: 10 hours
Dives: 4 (open water)

SCUBA diving is unlike any other activity you can participate in. SCUBA offers most everyone the opportunity to engage in a fun and stimulating activity. Whether you are looking to have a relaxing swim with colorful reef fish or nomadic and endangered sea turtles, or plying the forbidding depths in search of valuable treasure from a lost wreck SCUBA can let you experience the dream.

SCUBA is non-competitive making it the perfect activity for the entire family. Even non-divers in the family will find enjoyment and excitement in the pictures, artifacts and stories you bring back from your trek to the most underexplored region of the earth.

SCUBA helps you to better understand the environment in which we all live. You will develop a greater appreciation of that which sustains all life on the planet while building new lifelong friendships with others. You will gain self confidence, learn about health and safety, and teamwork all while having a fun and memorable experience.

Learning to dive involves a modest investment of time to become a safe diver. As an entry-level certification, SDI has streamlined the course materials covering the essential academics that you study at your own pace.

The SDI Open Water course is composed of five classroom and pool sessions lasting two hours each and totals twenty hours of professional instruction. Classroom sessions are spent reviewing the material from the student manual and DVD. Pool sessions are spent learning and developing essential diving skills.

Upon completion of the classroom and pool sessions you will make four open water check out dives where you will demonstrate your skill proficiency. Upon completion of your open water dives you will receive the SDI Open Water Diver Certification Card. This card identifies you as a diver, allowing you to rent SCUBA equipment, participate in advanced training and explore exotic diving destinations.

If you’ve made it this far you probably have some questions. Here we’ll answer some of the most common we receive.

First, expect to have fun. While learning to SCUBA dive should be taken seriously, our instructors, assistant instructors and dive masters, create a relaxed atmosphere for learning and mastering basic SCUBA skills.

Included in the price of the class is everything except your personnel equipment, (mask, fins, snorkel, booties and a rental wetsuit for the checkout dives). Students receive a 10% discount on their personnel equipment purchase.

Basic swimming skills are needed. Now that doesn’t mean you have to be an Olympic swimmer, but you must be able to swim 200 yards non-stop using any stroke and tread water for 10 minutes. What is most important is that you posses a modest physical fitness level and be comfortable in the water.

There are some medical conditions that may exclude you from diving. When you sign up for a class you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire. If you answer yes to any question on the questionnaire, then you must receive medical clearance from a physician before you can participate in training or dive. For a specific medical condition question visit the Divers Alert Network

While we prefer that you not miss any classes, we do understand that sometimes things arise in our lives that demand our attention. If you must miss a class we will do our best to arrange makeup time or move you into one of our other classes.

E-Learning - Master all the important academic information on-line. Traditionally learning to dive required several hours of formal classroom training. Now, through on-line training, you can complete this phase through self-study, at your own pace, in the convenience of your home or office. Use this link to find out more.

ADVANCED ADVENTURE DIVER

$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 0 hours
Dives: 5

The Advanced Adventure Diver course is for divers wanting to expand their knowledge and diving experience to include varying diving environments and an introduction to specialty diving. The SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course will give you an overview of 5 specialties, two of which, Deep Diver and Navigation Diver, are the foundation of continuing diver education. The reaming three dives are; Night Diving, Underwater Search and Underwater Recovery.

DEEP DIVER

$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)

Jr. Open Water (15 years of age) with parent signature – Jr. Open Water Maximum Depth 70 Feet
Classroom: 2 hours
Dives: 2

SDI’s Deep diver course will teach you the risks and benefits of deep diving. During the course you will make two dives during which you will learn proper descents, air management, nitrogen narcosis, dive planning and proper ascents. Upon completion you will be certified to dive to the maximum sport diving limit of 130 feet.

$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 2
Dives: 4

Underwater Navigation is one of the essential skills every diver should have. SDI’s Underwater Navigation Course will teach you how to navigate using a compass or by underwater terrain features. During the course you will learn compass features, distance estimation and reading bottom contours. During the second day’s dives you and your dive buddy will put your learned skills to the test by navigating a pre-determined underwater course.

EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST

$100 / Student
Prerequisite: none
Classroom: 6 hours
Dives: 0

There are many things you as a diver can do to maintain your equipment. This course provides you with information on selection, function and maintenance of your diving equipment. During the course you will receive training in routine field and after use maintenance that you will be able to do on your own equipment. You will also receive an appreciation for the equipment maintenance and service procedures performed by a full service dive shop.

UNDER PHOTOGRAPHY

$150/ Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 3 hours
Pool Time: 2 hours

Learn how to take pictures underwater that make your family and friends say ohhhhh and ahhhhh. The SDI Underwater Photography course will teach you about the special considerations and challenges of making pictures underwater. During the classroom session your will learn about camera selection, buoyancy control, framing and lighting, wide angle and macro photography. During the pool session, in our “pool reef”, you’ll put your newly learned knowledge to the test photographing underwater reef creatures and scenes.

DRY SUIT DIVER
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$150.00 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 1 hour
Pool Time: 2 hours

Expand your diving season and experiences. The SDI Dry Suit Diver course provides you with information on selection, types, insulation considerations, maintenance, buoyancy control and emergency procedures while diving dry. Why dive wet and cold when you can drive warm and dry?

Course price includes manual, quarry pass, air and weight. Dry Suit rental for open water dives $50.00.

This certification is FREE with the purchase of a dry suit from Blue Marble Divers.

ICE DIVER

$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency), 18 years old & 25 open water dives
Classroom: 6 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Ice Diver specialty program is offered for SCUBA divers who desire to explore the underwater realm beneath the ice. The crystalline structures and the extended visibility brought on by colder water temperatures can make ice diving an exciting and rewarding and at the same time presents hazards not common to the Open Water Diver.

SEARCH AND RECOVERY DIVER

$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 4 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Search and Recovery Diver course will teach you the basics to search for and locate lost items from jewelry to outboard motors. Once you’ve located the lost item you’ll learn how rig it and bring it back to the surface or shore using a lift bag.

NIGHT/LOW VISIBILITY DIVER

$150/ Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 2 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Night/Low Visibility Diver course will teach you the procedures, techniques and potential hazards associated with diving at night or limited visibility. By becoming familiar with the use of dive lights and night diving techniques you will be able to enjoy night diving with a maximum amount of comfort and security.

ALTITUDE DIVER

$125/ Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 4 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Altitude Diver course teaches you the particular techniques and differences for diving at altitude. Some of the skills you will learn during the course are; calculating nitrogen absorption using dive tables and correcting for altitude, correcting for gauge depths and the physics and physiology of altitude diving.

SHORE/BEACH DIVER

$125/ Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 2 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Shore/Beach diver course will teach you the proper techniques for entries and exits, navigation, avoiding currents for making safe shore dives.

The SDI Computer Nitrox course is a great next step after the Open Water Diver certification and is structured in an easy to understand manner by making use of a Nitrox programmable computer. Nitrox as a breathing gas has a lot of benefits for both the new and experienced diver. This course will cover the use of Nitrox mixtures from 22 to 40 percent oxygen.

$25.00 (Certification Fee)
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency), 4 SDI Specialty Certifications and 25 Logged Dives
Classroom: 0 hours
Dives: 0

Unlike most agencies where the open water student can receive Advanced Certification with as little as nine dives, all made under the direct supervision of an Instructor, the SDI Advanced Diver Program was created to make truly “Advanced Divers”. The Advanced diver certification is awarded upon completing 4 SDI specialty courses and logging 25 dives.

$175/student
Prerequisite: SDI Advanced Diver or 40 Logged Dives, CPR, 1st Aid and DAN O2
Classroom: 3 hours
Dives: 2

The SDI Rescue Diver course is designed to develop your knowledge and necessary skills to effectively perform diver rescues and to assist with or administer first aid. You will learn how to perform self rescue, buddy rescue, recognize and calm panicked divers, administer proper First Aid to divers suffering from diving related injuries and to manage accident scenes

$25.00 (Certification Fee)
Prerequisite: SDI Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver and 50 Logged Dives
Classroom: 0 hours
Dives: 0

The SDI Master Scuba Diver is the highest non-professional level of certification. As an earned certification it identifies you as a knowledgeable, well-trained and experienced diver.

One of SDI’s most popular courses, the solo diver program teaches experienced recreational divers how to safely dive independently of a dive buddy or strengthen your buddy team skills. The course stresses proper dive planning, personal limitations, accident prevention as well as the benefits, hazards, and proper procedures for diving solo. You will also learn the additional equipment that is required for solo diving including it's proper usage and assembly. This is the prefect course for underwater photography and underwater video divers.

Price includes manual and quarry passes

$450 (Course Fee)
Prerequisite: Available upon request
Classroom: 40 hours
Dives: 10

The SDI Divemaster program is the first level of the professional certifications. During this course you will be challenged to learn what it is like to work with new divers and how to lead already certified divers on underwater excursions. Among the other things you will learn is how to work a dive site in support of an open water class, boat operations, advanced physics and physiology and the responsibility of being in charge of divers and dive operations. Your diving skills will be developed to presentation quality and your knowledge will be increased to that of a diving professional.

Certification fees, Insurance, Standards and Procedures Manual, and quarry passes are additional.

The SDI Assistant Instructor program is the next step in your professional development. The course is designed to give you practical teaching experience under the supervision of an SDI Instructor. You will assist an Instructor teaching Open Water, Advanced Diver and Rescue courses. Upon completion you will be certified to teach and certify Skin Divers, conduct the Inactive Diver Program and conduct the Knowledge Quest Review of the Open Water diver course.

Certification Fees, Standards and Procedures Manual, insurance and quarry passes are additional.

So you’re ready for the next step and to get the chance to introduce new divers to the sport of Scuba diving, see the looks on their faces the first time they breath underwater or see things they have only seen in movies and on TV. Maybe you want to become an SDI Instructor to start or change careers or so you can travel the world. The SDI Instructor Course will teach current Divemaster or Assistants Instructors the knowledge to safely function as an SDI Instructor with the abilities to teach SDI Open Water Scuba Divers, Advanced Adventures Divers, Rescue Divers, Divemasters and Assistant Instructors. The program is divided into two sections, an Instructor Development Course (IDC) and an Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC).
The IDC teaches you how to;

Certification fees, Standards & Procedures Manual and Insurance not included.

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$150 / Student
Prerequisite: Open Water Diver Certification (from any agency)
Classroom: 4 hours
Dives: 0

This is the entry-level certification course for recreational divers wishing to utilize Enriched Air NITROX (EAN) as a breathing gas. The objective of this course is to train divers in the benefits, hazards and proper procedures for using NITROX mixes from 22% to 40% oxygen content. Book and NITROX/EAD/Dive Tables included.

Minimum Age 18 (15 with parental consent). SDI Advanced Adventure, Advanced or equivalent.

As sport divers planned decompression is not something that we do or have been taught. The TDI Decompression Procedures course prepares you for planned staged decompression diving. With a maximum operating depth of 45m/150 feet, this course is your first step beyond the normal sport diving limits.

Combined Course Price for Advanced Nitrox and Deco Procedures. Includes required training materials.

In the TDI Gas Blender Course, you will receive a foundation of skills and knowledge that is needed to blend enriched air nitrox for recreational divers. You will demonstrate proficiency in blending enriched air nitrox and the proper labeling of nitrox cylinders. The TDI Nitrox Gas Blender manual will take you through the processes of blending nitrox in an easy to read and understand format. Additional support materials include the SDI/TDI Gas Blending Log.

Public Safety Courses

This entry level emergency response diving course is designed to give the public safety diver the fundamental skills needed to safely function as part of a public safety dive team and is OSHA and NFPA compliant. Topics such as problem solving, tender skills, search patterns and evidence handling are covered just to name a few. Dive skills include executing search patterns, victim recovery, emergency procedures and decontamination procedures among others. ERD I also serves as a prerequisite to ERD Ops Components courses.

This ERDI course enables the public safety diver to develop detailed knowledge and advanced skills in emergency response diving. Among the topics covered are manner of death, physiological changes a submerged body undergoes, mechanics of drowning, handling of remains, environmental issues, encapsulation, full face mask and drysuit use. As part of the certification requirements during the six dives, students will also master drysuit and full face mask skills.

The ERD Drysuit OPS course is designed to develop the knowledge and skills that are necessary for drysuit diving operations in emergency response diving. In addition to the fundamental skills of drysuit diving, other important topics include encapsulation, contaminated environments, protecting potable water supplies and decontamination procedures. Drysuit OPS training is also part of the ERD II curriculum.

Conducting emergency response operations in an overhead environment, such as ice diving, presents hazards and challenges to the ERD team not found in normal situations. Important topics and skills that are presented during this course include physiological aspects of cold-water diving, appropriate equipment for ice diving, surface support procedures as well as scene preparation and lost diver drills.

American Red Cross first aid, CPR and AED programs are designed to give you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life. Additional training in bloodborne pathogens, oxygen administration and injury prevention can be added to CPR and first aid training to prepare you to prevent and respond to life-threatening emergencies. Red Cross Preparedness programs in first aid, CPR and AED are available for any age and can be tailored to the needs of specific groups and individuals. Whether you work with children, want training for employees, are a professional rescuer, or simply want to know how to help someone in an emergency, the American Red Cross has a program for you.

Every diver and dive buddy should have basic life support skills. The American Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR course provides you with the knowledge and skills to provide these vital life saving measures at the dive site, home or office. CPR is a prerequisite for many of the Divers Alert Network courses.

DAN´s Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Provider Course was designed to fill the void in oxygen first aid training available for the general diving public. This course represents entry level training designed to educate the general diving (and qualified non-diving) public in recognizing possible dive related injuries and providing emergency oxygen first aid while activating the local emergency medical services (EMS) and/or arranging for evacuation to the nearest available medical facility.

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