SDI Boat Diver

Boat diving happens every day around the world, from small private boats to liveaboards. The SDI Boat Diver Course teaches you how to board, gear up, enter, exit, and behave on a dive boat so your boat dives are safe, relaxed, and fun.

Who this course is for:

Certified divers who want to get comfortable diving from boats before their next charter or liveaboard trip.

Course prerequisites

• Minimum age 18, or 10 with parental consent
• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver or equivalent

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Boat Diver Course takes an in-depth look at all of the following:

• Vessel types: liveaboards, charter, and private boats
• Boat safety equipment and US Coast Guard requirements
• Boarding, exits, and ladder use
• Trip planning and equipment preparation checklists
• Boat procedures, etiquette, and protocols
• Line types and their uses
• Underwater navigation back to the boat

What’s in it for you?

Graduates may plan and conduct boat dives without direct instructor supervision, in conditions similar to their training. Junior divers (ages 10-14) must dive with a parent, guardian, or dive professional. Counts toward the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

SDI Boat Diver minimum certification requirements:

• Pass the knowledge assessment with a minimum score of 80%
• Complete all open water skills safely
• Demonstrate mature judgment in dive planning and execution