SDI Deep Diver Course

Your Open Water certification clears you to 60 feet. A lot of diving happens at that depth and shallower, but a lot more happens below it. Shipwrecks that sit at 80 or 100 feet. Wall dives that start in the shallows and drop past 100 feet into open water. Deep reef structures where the fish species change entirely. None of that is accessible until you have your Deep Diver certification.

The SDI Deep Diver course covers what changes as you go deeper, how to plan and execute dives beyond 60 feet safely, and what equipment and emergency procedures deep diving requires. It runs across two open water dives that build progressively, reaching 130 feet on the second dive. By the end, you are cleared to dive to 130 feet in conditions similar to your training.

What the Course Covers

Physics and Physiology of Deep Diving

The deeper you go, the more pressure increases and the faster it does so. The course covers how that increased pressure affects your body, your air consumption, your buoyancy, and your no-decompression limits. You will also cover narcosis, which becomes a real consideration below 60 feet, and how to recognize and manage it.

Equipment for Deep Diving

Gear that works fine at 40 feet may not be sufficient at 100. The course covers equipment selection and configuration for deep diving, including redundancy considerations, depth gauges and computers at depth, lights for deep or low-visibility environments, and how to check and set up gear specifically for deeper dives.

Deep Dive Planning

Planning a deep dive is more involved than planning a shallow one. You will learn how to calculate no-decompression limits for deep profiles, how to manage air consumption at depth so you surface with adequate reserve, how to use a dive slate to track depth, time, and air throughout the dive, and how to plan conservatively so the dive stays within your training limits.

Emergency Procedures for Deep Diving

At depth, problems develop faster and leave less time to respond. The course covers emergency procedures specific to deep diving, including out-of-air situations, rapid ascents, missed decompression stops, and first aid for diving-related injuries. Understanding what to do before something goes wrong is what makes deep diving manageable.

How the Course Builds: Two Open Water Dives

The SDI Deep Diver course includes two open water dives, and the structure of those dives is deliberate.

Dive One: To 100 Feet

The first dive descends to a planned depth of up to 100 feet (30 metres). You check and verify all equipment before entry, familiarize yourself with the site, descend to depth, execute the dive according to plan, and ascend with a safety stop. The goal of the first dive is controlled execution at depth, building the experience base for what comes next.

Dive Two: To 130 Feet with a Simulated Emergency

The second dive pushes to 130 feet (40 metres). In addition to the standard dive execution, your instructor will assign a simulated emergency scenario underwater that you will need to respond to. This is what separates Deep Diver training from simply going deep. You practice decision-making at depth, under real conditions, before you ever need to do it on your own.

What the Certification Unlocks

Completing the SDI Deep Diver specialty clears you to dive to 130 feet in conditions similar to your training. In practical terms, that opens up:

• Shipwrecks that sit below 60 feet, including many of the wrecks at Wreck Alley off San Diego
• Wall dives that drop past recreational limits, common at destinations where we frequently run group trips.
• Deep reef structures where fish species, coral types, and conditions differ significantly from shallower diving

Where This Fits in Your Training Path

The SDI Deep Diver certification counts as one of the two required specialty dives in the SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course, alongside Navigation. It also counts as one of the four specialty credits toward the SDI Advanced Diver rating. If you completed Advanced Adventure and did the Deep Diver dive there, that dive counts as one credit toward this full certification. Finishing the full Deep Diver specialty is one of the more direct paths toward both Advanced Diver and the dive sites that course opens up.

Who Can Enroll

The SDI Deep Diver course is open to certified SDI Open Water Scuba Divers or equivalent. Minimum age is 10 with parental consent, 18 without. Junior divers ages 10 to 15 are limited to a maximum depth of 70 feet (21 metres) on the Deep Diver specialty dive.

Gear and Equipment

Students are required to own their own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel for this course. Dive gear rental such as BCD, regulator, computer, tanks, weights, and wetsuit is included in the course. If you'd like to purchase any of your own equipment, we carry a full selection in the shop and all students enrolled in a course receive a discount on purchases during enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep can you go with a Deep Diver certification?

The SDI Deep Diver specialty clears you to dive to 130 feet (40 metres) in conditions similar to your training. Your Open Water certification limits you to 60 feet (18 metres). Going deeper than 130 feet requires technical diving training beyond the recreational level.

What is the SDI Deep Diver course?

The SDI Deep Diver course is a specialty certification that trains certified Open Water divers to plan and execute dives beyond 60 feet, up to a maximum of 130 feet. It covers the physics and physiology of deep diving, equipment selection, deep dive planning, and emergency procedures, across two open water dives that build progressively to the 130-foot depth limit.

What is the difference between Open Water and Deep Diver certification?

Your Open Water certification limits you to 60 feet in conditions similar to your training. The Deep Diver specialty removes that ceiling and clears you to 130 feet. It also adds specific training in deep dive planning, managing air consumption and no-decompression limits at greater depths, and emergency procedures that become more relevant below 60 feet.

How many dives is the SDI Deep Diver specialty?

Two open water dives. The first goes to 100 feet and focuses on controlled execution at depth. The second reaches 130 feet and includes a simulated emergency scenario assigned by your instructor underwater.

Does the Deep Diver certification count toward SDI Advanced Diver?

Yes. The SDI Deep Diver certification counts as one of the four specialty credits required for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program. It is also one of the two required specialties in the SDI Advanced Adventure Diver course, alongside Navigation. If you completed the Deep Diver dive during Advanced Adventure, that dive counts as one credit toward the full Deep Diver specialty certification.

Is there a depth limit for junior divers in this course?

Yes. Junior divers ages 10 to 15 are limited to a maximum depth of 70 feet (21 metres) on the Deep Diver specialty dive, rather than the standard 130-foot limit for adult students.

Ready to Go Deeper?

Contact us to schedule the SDI Deep Diver course. Call us at (480) 881-4013 or stop by the shop and we will get it on the calendar. We are open Monday through Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm, at 18618 S 186th Way, Queen Creek, inside The Shooting Range.

For more information and to see course standards, click here!