SDI Wreck Diver

Specialty Course · Explore the Sunken · For Certified Divers

History and marine life in a single dive. The SDI Wreck Diver course teaches you to plan and dive a wreck the right way: charting the site, managing primary and backup lights, running a reel, and keeping your buoyancy off the silt. You choose how far you go, from exploring the exterior (non-penetration, two dives) to venturing just inside within the daylight (limited-penetration, three dives). It counts as a specialty toward your Advanced Diver rating. You'll need your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel; the rest of the standard rental gear is included, and we'll go over wreck-specific gear like lights and a reel when you book.

Veterans can put their GI Bill toward their training, and families can use ESA or ClassWallet funds. See if you qualify.

Starting from

$249.00

Availability: Contact us for booking information

Description
Additional Information

SDI Wreck Diver Course

Specialty Course · Explore the Sunken · For Certified Divers

A wreck is two things at once: a piece of history and a thriving artificial reef. Diving one well is a skill of its own, and doing it safely takes more than curiosity. The SDI Wreck Diver course teaches you to plan and dive a wreck properly, from charting the site and managing your lights to handling a reel and keeping your buoyancy off the silt. You choose how far you want to go, from exploring the outside of the structure to venturing just inside within the daylight. It counts as one specialty toward your SDI Advanced Diver rating.

Why divers love wrecks

There's nothing else in diving quite like it:

History you can swim through, from ships to aircraft to sunken structures
Some of the richest marine life anywhere, drawn to the artificial reef
A real navigation and planning challenge that makes you a sharper diver
Access to world-class sites like Wreck Alley off San Diego

Choose how far you go

Non-Penetration

Two dives

Explore the exterior of the wreck, diving around, over, and along the structure without entering enclosed spaces.

Two open water wreck dives
Site charting and exterior mapping
Age 10+ with parental consent, 18+ without
Juniors: non-penetration only, max 60 feet

Limited-Penetration

Three dives

Everything in non-penetration, plus entering the wreck only as far as you stay within the natural light of the entry point.

Three open water wreck dives
Running a lifeline and reel from the entry
Age 15+ with parental consent, 18+ without
Dives beyond 60 feet need Deep Diver certification

The skills you'll build

Wreck diving rewards preparation. The course covers the techniques that keep it safe and enjoyable.

Pre-planning a dive with charts, site information, and a dive slate
Primary and backup lighting, plus proper light discipline
Buddy contact techniques and buddy lines for varied visibility
Tying off and handling a reel or lifeline at the entry point
Silt-out management so a cloud of sediment never disorients you
Knives and cutting devices for managing entanglement
Assessing a wreck's stability before you dive it

Where you'll put it to use

Wreck Alley off San Diego is the classic proving ground, with accessible wrecks like the Ruby E, the Yukon, and the Hogan sitting close enough for a weekend trip. Learn the skills here in Arizona, then go use them on a real wreck.

Who can enroll

Open to certified Open Water divers, with age depending on the format you choose.

Certified SDI Open Water divers, or equivalent
Non-penetration: age 18, or 10 with parental consent
Limited-penetration: age 18, or 15 with parental consent
Any wreck dive deeper than 60 feet requires Deep Diver certification, or equivalent

✓ What's included

Instruction and your open water wreck dives (2 or 3, by format)
Rental gear: BCD, regulator, computer, tank, weights, and wetsuit
The SDI Wreck Diver knowledge materials
Your SDI Wreck Diver certification, plus a credit toward your Advanced Diver rating

What to bring

Your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel (required, we don't rent these)
Your own primary and backup dive lights, a reel/lifeline, and a cutting device (required, we don't rent these; the reel is used in the limited-penetration format)
Your Open Water certification card (and Deep Diver card if diving past 60 ft)
A swimsuit and a towel

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I actually go inside the wreck?

Only if you choose the limited-penetration format, and even then only as far as you remain within the natural light of the entry point. The non-penetration format keeps you exploring the outside of the wreck. Full technical penetration is a separate, more advanced path.

What's the difference between the two formats?

Non-penetration is two dives on the exterior of the wreck. Limited-penetration adds a third dive where you use a reel and lifeline to enter within the daylight zone. Limited-penetration has a higher minimum age because of the added skills involved.

What are the prerequisites?

An SDI Open Water certification, or equivalent. Non-penetration is open from age 10 with parental consent; limited-penetration from age 15 with parental consent; 18 without in both cases. Any dive deeper than 60 feet requires Deep Diver certification.

What special gear does wreck diving need?

You'll own your primary and backup dive lights, a reel or lifeline, and a cutting device for managing entanglement. We don't rent these, so they're yours to keep and dive with. The reel comes into play in the limited-penetration format. Ask us for recommendations if you need to pick any of them up before class.

What is a silt-out?

It's when fins or exhaust bubbles stir up fine sediment inside or around a wreck and visibility drops to near zero. The course teaches finning technique and light discipline to prevent it, and how to stay oriented if it happens.

What gear do I need to own?

Your own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel, plus your own primary and backup dive lights, a reel or lifeline, and a cutting device. The rest of your standard rental gear (BCD, regulator, tank, weights, wetsuit, and computer) is included with the course.

Does it count toward anything bigger?

Yes, it counts as one specialty toward the SDI Advanced Diver rating.

Let's. Go. Diving.

History, marine life, and a real challenge, all in one dive. Call the shop and we'll get you scheduled.

📞 Call the shop (480) 881-4013

A specialty course that counts toward the SDI Advanced Diver rating. Prerequisite: an SDI Open Water certification (or equivalent). Dives deeper than 60 feet require Deep Diver certification.

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