SDI Wreck Diver Course

A ship goes down, and the reef moves in. Coral colonizes the hull. Fish find shelter in the holds. Marine life that you would never see on an open reef takes up residence in the cargo space. What was once a vessel becomes something the ocean has claimed, and what it looks like twenty years later is unlike anything else you will dive.

Wreck diving also carries history in a way reef diving does not. Researching what a wreck was, what it carried, how it sank, and what still remains is part of what brings divers back to the same wreck repeatedly. Sites like Wreck Alley off San Diego, the Ruby E, the Yukon, the Hogan, are destinations worth planning a trip around.

The SDI Wreck Diver course covers the equipment, techniques, and safety protocols that make wreck diving something you do well, not just something you do. It is offered in two formats depending on your age and goals.

Two Course Formats

Non-Penetration Wreck Diver (2 Dives)

The non-penetration format covers the exterior of the wreck, diving around, over, and along the structure without entering enclosed spaces. This format requires two open water dives and is open to certified Open Water divers ages 10 and up with parental consent, 18 without. Junior Open Water Divers participating in non-penetration dives may not go deeper than 60 feet (18 metres).

Limited-Penetration Wreck Diver (3 Dives)

Limited penetration means entering the wreck to the extent that you remain within the ambient light of the entry point, or completing a swim-through where you can see the exit at all times. This format requires three open water dives and is open to certified Open Water divers ages 15 and up with parental consent, 18 without. Junior Open Water Divers are not permitted to participate in any penetration activities. Divers who need to go deeper than 60 feet for this course must hold a Deep Diver specialty certification or provide proof of equivalent experience.

What the Course Covers

Buddy System and Communication on a Wreck

Staying with your buddy on a wreck is more demanding than open water diving. Visibility can change rapidly inside and around a structure, and the environment limits your sightlines in ways a reef does not. The course covers buddy contact techniques for varied visibility conditions, the use of buddy lines to maintain physical contact when visual contact is lost, line signals for communication between divers, and buddy positioning when space is limited inside a structure.

Navigation, Charting, and Wreck Mapping

Navigating a wreck requires a different approach than navigating open water. You are moving around and through a three-dimensional structure that may disorient you relative to the surface and your exit. The course covers how to pre-plan a wreck dive using charts and site information, how to use a dive slate for wreck-specific navigation, how to determine and maintain directional orientation inside a wreck, and how to map a wreck using vertical, horizontal, and feature identification. Disorientation procedures are also covered, including how to respond to a lost buddy or light failure inside a structure.

Special Equipment and Limited Visibility

Wreck diving requires equipment beyond a standard open water setup. The course covers primary and backup lighting requirements with regards to burn time, size, and proper usage as well as knives and cutting devices for managing entanglement hazards. Limited visibility diving specific to wreck environments is also covered: silt-out management, the psychological considerations of reduced visibility inside a structure, proper light discipline including not shining your light directly in your buddy's eyes, and how to maintain orientation when particulate clouds your field of view.

Lifelines, Reels, and Penetration Protocols

A guideline is what connects you to the exit when you cannot see it. The course covers the types of lines used in wreck diving, how to tie off a line at the entry point, directional markers for maintaining exit orientation, and line handling and reeling technique. Line skills are practiced on land before being performed underwater, since learning line management in a zero-visibility silt-out is not a good time for a first attempt.

Wreck Safety Assessment

Not every wreck is safe to dive. The course covers how to assess a wreck before the dive, identifying stable versus hazardous structures, recognizing conditions that make a wreck unsafe regardless of training, and understanding the difference between a wreck that can be explored and one that should only be observed from a distance.

How the Course Builds Across the Dives

Each dive in the SDI Wreck Diver course adds a layer of complexity to what came before.

• Dive 1: Equipment checks, light testing, site familiarization, basic charting of the exterior, and optional line practice outside the wreck
• Dive 2: Team-based wreck mapping, surface interval planning, and continued line practice outside the wreck
• Dive 3 (limited-penetration only): Line use inside the wreck within ambient light of entry
• Dive 4 (optional): Open exploration of the wreck within the limits established in training

Wreck Diving Near Arizona: Wreck Alley, San Diego

Dive Arizona runs regular trips to Southern California, and Wreck Alley off Point Loma in San Diego is one of the most accessible wreck diving destinations on the West Coast. The Ruby E, the Yukon, the Hogan, and others sit in recreational diving depths and are reachable on a day charter. Divers with a Wreck Diver certification can dive those sites with a full understanding of what they are doing. Call us at (480) 881-4013 to talk through trip options and how this course connects to them.

Who Can Enroll

The SDI Wreck Diver course is open to certified SDI Open Water Scuba Divers or equivalent. Age requirements vary by format:

• Non-penetration: minimum age 10 with parental consent, 18 without
• Limited-penetration: minimum age 15 with parental consent, 18 without
• Junior Open Water Divers: non-penetration dives only, maximum depth 60 feet (18 metres), no penetration of any kind
• Dives deeper than 60 feet require a Deep Diver specialty certification or documented equivalent experience

Counts Toward the SDI Advanced Diver Rating

The SDI Wreck Diver certification counts as one specialty credit toward the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

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

What does the SDI Wreck Diver course cover?

The course covers buddy system techniques specific to wreck environments, navigation and wreck charting, wreck mapping, limited visibility diving, primary and backup lighting requirements, knives and cutting devices, lifelines and reels for penetration diving, wreck safety assessment, and emergency procedures for disorientation, lost buddy, and light failure inside a structure. The course is available in non-penetration (2 dives) and limited-penetration (3 dives) formats.

What is limited penetration wreck diving?

Limited penetration means entering the wreck to a point where you remain within the ambient light of the entry point, or completing a swim-through where you can see the exit at all times. You are not diving into areas where overhead obstructions block all ambient light, which is the domain of full penetration wreck diving and requires additional training. Limited penetration is accessible with proper training and the right equipment.

How many dives is the SDI Wreck Diver course?

Two dives for the non-penetration format. Three dives for the limited-penetration format. A fourth optional dive may be added for open exploration of the wreck within the limits established in training.

What age do you have to be to take the Wreck Diver course?

Minimum age 10 with parental consent for the non-penetration format. Minimum age 15 with parental consent for the limited-penetration format. Junior Open Water Divers may only participate in non-penetration dives and are limited to a maximum depth of 60 feet. Minimum age 18 for either format without parental consent.

Do I need a Deep Diver certification to take the Wreck Diver course?

Only if the planned dives will exceed 60 feet (18 metres). If the wreck site is within recreational non-deep limits, a Deep Diver specialty is not required. If dives will go deeper than 60 feet, you must hold a Deep Diver certification or provide proof of equivalent experience. Call us at (480) 881-4013 to confirm what applies to your planned course.

Does Wreck Diver count toward the SDI Advanced Diver rating?

Yes. The SDI Wreck Diver certification counts as one of the four specialty credits required for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

Ready to Dive the Wrecks?

Contact us to schedule the SDI Wreck Diver course and confirm which format is right for you. Call us at (480) 881-4013 or stop by the shop. 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!