The almighty Andaman Islands are wrapped with a lot of wonders, opportunities, and a completely whole new world. Where lies countless species of sea dwellers, coral reefs or creeks, and marine flora and fauna. The marine ecosystem is very complicated and vast which lies to unimaginable deepest points. Recreational scuba diving lets us explore magnificent marine life beneath the sea surface. It allows us to freely explore coral reefs, wrecks, and underwater caves to witness even rare and hidden marine life.
The virgin beaches, untouched marine life, crystal clear waters, and colourful species of sea animals are quite tempting to learn scuba diving in Andaman. SSI open water diver course (OWD) allows you to freely dive up to a depth of 18 meters with a dive buddy. It is the entry-level scuba diving course and after completing it you are eligible to enroll for advanced dive courses. Basic swimming skills are required to enrol for the course.
The SSI OWD course is divided into 3 parts, e-learning & academics, confined water sessions & actual dives, and scuba dive certification. Let’s discuss each part in detail one by one.
E-Learning
It is an important part of the open water diver course to learn and understand the basics of the course. The digital learning material has 6 sections and you can complete it at your home, office or at your comfort zone. It is advised to complete the online learning material before visiting the Andaman Islands for practical sessions. You will need to register yourself with the SSI app and pay INR 2500 per person to unlock your e-learning material. After that, you can start your digital learning and ask for any questions or doubts to our dive instructors.
Actual dives
On arrival to the Andaman Islands after completion of your digital learning, you will be briefed about the course and a better plan for your upcoming dives. On the next morning, you will have to pass a simple test of 200 meters of swimming and 300 meters of snorkelling and float test to ensure you are capable enough for the course. We will start with the equipment briefing on how different parts of scuba gear work and how to use them during the dive. The course will include 6 open water dives out of which 2 will be shallow dives. You will learn 20 skills in confined water that are crucial to being a confident and comfortable diver.
The SSI open water diver course will take 5 days to complete considering 1 day as a buffer. You will be provided 2 shallow dives in 2 days, 2 deep dives in day 3, and last 2 deep dives on day 4. Your dive instructor will be with you during the whole learning process and wisely teach you to be a confident diver. The learning process per day will take 6-8 hours leaving plenty of time to explore the Island.
Certification
On completion of all 6 dives, you will take to pass a simple test to be eligible for the SSI open water certification. Your dive instructor will assess your overall performance and provide scores on such a basis. Your dive instructor will issue a soft copy of the SSI open water certification within 2-3 working days. Now with the certification, you will be eligible to dive anywhere in the world within your experience and limits.
Inclusions and Exclusions of the OWD Course
The SSI open water diver course includes and excludes the following
Inclusions
Digital learning material cost
Scuba dive equipment
Personal instructor and students (1:2 Ratio)
Instructor fees
Complimentary photos and videos
Certification cost
Pick up and drop (Between Havelock Jetty to Beach No. 5)
Exclusions
Food and stay
Inter-Island transportation
Local sightseeing (Havelock)
Other miscellaneous expenses
Cost of open water diver course in Andaman
The SSI OWD course costs INR 29000 per person excluding an additional 18% tax. Scuba diving course fees include 6 open water dives, equipment rental, instructor fees, and all other charges directly or indirectly associated with the course. There are no additional or hidden charges over and above INR 29000 per person.