Description
The SDI Advanced Diver Development Program is designed to create truly “advanced” divers, ready to face the more challenging tasks the underwater world has to offer. This innovative program stands out due to its more rigorous and comprehensive approach compared to traditional scuba training courses. In the traditional training method, a student could take the Advanced Course right after completing the Open Water Course, accumulating just 9 dives, all conducted under the close supervision of an instructor.
However, the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program significantly raises the standards, requiring students to undergo a more in-depth and demanding training process. To earn the Advanced Diver certification, a student who has just completed the Open Water course must attend at least 4 SDI specialties or equivalent courses, each providing specific skills in different aspects of diving. These specialties may include, for example, night diving, deep diving, underwater navigation, drift diving, or emergency underwater management. Each specialty offers a unique and enriching experience, allowing students to refine their skills and gain greater awareness and confidence underwater.
Additionally, the program requires students to have completed a minimum of 25 total dives before obtaining the Advanced Diver certification. This requirement has been introduced to ensure that divers have sufficient practical experience and a solid familiarity with the underwater environment before being considered “advanced.” SDI believes that only through this combination of theoretical training, practical specialization, and field experience can a student truly be considered an advanced diver.
At the end of the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program, participants will be prepared to undertake more complex dives independently and safely, with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will accompany them throughout their diving career.
