SDI Deep Diver

The SDI Deep Diver Course at OCD Divers prepares certified divers to safely explore deeper dive sites while maintaining proper planning, control, and awareness. This course teaches the skills, knowledge, and techniques needed to conduct dives between 60 and 130 feet with confidence. Training is conducted at local lake sites.

What You’ll Learn

This course focuses on the essential skills and planning considerations required for safe deep diving:

• Deep dive planning: Gas management, turn pressures, and contingency planning.
• Physiological considerations: Narcosis, gas density, and increased gas consumption.
• Buoyancy and trim at depth: Maintaining control with changing pressure and exposure.
• Emergency procedures: Controlled ascents, air-sharing, and problem-solving at depth.
• Navigation and awareness: Maintaining orientation and monitoring depth/time limits.

Program Overview

The Deep Diver Course is ideal for divers preparing for advanced dive travel, wreck diving, or any environment where deeper profiles are common. This course expands your comfort zone, improves your situational awareness, and reinforces safe diving habits at depth.

Prerequisites: SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent.

Minimum age: 18, or 12 years old with parental consent.

Equipment needed: Standard personal gear and scuba gear. For lake courses, there is no additional charge to use gear already rented for another class or if this is the only course, please see our continuing education gear page to review options.

Where Training Takes Place

Training is conducted at local lake sites. The environment provides realistic conditions for practicing deep diving skills and dive planning.

What Comes Next

After completing the Deep Diver Course, many divers continue with the Rescue Diver Course to build stronger problem-solving skills, situational awareness, and confidence in managing real-world diving emergencies. Divers may also pursue specialties such as Enriched Air Nitrox or Advanced Buoyancy Diver as they work toward the SDI Master Diver pathway.