Open Water Class 10.24.09

San Diego is a hotspot for scuba diving. More scuba divers get trained at San Diego's La Jolla Shores beach than any place in the world. The Open Water Dive program consists of 5 ocean dives under the watchful guidance of North County Scuba Center's experienced team of instructors. Class sizes are kept small to ensure an ideal student to instructor ratio giving each student the attention they need to be comfortable and well trained divers. Students can begin their Open Water Program by attending lectures at our shop in Encinitas or online for your convenience. To complete your certification, you must complete the class or online academic sessions, 2 pool sessions, 2 ocean sessions, and pass a written exam. Private classes are also available for an additional fee. Here are some photos of our students practicing their skills and knowledge in the open water.

Open Water Dives 1 & 2

OW1 Overview
Prerequisites: Completion of lecture session 1 and pool session 1

Open Water Dive #1 removes diving students from a controlled environment (swimming pool) and gives them an opportunity to practice their new skills in a typical diving environment.

Plan depth: 15 ft
Plan dive time: 15 min
Objectives: Practice beach entry skills and basic dive skills such as regulator purge, regulator retrieval (various techniques), mask clearing, bouyancy control, and proper ascent control.

OW2 Overview
Prerequisites: Completion of OW1 and completion of proper surface interval (SI)

After completing Open Water Dive #1, students exit the water and return to the parking lot to complete the appropriate post-dive surface interval and to change air tanks. Open Water Dive #2 follows the same format as Open Water Dive #1 with the addition of a short underwater tour to a depth of about 25 feet.

Plan depth: 25 ft
Plan dive time: 25 min
Objectives: Practice beach entry skills and basic dive skills such as regulator purge, regulator retrieval (various techniques), mask clearing, bouyancy control, and proper ascent control.

Instructors: Brett Lawson & Justin Kidwell
Students: Adam & Justin
Photos: Ray Regno