Complete Procedure of Conducting an Open Water Diver Course in the Andaman 

What is an open water diver course?

The open water diver program is the beginner-level certification course to start your scuba diving Journey. The program offers 4 open water dives along with 20 confined water skills and certifies you to dive independently with a dive buddy up to 18 meters (60 meters). 

Choose a certified dive school affiliated with certifying dive agencies, either with SSI (Scuba Schools International) or PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), to complete your certification. 

Eligibility for the program

Minimum Age: Participants must be at least 12 years of age to join the course in Andaman. 

Swimming skills: Basic swimming skills are required for the program. (Mandatory- 200 meters of swimming and 10 minutes float test in open sea)

Medical fitness: Participants must be physically and mentally fit enough to enrol on the program. A medical fitness certificate will be required for a specific medical condition.

Comfort in water: Participants must be comfortable in salt water; prior scuba diving experience is not needed. 

Step-by-step open water diver course procedure

1. Registration and Orientation

The first step is to find a certified dive school in the Andaman Islands, such as Seahawks Scuba, Dive India, Barefoot, or Scubalov. Then, enroll in the open water program via SSI or PADI apps and get course material for the online theory sessions.

2. Knowledge development

The online course material helps participants to learn about equipment usage, dive planning & safety, underwater pressure, dive challenges, navigation & buoyancy control, diving physics, etc. It is recommended to complete your theory lessons before reaching Andaman.

3. Confined water skills with actual dives (Day 1 & 2)

On days 1 and 2, students learn confined water skills in a shallow water environment or pool and conduct one consecutive dive on both days to test their learned skills.

Confined water requires intense practice to develop these skills, such as:

• Breathing through the regulator

• Half-full flooded diving mask

• Equipment removal & replacement

• Underwater mask clearing

• Emergency procedures

• Navigation and Buoyancy control, etc.

4. Open water dives (Day 3 & 4)

The rest 2 dives out of 4 are conducted in deeper dive sites such as The Wall, Slope, Turtle Beach, and Juvis based on weather conditions. Each of these dives includes skill assessment and underwater exploration in real ocean conditions, and allows you to reach the certifying 18 meters depth.  

Inclusions and course fees in Andaman

The course fees for the open water diver program in Andaman vary between INR 25000 to INR 30000 per person based on dive center, dive inclusions, and the certifying agency.

Course Inclusions:

• Complete scuba dive gear rental

• Instructor and certification fees

• Online study material

• Boat charges & dive refreshments

• Complimentary pick up and drop off (5 kms)

• Underwater photography (Last 2 dives)

Exclusions:

• Meals & Accommodation 

Best location for open water certification in the Andaman

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Havelock Island fulfills all the parameters with perfect dive conditions to learn open water certification in the Andaman. It is the most prominent Island for tourism in the Andaman. Havelock Island is the best location to fulfill the needs of all scuba diving enthusiasts. Havelock Island offers great dive spots, ideal for beginners to advanced or deep divers. The transparent blue waters, vibrant coral reefs & creeks, along with dense and diverse marine life, make it an underwater heaven for ocean explorers.  

Best time to enroll for the open water certification

October to May is a good time to explore underwater expeditions in the Andaman Islands, but based on several years of travel patterns, most scuba students prefer the months of February to April to complete their certification in the Andaman Islands. This is because February to April have less crowd compared to the peak months (November to January), consequently offering lower accommodation prices and more attractive dive course offers. 

June to September are monsoon months of the Andaman with rough seas and bad weather, and good to skip for scuba dive certification. 

Important tips for the open water certification in the Andaman

1. It is recommended to complete the theory part or online study material beforehand to save time and explore popular sightseeing in the Andaman.

2. Choose a certified dive center with good reviews. Check that scuba equipment is in good condition, ensure safety, first-aid, and emergency protocols, and learn with an experienced and skilled dive Instructor. 

3. Bring rashguards, a towel, and sunscreen

4. Avoid alcohol or any kind of intoxication during the certification course.

5. Book your slot in advance, especially in peak season.