The Open Water Diver is your ticket to diving the most beautiful dive sites in the world on your own.

In the i.a.c. Open Water Diver course you will learn the basics of scuba diving. You start in a swimming pool or under similar environmental conditions and continue in open water, in the sea or in a lake, while at the same time gaining the necessary background knowledge.

THEORETICAL TRAINING

• Equipment
• The physics of diving
• Handling dive tables and dive computers
• Dive planning
• The medicine of diving
• First aid for diving accidents
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Psychological aspects in connection with diving
• Diving environment
• Assessing weather and environmental influences
• Environmental awareness
• Precautions for dives in unknown environments
• Dangers on the water surface
• Behavior in case of problems during the dive

PRACTICAL TRAINING

Pool or limited open water

• Selection, preparation, assembly and inspection of diving equipment, care and maintenance of equipment after the dive
• Entry and exit, controlled Ascend and Descend (e.g. pressure equalization in mask and ears), breathing and swimming under water, first buoyancy exercises
• Blowing out the snorkel and regulator when swimming and snorkeling on the surface
• Buoyancy control under water and establishing a stable water position on the surface
• Recovering the removed regulator/extra second stage, blowing it out and continuing to breathe at the surface and underwater
• Acting as a donor and recipient of an alternative breathing gas supply
• Blowing out the mask, including removing and replacing the mask
• Monitoring the most important instruments, basic hand signals
• Use of the quick release device of the ballast system on the water surface

In open water

• Preparing, checking and putting on equipment before the dive and taking care of it after the dive
• Putting on and taking off diving equipment and ballast system, buddy check and weight check
• Entry and exit, controlled Ascend and Ascend, timely pressure equalization
• Blowing out the snorkel and regulator when swimming and snorkeling on the surface
• Buoyancy control under water and on the surface
• Monitoring the diving instruments
• Recovery of the regulator removed, released and hanging behind the back
• Acting as giver and taker of an alternative air supply
• Take off, put back on and blow out the diving mask at a maximum depth of five meters. (In cold waters, it is sufficient to completely submerge the mask)
• Techniques of the partner system, e.g. correct hand signals, keeping an eye on your partner, staying together
• Use of the quick release device of the ballast system on the water surface

• Remove the regulator at a maximum distance of five meters from your buddy, dive towards your buddy and continue the dive, breathing for five minutes from your buddy’s extra second stage.
• Speed-controlled ascent of alternative air supply in open water to the surface (air supplier, air receiver and depth are determined by the instructor)
• Speed-controlled ascent from a maximum depth of 10 m in open water to the surface with a one-minute stop at a depth of five meters
• Transporting (approx. 100m) an “accident victim” on the water surface to the shore or boat
• Handling a SMB (SMB – Surface Marker Bouy)
• Orientation exercise: simple underwater navigation based on natural orientation
• 10 minimum snorkeling at the water surface in full equipment
• Demonstration/explanation of the most important rescue measures (oxygen, drinking, storage, rescue chain, …)
• From putting on and taking off the weight system and diving equipment under water

OVERVIEW

After successfully completing the Open Water Diver course, you are now authorized to dive together with another Open Water Diver. During this course you have already gained some experience in the area of orientation. In the Navigation special ty, you will be taught further basics to navigate safely underwater. With the Deep Diving special ty and another specialty of your choice, you can then complete the i.a.c. Advanced Open Water Diver.