Wreck diving can be one of the most exciting aspects of sport diving, however every effort must be made to maximize safe diving techniques. The SDI Wreck Diver Course will discuss the equipment and techniques commonly employed while wreck diving. This course may be taught as a non-penetration, 2 dives required, or as a limited-penetration course, requiring 3 dives. Limited-penetration is defined as a swim through or within the ambient light of entry point.

Who this course is for:

Individuals who wish to know more about the wreck diving including:

• Researching wrecks
• Mapping wrecks
• Proper use of lines while wreck diving
• Exploring underwater history

Course prerequisites:

• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent
• Minimum age 18, 15 for limited penetration course with parental consent
• Minimum age 10 with parental consent for a non-penetration course
• Junior Open Water Divers may not participate in any penetration activities or dives deeper than 18 metres/60 feet
• Divers must have a deep diver specialty certification or be able to provide proof of experience in order to dive deeper than 18 metres/60 feet in this course

What you can expect to learn:

The SDI Wreck Diver course takes an in-depth look at all of the following and more:

• Why wreck dive?
• Surface supports
  • Communications, when and if necessary
  • Back-up procedures
• Buddy system
• Buddy contact
  • Contact with varied visibility
  • Buddy lines
  • Line signals
  • Buddy positioning in close proximity
• Navigation/charting
  • Usage of the slate
  • Larger than normal
  • Pre-dive marking
  • Pre-planning the dive using charts, other information
  • Directional determination
• Disorientation
  • With/without buddy
  • Lost buddy
  • Light failure
  • Emergency procedures
• Special equipment
  • Lights: primary and backup, size, burn time, and usage
  • Knifes and cutting devices
• Limited visibility diving
  • Silt-out
  • Psychological considerations
  • Light usage
  • Importance of light and backup
  • Dark vision, don’t shine light in buddy’s eyes
• Life lines and reels
  • Type of line
  • Tie-offs
  • Directional markers
  • Line handling and reeling must be practiced on land prior to performing this skill underwater
• Special emergency procedures
  • Safe Wreck
  • Hazardous or otherwise unsafe wrecks
• Mapping the wreck
  • Vertical, horizontal, and feature identification

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course graduates may:

• Dive wrecks that are similar to the type of wrecks they were exposed to during training
• Plan and execute a wreck dive

SDI Wreck Diver minimum requirements:

• Open Water Dive 1
• Pre-dive review of dive computers
• Plan dive
• Test lights
• Familiarization with areas
• Basic charting outside wreck
• Usage of lines outside wreck, optional
• Surface and log dive
• Open Water Dive 2
• Plan dive
• Figure surface interval
• Descend
• Team complete mapping
• Usage of lines outside wreck, optional
• Surface and log dive
• Open Water Dive 3
• Plan dive
• Descend
• Usage of lines inside wreck, optional
• Surface and log dive
• Open Water Dive 4 (Optional)
• Plan dive
• Planned dive explained
• Dive/explore as determined
• Surface and log dive