Instructor Trainer (SDI/TDI) Qualifications Phillip E. Graf
Instructor Qualifications Phillip E. Graf
Scuba Diving International (SDI) Instructor Course Information
Scuba Diving International (SDI) Course Information
Skin Diver Course
This course is designed to give students the necessary skills to safely snorkel in conditions similar to their
training without the direct supervision of an instructor. Graduates may enroll in the SDI Open Water Diver
Course to continue their diving education and experience.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 1 dive
Bottom Time: 20 minutes
SDI Text: None
Text Costs: $0
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $100
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Scuba Discovery Program
The Scuba Discovery Program is designed to give perspective students an introduction to Scuba diving in a
controlled environment under the direct supervision of instructor. The program takes people who wish to
try scuba but are unsure if they wish to take a full certification course on their first dive. Students are
giving an introduction to basic scuba equipment and scuba skills followed by an underwater tour in the local
marine environment.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 1 dive
Bottom Time: 20 minutes
SDI Text: None
Text Costs: $0
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $150
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Future Buddies Program
The Future Buddies program brand new, innovated course is designed to provide children between the ages of 8 and 9
and introduction to scuba diving in a controlled environment under the direct supervision of an instructor. Children
are given the opportunity to try breathing underwater in confined water setting. The instructor covers topics such as
the history of diving, diving equipment and the marine environment.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 1 dive
Bottom Time: 20 minutes
SDI Text: None
Text Costs: $0
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $150
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Open Water Scuba Diver Course
The Open Water Scuba Diver course is an entry-level certification course designed to give students the necessary
skills to safely conduct open water dives in conditions similar to their training without the direct supervision of
an instructor. The course covers all the basic knowledge about equipment, physiology and the marine environment
while training students to perform basic skills underwater.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 4 dives
Bottom Time: 80 minutes
SDI Text: Scuba Diver Manual, Video and Associated Materials
Text Costs: $55
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $350
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Inactive Diver Program
The Inactive Diver Program is designed to update and review the knowledge and skill level of an individual who has
not dived in one year. The program may be taught by either an Instructor or Assistant Instructor.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 1 dive
Bottom Time: 20 minutes
SDI Text: None
Text Costs: $0
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $150
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Advanced Diver Development Program
The SDI Advanced Diver Development Program was created to make truly “Advanced Divers”. Under the old way of training
a student could take an Advanced Course right after an Open Water course and only have a total of 9 dives all under
the direct training of an instructor. The SDI Advanced Diver Development program requires a new Open Water student to
take 4 SDI specialties or equivalent, along with having a total of 25 dives. SDI feels a diver will truly be “Advanced”
after this is accomplished.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 25 dives
Bottom Time: 500 minutes
SDI Text: Several, depending on the specialty course
Text Costs: $varies
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $varies
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
SDI Specialties
SDI Specialty Course Descriptions
Altitude Diver
Boat Diver
Buoyancy Diver
Computer Diver
Computer Nitrox Diver
CPR1st Administrator
CPROX Administrator
Deep Diver
Diver Propulsion Vehicle
Drift Diver
Dry Suit Diver
Equipment Specialist
Ice Diver
Marine Ecosystems Awareness
Night - Limited Visibility Diver
TDI Nitrox Diver
Research Diver
Search and Recovery Diver
Shore/Beach Diver
Solo Diver
Underwater Hunting and Collecting
Underwater Navigation
Underwater Photography
Underwater Video
Wreck Diver - No Penetration
Wreck Diver - Limited Penetration
Visual Inspection Procedures
Rescue Diver Course
The rescue certification course is designed to develop the knowledge and necessary skills for and individual
to effectively perform diver rescues and assists, and administer necessary first aid. Students are taught
skills such as how to perform self rescues, recognize and calm potential panic divers, and administer proper
first aid to bends victims.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 5 dives
In Water Time: 100 minutes
SDI Text: Rescue Diver Manual
Text Costs: $35
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $200
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Master Scuba Diver Development Program
The Master Scuba Diver Development Program was created to make truly "Master Divers". The SDI - Master Scuba
Diver Development Program requires a new OW student to have a total of eight (8) SDI specialties and the
Rescue Diver Course, along with having a total of fifty (50) logged dives. SDI feels a diver will truly be a
"Master Scuba Diver" after this is accomplished.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 50 dives
In Water Time: 1,000 minutes
SDI Text: varies depending on specialties
Text Costs: $varies
Certification Fees: $15
Instructor Fees: $varies
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Divemaster Course
The Divemaster course is designed to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for an individual to lead certified
divers in the open water environment. Upon completion, graduates may assist instructors during diving courses and
supervise and conduct dives for certified divers. This course trains candidates to have leadership level knowledge
and skill.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 4 dives
Bottom Time: 80 minutes
Course Duration: 40 hours
SDI Text: Divemaster Manual and various other materials
Text Costs: $varies
Certification Fees: $100
Instructor Fees: $495
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Assistant Instructor Course
The Assistant Instructor course is designed for students to gain practical teaching experience with an active
instructor. Students will help an instructor teach an Open Water Scuba Diver course, Advanced Diver Course, and
Rescue Diver Course. Upon completion of the course graduates may teach and certify Skin Divers, conduct the In-active
diver program, and conduct the knowledge Quest review in the Open Water Diver Course.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 17 dives minimum
Bottom Time: 80 minutes
Course Duration: 12 hours
Assist with Classes: One Open Water Course, Four Specialty Courses and One Rescue Course
SDI Text: Assistant Instructor Manual and various other materials
Text Costs: $varies
Certification Fees: $100
Instructor Fees: $495
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
CPROX Administrator Course
This course is a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and emergency Oxygen administration combined into one program. It is
designed to teach divers the proper techniques to safely administer CPR and O2 in emergency situations.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 0 dive
Bottom Time: 0 minutes
SDI Text: CPROX Student Slate
Text Costs: $30
Certification Fees: $25
Instructor Fees: $100
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
CPR1st Administrator Course
This course is a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and First Aid combined into one program. It is
designed to teach divers the proper techniques to safely administer CPR and evaluate the
correct First Aid for the injury.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 0 dive
Bottom Time: 0 minutes
SDI Text: CPR1st Student Slate
Text Costs: $30
Certification Fees: $25
Instructor Fees: $100
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.
Instructor Course
The SDI Instructor Course is designed to teach current Divemaster or Assistants Instructors the knowledge to safely
function as an independent instructor. The program is divided into 2 sections, an Instructor Development Course (IDC)
and an Instructor Evaluation Course (IEC). The first section teaches the candidates how to properly teach and design
courses, the second section evaluates the candidates teaching of open water skills.
Confined Water Time: 0 minutes
Number of Dives: 17 dives minimum
Bottom Time: 80 minutes
IDC Course Duration: 40 hours
IEC Course Duration: 10 hours
SDI Text: Instructor Manual and various other materials
Text Costs: $varies, but approximately $200 to start the course
Certification Fees: $100
IDC Instructor Fees: $995
IEC Instructor Fees: $300
Gear rental, additional required student manuals, required tables and charts, boat fees,
entry fees to dive sites, travel fees, gas fills, etc. are extra and are not included in
the listed fees.