Course overview

Get diving sooner with the SSI Scuba Diver certification at Kovalam, a streamlined version of Open Water Diver set in the warm Arabian Sea. You complete the core SSI theory, confined-water skills and open-water dives on the Kovalam reef, finishing qualified to dive to 12 metres alongside an SSI professional. It makes a good recognised first rating for those short on time.

What you’ll learn

• Set up and use complete scuba equipment
• Perform core skills such as mask clearing and regulator recovery
• Manage buoyancy and safe ascents and descents
• Plan and conduct supervised dives within recreational limits
• Use dive signals and buddy procedures with a professional

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10 (junior) or 15
• No prior certification required
• Adequate comfort in water (basic swimming ability recommended)
• Diver medical questionnaire (physician sign-off if any condition applies)

What's included · What's not

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory and confined skills

   Work through the SSI digital theory and practise confined-water skills in sheltered shallows.
2. Day2
   Open-water training

   Begin open-water training dives over the Kovalam reef to around 12 metres.
3. Day3
   Final dives and certification

   Complete the remaining open-water dives in the Arabian Sea and certify as SSI Scuba Diver.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Kovalam.

Frequently asked questions