Diving course Navigation

Underwater Navigation

The Navigation Diving Course is an SSI speciality course that is an important step towards independent diving and also represents a further qualification level for your diving career, such as for your SSI AOWD certification.

What is the purpose of navigating underwater?

If you have ever dived in a group, you will be familiar with such instructions from the dive guide before the dive: "We will dive on the reef to the right shoulder and at a depth of 17m you'll see the wreck at 140°..." Would you now be able to find this wreck on your own? Or would you, in a murky lake where there is no "reef to the right shoulder", be able to find your way back to the exit? No? Well, that is the reason why you should take a navigation course!

Because when diving, it is not advisable to just surface to see where you are; instead, you need to find your way underwater. This skill gives you extra security! That is why it is important to orient yourself beneath the water's surface and, if necessary, independently follow a course using a compass or natural landmarks, ensuring you do not miss important underwater highlights and find the entry and exit point again.

What does the course involve with us?

The course includes:

• Theoretical unit in self-study (with a subsequent final test), followed by a recap in an on-site theoretical unit with the dive instructor - see IMPORTANT Information about the theoretical training below.
• 2 dives in open water

Theoretical Training

Learning the theoretical knowledge occurs primarily through self-study before the practical training. During the on-site theoretical unit, the most important aspects from the self-study will be repeated. You will learn how and where natural navigation works, using ground conditions, light conditions, sounds, underwater formations, and much more. You will also get to know your compass and practice a few dry runs before the dive to become familiar with it.

Practical Training

During the two open water dives with your dive instructor, you will be able to put the theoretical knowledge into practice. Initially, you will try to use natural landmarks (e.g. a tree that lies directly in the water at entry, the sun that is at your back at the start, or a platform at 5m) to find your way underwater.

Then, you will practice using your compass to navigate a reciprocal course, a triangular course, etc. This way, you will be able to follow a planned course underwater, discover desired highlights, and easily find your planned endpoint of the dive and the exit point again.

Where does it take place?

The theoretical unit usually takes place directly at the dive site, prior to the training dives (theoretical self-study beforehand is required)
The open water dives take place at a lake approximately 100km away. Each course participant must organise their own travel.
You will receive your diving cylinder and weights at our dive school in Ilsfeld.

What do you need to bring?

• Full diving equipment (except for tank and weights, which we will provide)
• Compass
• Towel and swimwear
• Diving certification
• Proof of diving fitness - see Information about diving fitness below
• Diving logbook
• Beverages (no glass bottles)

What is included in the course fee?

• Theoretical training, including access to online training
• Practical training in open water (2 dives in a lake)
• Tank fills
• Weights
• Completion certificate
• Processing fees

What are the course prerequisites?

• Diving certification (minimum Open Water Diver)
• Proof of diving fitness - see Information about diving fitness below
• Minimum age of 14 years

Diving Fitness Certificate

To participate in a diving course, it is important that you are in good health. While certain health restrictions do not necessarily exclude you from diving, these should be assessed by a doctor beforehand. To avoid diving accidents, it is required that you present a certificate of your diving fitness before the course. This can take the form of a medical questionnaire or a doctor's certificate.

You can download the medical questionnaire here on our website and fill it in by yourself. Completing it is your own responsibility and must be signed by you. The certificate is valid for one year from the date of issue, or until your health status changes (whichever comes first). If you need to answer "Yes" to any question in the questionnaire, you may require an additional doctor's certificate. A detailed instruction for filling it in can be found directly on the questionnaire – please pay particular attention to the notes in small print at the end of the form!

We recommend submitting a doctor's certificate and regularly undergoing a diving fitness examination for your own safety. According to the Society for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, divers aged 8 to 15 and from 40 years onwards should have an annual diving medical examination. Divers between 16 and 39 years should be examined every three years or whenever there are changes in their health status.

IMPORTANT!

The theoretical units on-site serve only as a recap of the theory learned through self-study. The courses are designed in such a way that during the theoretical units with the dive instructor, only the most important aspects are discussed again and any questions are clarified.
Please therefore prepare well in advance for the theoretical units!

You can learn the theory through the myssi homepage (https://my.divessi.com) or the myssi app. You will receive access once you have filled out and returned the important documents attached.