Junior Open Water Diver Certification

Young adults ages 10 to 14 years old can be fully certified as Junior Open Water Divers. That means they read the same academic material, take the same tests, and perform the same scuba skills in both the pool and during their certification dives as do adults.

So what do you gain when you take a dedicated Junior Open Water Diver course? Kids get to learn with other kids instead of adults. Kids get to spend a little more time learning the material and performing the skills. And we can make it a lot more fun!

To increase safety standards, the instructor-to-student ratio for children ages 10 to 14 across all agencies is 2 to 1, which is half that of the adult ratio. That means we have dedicated more instructors to our kids' programs so your budding scuba divers can learn in a safe and fun environment.

We welcome kids in our regularly scheduled adult classes as well, so make sure to check out our adult Open Water Diver Course offerings!

Minimum Age: 10 years old

Academic Material Fee Includes:

• Online downloadable interactive course
• Online certification card
• SSI Digital Logbook
• Travel dry bag

Required Documents:

• SSI Medical Statement and Guidelines (If you answer "yes" to any of the questions asked, the physician's release must also be filled out by a qualified physician, using the WRSTC Medical Guidelines)
• Liability Release for Entry-Level Training
• SSI Responsible Diver Code
  
• Privacy Policy

Course Includes:

• Use of all training equipment including mask, fins, snorkel, BC, regulator, & wetsuit
• FREE pool practices every Monday for all Open Water Diver students with one of our qualified instructors to get ready for your open water certification dives.
• FREE use of the pool once you are certified (Our Denver Divers students enjoy this benefit for a lifetime!)
• Low student to instructor ratio allowing for quality individual training and plenty of practice time underwater

Not Included: Certification Dives (see step 4 below)

Please note: We have a 48 hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel your class and you are in compliance with our cancellation policy, we are able to issue a refund for the tuition portion of the course fee only.  All materials fees are non-refundable due to the nature of online learning.  BUT, you will forever have access to the SSI online educational materials you have purchased. These materials can be used at any time at any SSI facility to complete your certification at a later date.

Covid-19 Policy: In order to protect our customers and staff, for all in-water training, we require either proof of vaccination against covid-19, or a negative covid test taken within 24 hours of each pool session.

Take your first step today!

STEP 1: SIGN UP AND ATTEND AN ORIENTATION

You can create a student record, select and register for an orientation, pay for your materials and/or class, and schedule your certification dives, all online using our Scuba Scheduler.

Or call 303-399-2877 or stop by and pay for the class to reserve your spot. Upon registration, you will receive your online student materials and be asked to come in for a one-hour orientation. Orientations are every Saturday from 10 am-11:30 am. Custom orientations are available upon request.

Regular Open Water Diver class and pool sessions are offered over a weekend – Friday night (6-9 pm), all day Saturday (9 am-5 pm), and all-day Sunday (9 am-5 pm).

STEP 2: HOME STUDY

Once you have received the SSI link to access your online student materials, you are ready to begin your home study for class. By allowing you to complete your coursework at home, you will be able to spend most of your time with us underwater. Please expect to devote approximately six to eight hours to this process.

A few hints for greatest electronic success:

**IMPORTANT: Have an up to date Internet Browser (Google Chrome 29 or Mozilla Firefox 24) with Flash- and Javascript-enabled Internet Connection (the faster, the better) **If you use Internet Security Software, add diveSSI.com to your trusted sites or adapt the sites as per the users manual. **Make sure your pop-up blockers are turned off for diveSSI.com.

STEP 3: CLASS & POOL REVIEW

Your training includes an academic review in the classroom, as well as in-water skills development training in Denver Divers’ indoor, heated, saltwater pool – our “ocean simulator”. Most of the time spent with our qualified instructors will be in the pool gaining the skills and confidence necessary for diving in the open water. At the end of your course, you will take a 50-question certification exam. Please expect to devote approximately 16 hours to this process.

STEP 4: CERTIFICATION DIVES*

In order to become certified, you will need to complete at least four open water certification dives under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor. Your instructor will evaluate your skills as you apply what you have learned during your academic and pool training to an open-water environment. You will also learn practical lessons that can only be gained through real-world experience.

What are my certification dive options?

*Certification Dives not included in the cost above.

Course Schedule Options

upcoming classes

Why Denver Divers?

We are here to help you succeed. Our Training Philosophy is embodied in the SSI platform, "Comfort Through Repetition", where if you continue to learn, practice your skills and become comfortable in the water, you will have an amazing experience as a scuba diver. Our classes are built to give you the opportunity to learn at your own pace and practice your skills as much as possible. We want to make you a diver for life, so we look forward to you joining us on your journey to the underwater world.

Remember, we offer FREE pool practices every Monday to our students during your certification process to make sure you get plenty of practice before your certification dives.

What's Next?

Your graduated Junior Diver will have a number of opportunities to keep diving in confined spaces (in Colorado, this means the pool!)

And both Scuba Rangers graduates and Junior Open Water graduates can join us for our "Specialty Rangers" activities. Ask a Denver Divers staff member what the next kids events will be!