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Courses in Tasmania
Boat Diver
Course code: SDI-03
Turn boat diving from an unfamiliar process into an organised, confident routine.
The SDI Boat Diver course develops the knowledge and practical procedures needed to plan and conduct safer dives from private vessels, charter boats, and larger liveaboard-style platforms. Training covers boat types, captain and crew roles, safety equipment, etiquette, deck organisation, equipment loading and stowage, briefings, entry and exit methods, line use, surface procedures, boat-based navigation references, seasickness awareness, and emergency planning. The objective is not simply to complete two dives from a vessel, but to become a more prepared, efficient, and considerate boat diver who can adapt to different boats, crews, sites, and conditions.
Standards verification note: Standards verification note: This section has been checked against the current SDI Standards and Procedures, Part 3, Section 8 — Boat Diver, and the official SDI Boat Diver course page. The course requires two open-water dives, both completed from a boat, with complete instructor briefings and debriefings. The maximum open-water ratio is 8 students per instructor; one active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster permits two additional students, with an absolute maximum of 12 when two active assistants are used. If any student is under 15, the maximum is 4 divers per instructor with no more than two under 15. Entry requires SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, equivalent certification, or current enrolment in one of those courses, and age 18 or 10 with parental consent. Junior divers aged 10 through 14 must participate in boat-diving activities with a parent, guardian, or active dive professional. Certification requires completion of the academic work, two boat dives, planned surface interval and maximum no-decompression time, required logging, safe boat procedures, and mature judgment.
Quick Course Overview
• Certification scope
Plan and conduct boat dives without direct instructor supervision in activities, areas, and environmental conditions similar to training.
• Required training
Two open-water dives, both completed from a boat, with complete instructor briefings and debriefings.
• Core focus
Boat types, safety equipment, etiquette, deck organisation, equipment handling, entries, exits, lines, ladders, surface procedures, navigation references, and emergency readiness.
• Maximum ratio
8 students per instructor in open water, with permitted active-assistant increases and instructor discretion to reduce the ratio.
• Junior ratio
If any student is under 15, the maximum is 4 divers per instructor, with no more than two under 15.
• Ideal preparation
Charter trips, club boats, travel diving, liveaboards, and more organised vessel-based diving.
Training Options
Standard small-group training
Scheduled once the four-participant minimum is reached. Final numbers remain subject to the vessel, age mix, weather, sea state, site, logistics, and instructor discretion. Premium one-on-one training Private delivery provides focused preparation, flexible pacing, direct coaching, and detailed support through loading, setup, entries, exits, and post-dive procedures.
Standard Cost*
$800 AUD
Note* *Standard training requires a minimum of 4 (Four) participants. Date options will be provided once the course is filled.
Private 1 on 1 Cost
Private 1 on 1 Cost
$2,200 AUD
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Prerequisites
• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, equivalent certification, or current enrolment in one of those courses.
• Minimum age 18, or 10 with parental consent.
• Junior divers aged 10 through 14 must participate in boat-diving activities with a parent, guardian, or active dive professional.
• Required administrative and medical documentation completed before the boat dives.
Course Format
Learning materials
SDI Wreck, Boat, and Drift Diving Manual and Scuba I.Q., or current corresponding digital materials.
Knowledge development
Boat terminology and types; captain and crew roles; safety features; etiquette; boarding and disembarking; equipment selection, loading and stowage; entries and exits; lines and ladders; seasickness; surface procedures; navigation; conservation; and emergency considerations.
Pre-departure preparation
Review weather and site considerations, personal equipment, spares, signalling devices, exposure protection, cylinder security, paperwork, timing, and boat-specific instructions.
Two boat dives
Complete boarding, equipment organisation, crew briefing, entry, descent, boat-reference use, ascent, surface procedures, exit, equipment recovery, and post-dive review on each dive.
Dive planning
Plan and log the surface interval, maximum no-decompression time, depth, gas, turn pressure, ascent, safety stop, surface signalling, separation procedure, and boat pickup or return method.
Assessment
Complete the academic, planning, boat-procedure, open-water, logging, and judgment requirements safely and effectively.
What You Will Learn
Identify common boat types, safety features, emergency equipment, crew roles, and the procedures that may differ between vessels.
Prepare, label, load, secure, assemble, and manage equipment without obstructing shared deck space or creating avoidable hazards.
Follow boat briefings and use suitable entry, exit, ladder, line, surface-signalling, and diver-recovery procedures.
Use anchor, descent, tag, stern, current, and trail lines appropriately and understand when free descents, live drops, or boat pickups may be used.
Plan for seasickness, separation, changing weather, current, delayed pickup, missed lines, equipment problems, and other foreseeable boat-diving issues.
Behave as an organised, self-sufficient, crew-aware diver from arrival and loading through final equipment recovery.
What's Included
- Required learning materials | SDI Boat Diver academic or digital materials, as confirmed at booking.
- Instructor-led development | Knowledge review, vessel procedures, safety planning, equipment organisation, briefings, debriefings, direct coaching, and performance evaluation.
- Two boat dives | Required open-water training conducted from a boat, including practical entries, exits, surface procedures, line use, and boat-based dive planning.
- Core dive support | Use of tanks, air fills, weights, and specifically confirmed centre equipment where required and available.
- Boat-diving preparation | Guidance on suitable personal kit, labelling, storage, spares, surface-signalling equipment, thermal preparation, and vessel etiquette.
- Certification | Assessment, remediation where required, dive logging, and SDI Boat Diver certification processing after successful completion.
What's Not Included
- Personal equipment including mask, snorkel, fins, boots, exposure protection, BCD, regulators, dive computer, cutting device, DSMB, reel or spool, signalling devices, and preferred accessories unless specifically confirmed.
- Boat or charter fees, marine-park or site fees, permits, fuel levies, transfers, crew gratuities, or third-party operator charges unless specifically included in the booking confirmation.
- Equipment hire, non-standard gases, nitrox fills, additional cylinders, lost-weight or damaged-equipment charges, and optional additional dives unless confirmed.
- Seasickness medication, medical consultation, or physician clearance where required.
- Travel, accommodation, meals, hard-copy materials where digital materials are supplied, and anything not listed in the final booking confirmation.
Why Train With Us
Boat-diving instruction informed by thousands of real dives and practical vessel operations—not simply two charter entries and a certification card. • Thousands of recreational and technical dives behind our coaching | Our team brings substantial experience with equipment logistics, briefings, entries, exits, currents, pickups, surface support, and changing marine conditions. • Real boat procedures | Learn how to work with captains and crew, organise limited deck space, select appropriate lines and signals, and adapt when the vessel, site, or sea state changes. • Tasmanian conditions | Prepare for cold water, exposure protection, swell, current, variable visibility, thermal load, and the practical timing and equipment demands of local boat diving. • Organisation before the splash | We emphasise preparation, labelling, spares, gas checks, signalling equipment, and clear personal routines that reduce stress for both diver and crew. • Small groups and direct feedback | Receive practical coaching through every stage, from arrival and loading to final exit and equipment recovery. • Useful beyond one boat | Build adaptable habits for charter vessels, club boats, liveaboards, travel diving, and future advanced or technical trips.
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