Scuba diving instructor with student in Tasmania

Courses in Tasmania

Computer Diver

Course code: SDI-04

Learn to understand and actively manage your dive computer—not simply follow whatever appears on the screen.
The SDI Computer Diver course develops practical confidence using a personal dive computer for no-decompression diving. Training covers computer types and decompression models, display interpretation, multi-level and repetitive-dive planning, ascent-rate control, safety stops, surface intervals, desaturation and time-to-fly information, conservatism settings where available, post-dive review, and responses to warnings, computer failure, or omitted-decompression situations. The objective is to help each diver plan, monitor, and review their own profile while understanding that a computer supports judgment rather than replacing it.

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Standards verification note: Standards verification note: This section has been checked against the current SDI Standards and Procedures, Part 3, Section 9 — Computer Diver, and the official SDI Computer Diver course page. The course requires two open-water dives 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. Minimum prerequisites are SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent, and age 18 or 10 with parental consent. The course may be combined only with the SDI Deep Diver specialty. Certification requires completion of the academic work, preparation of suitable multi-level profiles, individual use of a personal dive computer, monitoring of depth, buoyancy, gas and no-decompression information, a safety stop on each dive, post-dive download and instructor review where the computer supports it, required logging, and mature judgment.

Quick Course Overview

• Certification focus

Develop stronger knowledge and practical skill using a personal dive computer for no-decompression recreational diving.

• Required training

Two open-water dives with complete instructor briefings and debriefings.

• Core focus

Computer functions, decompression models, display interpretation, multi-level and repetitive planning, ascent management, safety stops, warnings, post-dive review, and failure procedures.

• Maximum ratio

8 students per instructor in open water, with permitted active-assistant increases and instructor discretion to reduce the ratio.

• One diver, one computer

Each diver plans and monitors their own profile using their own assigned personal dive computer; sharing one computer between divers is unsafe.

• Combined option

This specialty may be combined only with the SDI Deep Diver course.

Training Options

Standard small-group training

Scheduled once the two-participant minimum is reached. Final group size remains subject to site, conditions, visibility, computer types, student experience, logistics, and instructor discretion. Premium one-on-one training Private delivery provides focused instruction on the diver’s own computer, settings, menus, alerts, planning functions, display layout, downloads, and post-dive interpretation.

Standard Cost*

$650 AUD

Preferred month

Note* *Standard training requires a minimum of 2 (Two) participants. Date options will be provided once the course is filled.

Private 1 on 1 Cost

$1,150 AUD

Preferred month

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Prerequisites

• SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent.

• Minimum age 18, or 10 with parental consent.

• Required administrative and medical documentation completed before open-water training.

• A suitable personal or assigned dive computer for each diver, with access to the correct operating manual before training.

Course Format

Learning materials

SDI Deeper Diving with Dive Computers Student Manual and Scuba I.Q. Review, or current corresponding digital materials.

Knowledge development

Computers versus tables; common decompression models; decompression-sickness causes, signs, first aid and prevention; computer types and features; sensors, clocks and calculations; startup and operating procedures; display interpretation; ascent rates; multi-level and repetitive planning; and emergency procedures.

Computer setup

Review the diver’s model, manual, battery status, units, display layout, alarms, conservatism options, planning mode, logbook, reset or lockout behaviour, and any relevant transmitter or air-integration features.

Two open-water dives

Prepare and follow suitable multi-level profiles while monitoring planned maximum depth, current depth, elapsed time, remaining no-decompression time, buoyancy, gas supply, ascent-rate indications, and safety-stop information.

Post-dive review

Review the computer log after each dive and download the dives where the unit has that capability, with instructor discussion of the recorded profile, ascent, warnings, no-decompression information, and surface interval.

Emergency procedures

Discuss and apply appropriate responses to low remaining no-decompression time, rapid-ascent warnings, omitted decompression, computer disagreement, computer failure, lockout, and loss of displayed information.

Assessment

Complete the academic, planning, in-water monitoring, safety-stop, post-dive review, logging, and judgment requirements safely and effectively.

What You Will Learn

Explain what a personal dive computer measures, calculates, stores, and displays—and what remains the diver’s responsibility.

Interpret depth, elapsed time, remaining no-decompression time, ascent-rate, safety-stop, surface-interval, desaturation, time-to-fly, battery, warning, and log information.

Use planning mode to prepare suitable multi-level and repetitive no-decompression profiles and remain within the planned maximum depth and personal limits.

Monitor buoyancy, gas, depth, time and computer information together without becoming task-fixated on the display.

Respond conservatively to rapid ascent, low no-decompression time, missed stops, computer failure, disagreement between computers, or unexpected lockout.

Review downloaded or stored profiles to identify better ascent, depth, buoyancy, gas, and planning decisions for future dives.

What's Included

Required learning materials | SDI Computer Diver academic or digital materials, as confirmed at booking.
Instructor-led development | Knowledge review, computer orientation, planning, complete briefings and debriefings, direct coaching, and performance evaluation.
Two open-water dives | Required training focused on individual computer use, multi-level profiles, depth and time monitoring, ascent management, safety stops, and post-dive review.
Computer setup and review | Guidance on menus, units, alarms, conservatism, planning mode, logs, warnings, and downloads for the training computer where those functions are available.
Core dive support | Use of tanks, air fills, weights, and specifically confirmed centre equipment where required and available.
Training computer | Use of a suitable personal dive computer where confirmed at booking if the diver does not own an appropriate unit.
Certification | Assessment, remediation where required, dive logging, and SDI Computer Diver certification processing after successful completion.

What's Not Included

Personal equipment including mask, snorkel, fins, boots, exposure protection, BCD, regulators, cutting device, DSMB, reel or spool, and preferred accessories unless specifically confirmed.
Purchase of a personal dive computer, transmitter, download cable, app subscription, replacement battery, charging equipment, screen protector, strap, or mounting accessory.
Computer servicing, battery replacement, pressure testing, firmware recovery, account setup, data recovery, repairs, or manufacturer support outside normal course setup.
Nitrox certification, gas-analysis training, decompression training, technical-computer training, or training on multi-gas, rebreather, or mandatory-decompression functions.
Equipment hire, non-standard gases, nitrox fills, additional cylinders, boat fees, site fees, permits, or third-party facility charges unless specifically included.
Travel, accommodation, meals, hard-copy materials where digital materials are supplied, and anything not listed in the final booking confirmation.

Why Train With Us

Computer training informed by thousands of real dive profiles—not simply a menu walkthrough and two logged dives. • Thousands of recreational and technical dives behind our coaching | Our team brings extensive experience interpreting profiles, ascent behaviour, decompression information, gas use, repetitive exposures, and computer warnings across real diving. • Your computer, properly understood | Where possible, we work with the model you actually dive so the menus, alarms, displays, planning tools, logs, and limitations remain useful after the course. • Judgment beyond the display | Learn to combine computer information with gas, buoyancy, team position, environment, thermal load, and the original dive plan rather than blindly following one number. • Meaningful post-dive review | Use stored or downloaded profiles to identify ascent, depth, stop, buoyancy, and planning improvements instead of treating the log as a record only. • Broad equipment and progression support | Access guidance across recreational and technical computers, transmitters, gas integration, suitable accessories, and pathways into nitrox, deep, decompression, and technical training. • Prepared for Tasmanian conditions | Understand how cold water, thicker exposure protection, variable depth, visibility, current, and surface intervals affect real computer use and decision-making.