Open Water Diver Course

We advise completing the theory online prior to arriving on Gili Trawangan, but it is not mandatory.  It will however make your 3 day course a lot more relaxing.  If you’re completing any theory/eLearning before arrival, we’ll send instructions once you have made a booking. If not, you’ll complete the required theory when you are here during the 3 day course.

Yes, of course. If you’ve already completed theory and confined-water training elsewhere, you can finish your open-water dives with us as a referral (subject to checking your documentation). Our instructor will do a short skill check in the pool with you prior to going on the first open water dive. 

The Open Water Dive course on Gili Trawangan can be completed in 3 days. Usually there will be a short course orientation at the dive center the evening before the course begins.

The Open Water Dive Course on Gili Trawangan costs IDR 6,900,000 (approx USD 410).   There is also a one time fee of IDR 150,000 (USD 9) per person which goes to the Gili Eco Trust and Marine Park fee.

In order to participate in an Open Water Dive course on Gili Trawangan you must complete a medical questionnaire to make sure they are fit enough for scuba diving. It is advisable to check this well before signing up for an Open Water Dive course in case you need to be cleared to dive by your doctor.
Minimum age requirement for the Open water course is 15 years old, or for the Junior Open water Course it's 10 years old, but Junior Open Water divers are limited to 12 meters maximum depth.
You must also be able to complete a swim test. This consists of a 200m swim and you must be able to tread water or float for 10 minutes.

Yes, there is a minimum age requirement for the Open Water course on Gili Trawangan. The minimum age requirement is 10 years old.

No experience is needed—the Open Water Dive Course is built for complete beginners. We take you step-by-step starting with confined-water practice in the swimming pool and then progressing to open water training dives in the sea around Gili Trawangan.

Yes—there is a swim test as part of the course. It’s a straightforward watermanship check consisting of a 200m swim and a 10 minute tread.  This is so we can confirm you’re comfortable in the water before heading out for open-water dives around Gili Trawangan.

Yes, you’ll need to fill out a medical questionnaire before you begin the course.  We advise checking this well in advance. If you have certain medical conditions or take specific medications, we may ask you to bring a doctor’s clearance so you can start your Open Water course on Gili Trawangan without delays.

You’ll earn a SSI Open Water Diver certification when you successfully complete the course at Manta Dive on Gili Trawangan. It’s a globally recognized diver certification that qualifies you to dive to 18 metres with a dive buddy of the same or higher dive certification level.

Yes, plan your travel so you have enough time between your last dive and your next flight. A common guideline is to leave at least 18 hours after multiple dives over multiple days. If you have a tight itinerary, tell us and we’ll help you plan conservatively.

Padi (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International) are the two biggest scuba diving training agencies worldwide and both follow the same industry standards set out by the RSTC (Recreational Scuba Training Council). There is therefore no difference in their certifications. SSI and PADI are just two different certifying agencies offering courses to learn how to scuba dive.

Where PADI and SSI differ is in their approach to teaching people to scuba dive. SSI is renowned for its flexible learning options and recognises that every person has a different learning method. They allow for their instructors to tailor elements of their dive courses to their individual student needs to encourage a more supportive learning environment. The result is individualised scuba diving courses that are far from the ‘production-line’ approach of other agencies.

The course structure, content and qualification are exactly the same and interchangeable, so you can switch between Padi and SSI for your next course. The key to a great scuba diving experience is a good Instructor, equipment and a relaxed professional environment where you feel comfortable, this is something we pride ourselves on at Manta Dive.