Open Water Diver

The SSI Open Water Diver course at DiveHeaven runs over three days and includes six dives total — two confined water sessions and four open water dives from the boat. Groups are capped at four students per instructor, which keeps the teaching personal and allows the instructor to adjust pace to the individual rather than the group average.

Course instruction is in German and English. The theory component can be completed through SSI's online platform before arriving in Lombok, which frees up more time on the water. On-site, the instructors go over the material in person and address questions before moving to practical training.

Confined water work starts in shallow water where students can stand — the purpose is to get comfortable with the equipment and breathing rhythm before heading to the open reef. The progression is deliberate: the first two open water dives go to a maximum of 12 meters, and the final two reach 18 meters, which is the Open Water certification limit.

DiveHeaven uses beginner-friendly dive sites for the open water dives — sites like Kura-Kura Bay, with its calm conditions, minimal current, and reef life from 2 to 18 meters. Encounters with turtles, cuttlefish, and reef fish at these sites are common, which makes the certification dives feel like real diving rather than exercises in a controlled environment. The all-inclusive price covers rental equipment, digital SSI course materials, food, and drinks throughout the three days.