Open Water Diver

Mantamaria has been an SSI dive centre since 2012 and runs the Open Water Diver course in both full format (pool plus open water) and open water only for those who already have pool skills. An online training option is also listed, with registration handled by the centre.

The open water sessions take place in Santa Maria's network of protected marine areas — Pedrinha, Ilhéu da Vila, and other beginner-rated sites on the west and east coasts. Pedrinha in particular, with its 5-metre top and broad platform at 8–12 metres, is a well-structured site for the confined-water equivalent dives: clear water, reasonable currents, and enough marine life to hold attention without overwhelming a new diver.

The SSI system, as the centre describes it, focuses on four components: knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience. The curriculum follows the standard SSI Open Water progression. Portuguese is the primary language of instruction at this centre, though the SSI materials are available in multiple languages for self-study.

Upon completion, the certification is internationally recognised. Divers who finish as SSI Scuba Diver rather than full Open Water can upgrade later — that upgrade course is also listed in the centre's curriculum.