1.1 INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this course is to acquaint a diver with the necessary procedures and knowledge to safely dive from shores. The focus of this specialty should be on how to handle different types of surf and shore conditions.

1.2 WHO MAY TEACH
Who may teach this course?
1. An active SDI Instructor or Assistant Instructor that has been certified to teach this specialty.

1.3 STUDENT – INSTRUCTOR RATIO
Academic:
2. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive and complete training.
Confined Water (Swimming pool-like conditions):
3. N/A.
Open Water (Ocean, lake, quarry, spring, river or estuary):
4. A maximum of eight (8) students per Instructor. However, it is the instructor’s discretion to reduce this number as conditions dictate.
5. The Instructor has the option of adding two (2) more students with the assistance of an active Assistant Instructor or Divemaster.
6. The total number of students an instructor may have in the water is twelve (12) with the assistance of two (2) Assistant Instructors or Divemasters.

1.4 STUDENT PRE-REQUISITES
7. Open Water Diver or Junior Open Water Diver.
8. Ten (10) years or older.

1.5 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION
Open Water execution:
9. Two (2) dives are required with complete briefs and debriefs by the Instructor.
10. Dive plan must include Surface interval, Max no-deco time, etc. to be figured out and logged.
Course Structure:
11. SDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill level.

1.6 ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Administrative Tasks:
12. Collect the course fees from all the students.
13. Ensure that the students have the required equipment.
14. Communicate the schedule to the students.
15. Have the students complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
16. The Instructor should review the Liability Release and Medical Forms before starting on the course.
Upon successful completion of this specialty the instructor must issue the SDI Shore/Beach Diver specialty experience card. The Instructor must:
17. Issue one of the following cards:
A SDI Insta-Card.
Use either a SDI diver registration form or a Pre-paid Diver certification form to file for the specialty certification card if a SDI certification card is requested.
Award card and certificate.

1.7 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Basic SDI Open Water SCUBA equipment as prescribed earlier in this manual.

1.8 APPROVED OUTLINE
Instructors may use any additional text or materials that they feel help present these topics. The following topics must be covered:
18. Dive Planning
A. Map of shore.
B. Compass review.
C. Navigation.
19. Emergency Procedures
A. Surface Emergencies, no SCUBA.
B. SCUBA emergencies.
C. Rescue Procedures.
D. Review of Lifesaving skills.
20. Shore Diving Procedures
A. Set-up.
B. Navigation Aids.
C. Land marks.
D. Site assessment.
E. Special Procedures, i.e. keeping the water in fin pockets to wash off feet in sand.
21. Diving Procedures
A. Use of the Dive flag.
B. Float handling and line attachment.
C. Surf Zone considerations.
D. Buddy Procedures.
22. Things to do off the beach
A. Underwater collecting and hunting.
B. Photography.
C. Wreck diving.

1.9 REQUIRED SKILL PERFORMANCE AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to successfully complete the following:
23. Open Water – Dive one (1)
A. Site selection.
B. Dive plan.
C. Assess the conditions.
D. Navigation Review.
E. Surf Procedure Practice.
F. Compass Check.
G. Natural navigation check.
H. Descent and re-surface.
I. Navigation.
J. Float control.
K. Return to beach.
L. Exit.
M. Log Dive.
24. Open Water – Dive two (2)
A. Site selection.
B. Dive Plan.
C. Assess the conditions.
D. Surf Procedure.
E. Underwater Natural Navigation.
F. Float control.
G. Return the group to the beach.
H. Exit.
I. Log Dive.