SDI Night/Limited Visibility Diver Course
Many divers say that night diving is their favorite type of diving.
When the sun goes down, the ocean completely changes.
The water becomes calm, quiet, and full of life that you don’t see during the day.
At Blue Water Ascent, we believe that diving doesn’t stop when daylight ends.
Night diving opens up a whole new underwater world filled with nocturnal marine life, glowing creatures, and peaceful environments.
The SDI Night/Limited Visibility Diver Course helps divers learn how to dive safely at night or in low visibility conditions.
This course teaches the proper skills, equipment use, safety rules, and awareness required for dark-water diving.
Who This Course Is For
This course is perfect for :
- Certified divers who want to explore the underwater world at night
- Divers interested in nocturnal marine life and night ecosystems
- Divers who want more comfort in low visibility water
- Divers who want to improve navigation and buoyancy skills
- Divers who want to grow their diving experience and specialties
Course Prerequisites
To join this course, you must :
- Hold an SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent certification.
- Must be 18 years old (or 10 years old with parental consent)
- Must be medically fit to dive.
What You Will Learn?
The SDI Night / Limited Visibility Diver course gives you clear knowledge and practical skills.
Why Dive at Night ?
You learn :
- How marine life changes after sunset
- Which animals are active at night
- How feeding habits change in the dark
- Why night diving feels calm and peaceful
Special Equipment.
You learn how to safely use night diving equipment, including .
- Primary dive light
- Backup dive light
- Personal dive beacon
- Marker lights and strobes
- Proper care and condition of lights
You will also learn how to safely handle light failure situations.
Buddy System & Communication
You learn how to stay connected with your buddy in the dark:
- Maintaining contact with a nearby buddy
- Using light signals for communication
- Proper positioning of lights
- What to do if you lose your buddy
- How to reconnect safely underwater
Navigation Techniques
You practice navigation skills in low visibility .
- Reading bottom contours
- Using a compass in the dark
- Navigation from boat dives
- Beach and lake entry navigation
- Resurfacing after a dive
- Changing direction when changing direction
Buoyancy & Movement in the Dark
You learn to navigate safely without visibility .
- Controlling the buoyancy in low visibility
- Turning techniques
- Avoiding contact with the seabed
- Preventing drift-outs
- Staying calm and controlled
Emergency procedures
This course prepares you for emergencies, including .
- Handling disabled divers
- Lost diver procedures
- Light failure recovery
- Navigation errors
- Common diving problems
- Stress and disorientation control
Understanding the underwater night environment
You gain awareness of
- Nocturnal marine animals
- Nocturnal behavior of marine life
- Bioluminescent organisms
- Environmental protection
- Respecting fragile ecosystems
- Diving responsibly in poor visibility
Skills you will practice
During an open water night dive, you will practice
- Proper dive planning and safety Check
- Safe entry and exit procedures
- Always stay with your buddy
- Night dives of at least 20 minutes
- Changing direction while navigating
- Two-minute swims without a compass
- Using a dive light, gauges, computer, and compass
- Safe ascent and surface orientation
- Properly logging your night dives
What’s good for you?
After completing this course, you will be able to :
- Dive safely at night and in low visibility
- Plan and execute night dives with confidence
- Use lights and navigation tools properly
- See marine life only visible at night
- Improve overall diving confidence
- Consider this course as a specialty rating for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program
Minimum Certification Requirements
To earn certification, you must :
- Demonstrate good judgment and awareness
- Complete all required dives and skills
- Maintain appropriate buddy contact
- Use lights and navigation tools properly
- Follow all safety procedures
- Log completed night dives
Frequently Asked Questions
Is night diving safe?
Yes. Night diving is very safe with proper training and guidance from certified SDI instructors.
What equipment do I need?
You will need a primary light, backup light, personal beacon, and standard scuba gear. We will help you select or rent the right equipment.
Will I see a variety of marine life?
Yes. Many animals, such as octopus, lobster, eels, and glowworms, are active at night.
How many dives are required?
You complete an open water night dive that includes navigation, buoyancy, and emergency skills.
Does this course count toward advanced certification?
Yes. This course counts as a specialization for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.
