SSI Basic Diver Course in Andaman — Your First Certified Dive
The SSI Basic Diver Course lets you have your first open water dive under an SSI instructor's direct supervision. Neither swimming ability nor prior experience is required to enjoy a scuba diving session satisfactorily. Hundreds of complete beginners have gone through this exact course with me. Before they book, one question comes up almost every time: how is this different from Try Scuba Diving? By the end of this page, you'll know exactly which one is right for you.
What Is the SSI Basic Diver Course?
The SSI Basic Diver Course is a beginner-level certification that prepares you to dive to a depth of 12 metres. After successful completion of this course, a genuine SSI Basic Diver certification (soft copy only) is what you earn. Knowing how to swim and having prior diving experience are not a barrier to signing up for this course.
Basic Diver vs. Try Scuba: Which One Do You Want?
The real difference is what you learn, not just what you experience. With Basic Diver, you learn to use the equipment, pick up real skills to stay calm underwater, practice basic scuba diving techniques, and walk away with a well-recorded SSI certificate — along with memories of an incredible experience that will stay with you long after the dive. It's the kind of course that can encourage you to get properly certified one day and become a real diver. Try Scuba, on the other hand, offers a shorter time underwater with an instructor doing most of the work for you — there's not much learning involved, it's simply about the experience. That suits people who are just curious and never plan to become a serious diver.
| Basic Diver | Try Scuba | |
|---|---|---|
| What you learn | Equipment use, new skills underwater, basic scuba techniques | Little to none — instructor handles it for you |
| Official SSI record? | Yes — real SSI certification (soft copy) | No, only in-house participation certificate |
| Best suited for | Enthusiasts, those who might want to get properly certified someday | Those who just want a one-time experience |
| Dive site options | Tribe Gate, Turtle Beach, Purple Haze, Lighthouse, Red Piller, and Juvis Coral Reef | Only Tribe Gate — other sites cost extra |
Here's Exactly What Happens
Step One — Pick-up & Getting Ready
- Pick-up from your hotel in Havelock
- Paperwork and briefing at our office
- Introduction to dive theory
- Gearing up with your equipment (assembling and disassembling the equipment, how to use every piece of gear)
Step Two — Confined Water Skills
- Confined water session in chest-deep water
- Practice essential skills: regulator remove & replace (purge & blow method), regulator recovery (sweep & reach method), mask clearing (half-flooded and full-flooded), equalizing technique (Valsalva maneuver), hand signals to communicate underwater, monitoring your air supply, and the buddy system dive technique
Step Three — To the Dive Site
- Boat ride out to one of our confirmed dive sites — Tribe Gate, Turtle Beach, Purple Haze, Lighthouse, Red Piller, and Juvis Coral Reef
Step Four — The Open Water Dive & Debriefing
- Your real open water dive to 12m, instructor within arm's reach throughout (up to 60 minutes underwater)
- Debriefing and logging the dive afterward
Eligibility & Prerequisites
The SSI Basic Diver Course is open to anyone aged 10 and above who's physically and mentally fit to dive — swimming ability is not required. Before your course, you'll need to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire form. For the full eligibility breakdown, including medical categories and age exceptions, see our complete diving eligibility guide. I believe you need a real thirst for thrill to sign up for this course — just an urge to be underwater isn't quite enough.
Price, Inclusions & Exclusions
This includes:
- Pick-up and drop from your hotel in Havelock (between Govind Nagar and Vijay Nagar Beach)
- SSI digital certification (soft copy)
- Diving accident insurance
- Drinks & snacks
- Fresh towel
- All equipment rental
- Complimentary photos and videos of your experience (shot on a GoPro 12)
Exclusions:
- Accommodation and meals
- Miscellaneous expenses (sunscreen, sunglasses, personal swimsuit)
For full pricing details and to book, visit our Scuba Diving Packages page.
Ready for More?
Loved your first taste of scuba diving experience? The SSI Basic Diver Course is a great way to find out if diving is really for you — and if it is, the natural next step is a full certification. Check out our Scuba Diver Course to go further, or browse our full range of courses to see every path to becoming a certified diver. We deeply appreciate your review about us.
What Our Divers Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — the SSI Basic Diver Course awards a genuine SSI certification, issued as a soft copy once you complete the course. It's a participation-level certificate rather than a credit toward full courses like Open Water, but it's still a real, official SSI record you can keep.
No, swimming ability is not required for the Basic Diver Course. Your instructor stays with you throughout, handling the parts that would otherwise depend on swimming skill, so complete non-swimmers can complete the course comfortably.
Basic Diver teaches you real skills — equipment use, staying calm underwater, and basic scuba techniques — and ends with an official SSI certificate. Try Scuba is a shorter, instructor-led experience with little learning involved, built for those who just want to try diving once.
Yes, many divers who enjoy their Basic Diver Course go on to take the Scuba Diver or Open Water Diver course. Basic Diver doesn't count as credit toward those courses, but it's a great way to confirm you're ready to commit to full certification.
Ready to Try Your First Scuba Dive With Us?
Whether you're a complete beginner or have never even tried swimming, the SSI Basic Diver Course is a great way to start. Book your course today, or reach out on WhatsApp if you have any questions before you commit.