SDI Recreational Courses

Recreational Courses & Pricing

⚠️ Important Gear Policy

Please note: I do not provide any diving gear. All equipment (cylinder, regulator, BCD, wetsuit/drysuit, weights, mask, fins, etc.) must be rented or owned by the student for the duration of the course. I will gladly advise and assist you with gear selection and rentals from local dive shops in the Zurich area.

Whether you are taking your first breath underwater or looking to expand your recreational diving limits, my courses are structured to build safety, confidence, and comfort. We conduct all practical training in local Swiss lakes under direct, individualized guidance.

SDI Entry Level

SDI Open Water Scuba Diver

The Open Water Scuba Diver course is your gateway to underwater exploration. This certification is globally recognized and allows you to dive down to 18 meters with a buddy.

Price: 1600 CHF
Prerequisites: Min. age 10, medical clearance
Duration: 3-4 Days
Max Depth: 18 meters
Equipment: Rented or owned (not provided)

What you will learn:

You will complete online academic training at your own pace, followed by pool/confined water sessions to master basic skills, and finally 4 open water dives in a local lake (such as Lake Zurich) to put your skills into practice.

Safety & Preparedness

SDI Rescue Diver

Learn to look beyond yourself and consider the safety and well-being of other divers. This course is challenging and realistic, teaching you to anticipate, prevent, and manage diving emergencies.

Price: 1200 CHF
Prerequisites: OWD, First Aid/CPR certification, Min. age 18 (or 15 with parental consent)
Duration: 3-4 Days
Focus: Self-rescue, stress management, unresponsive diver recovery, first aid

What you will learn:

We practice scenarios on land and in local lakes, covering search patterns, bringing up an unconscious diver, administering oxygen, coordinating emergency services, and performing rescue breaths in the water.

Emergency Care

First Response (CPR & First Aid)

A comprehensive course covering primary care (CPR) and secondary care (First Aid) for adults, children, and infants. Necessary prerequisite for the SDI Rescue Diver course and highly recommended for all active divers.

Price: Contact for pricing / Bundle options
Prerequisites: None (open to divers and non-divers)
Duration: 1 Day (classroom & practical scenarios)
Certification: FRTI (First Response Training International)

What you will learn:

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), chest compressions, rescue breathing, AED operation, choking management, bleeding control, shock management, and secondary assessment.

Oxygen Administration

Emergency Oxygen Provider

Administering 100% emergency oxygen is the most critical first aid step for decompression illness (DCI) and other scuba diving injuries. Learn to identify diving illnesses and safely administer emergency oxygen.

Price: Contact for pricing / Bundle options
Prerequisites: None (open to divers and non-divers)
Duration: Half Day (classroom & practical runs)
Focus: Oxygen systems, demand valves, pocket masks

What you will learn:

Recognizing decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, assembly and disassembly of emergency oxygen equipment, using demand inhalator valves, constant flow masks, and pocket masks on breathing and non-breathing divers.

Highly Recommended for Swiss Lakes

SDI Dry Suit Diver

Swiss lakes are cold, especially below the thermocline. A dry suit keeps you warm and dry, allowing you to dive comfortably year-round and enjoy the superior visibility of Swiss winter diving.

Price: 400 CHF
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 12
Duration: 1-2 Days (1 pool + 2 lake dives)
Focus: Buoyancy, suit control, emergency drills

Why take this course?

A dry suit changes how your body handles buoyancy. We cover suit seal care, zipper maintenance, undergarment selection, buoyancy control using the suit vs. BCD, and recovering from inverted (feet-first) air migration safely.

Recreational Specialties (400 CHF each)

Gas Specialty — Special Price: 150 CHF

SDI Nitrox Diver

Extend your no-decompression limits and feel less fatigued. Learn to dive with gas mixtures containing up to 40% oxygen.

Duration: 1 Day (Online study + practical gas analysis)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 10

Navigation

SDI Underwater Navigator

Find your way back to the shore or boat without surfacing. Master compass navigation, natural references, and distance tracking in Swiss visibility.

Duration: 1-2 Days (3 lake dives)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 10

Depth Exploration

SDI Deep Diver

Safely explore depth limits up to 40 meters. We cover nitrogen narcosis management, gas planning, descent lines, and safety stop schedules.

Duration: 2 Days (4 lake dives)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 15

Nocturnal Diving

SDI Night Diver

Experience Swiss lakes after dark. Spot nocturnal predators like the Burbot (Trüsche) and active pike. We focus on light signals and dark navigation.

Duration: 1-2 Nights (3 night dives)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 10

Configuration Specialty

SDI Sidemount Diver

Move your cylinders to your sides. Reduces back strain and provides clean redundancy. Ideal preparation for technical or cave diving.

Duration: 2 Days (4 lake dives)
Prerequisites: Open Water Diver, Min. age 18

Self-Sufficiency

SDI Solo Diver

Learn independent diving safety, redundancy layouts (pony bottles, dual valves), gas consumption calculations, and self-rescue techniques.

Duration: 2 Days (2 lake dives)
Prerequisites: SDI Advanced Adventure (or equiv.), 100 logged dives, Min. age 21

Introduction Sampler

SDI Advanced Adventure

Not ready to commit to full specialties? Sample different diving activities to find what interests you most. Similar to PADI's Advanced Open Water, this course introduces you to five distinct specialties (Deep and Navigation are mandatory, plus three electives) in a structured, supervised environment.

Pricing: Contact for personalized sampler bundle packages.

Unsure which course is right for you?

We can customize a learning pathway that matches your current comfort level, gear preferences, and long-term diving aspirations.

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