Learning to scuba dive with Carolina Dive Locker is an incredible adventure! With SSI as your training organization, your path to breathing underwater is accomplished in three exciting phases:

1. Knowledge Development

Learn the basics of scuba: how pressure works, choosing gear, and planning safe dives. You’ll finish with a quick final exam, and your instructor will help you review anything you need.

2. Confined Water Training

Time to get in the water! In a pool‑like setting, you’ll practice key skills—setting up gear, clearing your mask, sharing air, and more. There are five sessions, each building confidence and comfort.

3. Open Water Dives

Your final step: four open‑water dives with your instructor. This is where the adventure really begins. Complete them locally around Charleston or join us on a group dive trip to an exciting destination.

Getting certified with SSI is flexible, fun, and built around your pace. Complete your online academics at home, then join us for your in‑person training sessions.

How Our Course Works

We prefer real instruction with real interaction. You’ll study with your instructor, ask questions as you go, and build confidence step by step.

Our typical SSI Open Water course runs about 2 weeks:

• Week 1:

  • 1 evenings of classroom work (typically Tuesday)
  • Saturday and Sunday in the pool

• Week 2:

  • 2 days of open water dives
  • Skills training at the confined water location

Other SSI Courses We Offer

Discover Scuba • Advanced • Rescue • Enriched Air • Divemaster • Assistant Instructor and more.
Contact us for details.

Schedule not work for you? We’re flexible! We know life gets busy, and we’re happy to adjust your training schedule so you can get certified on your timeline.

Train at Your Pace

Your instructor’s goal is simple: help you become a safe, confident diver. You move forward when you’ve mastered the skills—not based on time in a classroom.

Like everything, it varies! Check pricing under the course you wish to take for updated pricing!

We HIGHLY suggest:

At minimum, you want your own:

• scuba mask
• snorkel
• boots
• scuba fins

These items need to fit you, and our team at Carolina Dive Locker will help you pick the options that feel comfortable and match your needs.

Included in the cost of your SSI Open Water Diver course, Carolina Dive Locker will provide a:

• dive regulator
• scuba BCD
• scuba tank
• scuba wetsuit
• weight system and weights

Honestly… the best scuba gear is the gear that fits you well, feels comfortable, and makes you excited to get in the water! Every diver has their own preferences, which is why there’s no one‑size‑fits‑all setup.

What we can tell you is that sticking with reputable, well‑tested brands makes a huge difference in performance and safety. We carry a selection of trusted, high‑quality gear right here in the shop—and we’re always happy to walk you through the pros and cons of each option.

Whether you’re looking for your first mask or building a full kit, come chat with us! We’ll help you find the gear that fits you and keeps you diving happy.

If you’re excited about adventure, chances are you can become an SSI scuba diver! Just keep these basic requirements in mind:

Minimum Age

• 10 years old to start training (for the Explorer course)

Medical Requirements

For safety, all students complete a brief medical questionnaire.

• If you have no listed conditions, you’re good to go.
• If something applies, a dive‑trained physician simply needs to confirm that you’re fit to dive.
  Local rules may vary depending on medical requirements in your area.

Water Skills

Before finishing the SSI Open Water course, you’ll need to show basic comfort in the water by:

• Swimming 200 yards/meters (or 300 yards/meters with mask, fins, snorkel)—no time limit, any stroke.
• Treading water or floating for 10 minutes, any method you choose.

Pretty much anywhere there’s water! Oceans, lakes, rivers, quarries, springs—even pools. Your dive locations depend on your experience, comfort level, and local conditions.

If you’ve just earned your SSI Open Water certification, you won’t be ice‑diving in Antarctica right away—but you’ve already unlocked a huge variety of amazing places to explore. And remember, great diving isn’t only found in tropical magazines. Some of the best sites are closer than you think.

Local dive spots can include:

• Natural sites like reefs, ledges, rivers, or springs
• Man‑made locations like quarries or reservoirs
• Famous global destinations—once you have the training

Visibility isn’t everything; what you discover underwater is what makes a site worth diving.

The most important thing is simple:
Dive in places that match your training and experience—and always dive with a buddy.

Carolina Dive Locker can help you set up local dives or plan your next big dive vacation. Stop by, and let’s get you underwater!

Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing gloves and an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.

Contact Charleston Dive Locker for information about exposure protection needed for any of your diving.

We get this one a lot! The good news: sharks are not something you need to worry about when diving with us. They’re usually shy, calm, and far more interested in doing their own thing than bothering divers.

Most of the time, if you’re lucky enough to see one, it’s the highlight of the entire dive. Sharks are incredible to watch—and encounters are typically brief, peaceful, and totally safe.

Our instructors know the local waters well and are trained to keep every dive safe and relaxed. If you ever have questions or just want to learn more about the species you might see, we’re always happy to chat.

In short: sharks are awesome, not scary—and seeing one is a treat, not a threat!