Open Water Scuba Training Weekend

This page is for Sink or Swim Scuba students who are scheduled for a scuba training weekend as part of their SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification course. Depending on your class schedule and instructor plan, this training weekend may include confined water skills, open water training dives, and/or final open water checkout dives.

Students signing up for this training weekend must be available on both Saturday and Sunday. If you have a scheduling conflict, please contact Sink or Swim Scuba before registering.

This registration is for the student training weekend only. Payment for this sign-up covers the dive site entry fee needed to reserve your spot for training. This is not a full scuba certification course registration.

Training Location

Students will meet the instructor at 9:00 AM on Saturday at:

Blue Stone Dive Resort
3179 Cunningham Road
Thomasville, NC 27360

When you arrive, you may temporarily pull up near the front door, get a cart from inside to load your scuba gear, and then park in the main parking area. Your Sink or Swim Scuba instructors will meet you in the lobby.

Before Your Training Weekend

Please stop by Sink or Swim Scuba on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday before your scheduled training weekend to pick up any rental scuba gear you need.

If you still need to complete your training folder, waivers, or paperwork, we can help you take care of that when you come by the shop. You will also need to complete the Blue Stone Dive Resort waiver and pay the required dive site entry fee, which is $28.00 per day.

If you do not already own your personal scuba gear, including mask, fins, snorkel, and boots, our staff can help you choose equipment that fits properly and works well for your training. Properly fitted scuba gear makes a major difference when learning skills, building confidence, and completing your open water certification dives.

Required Before You Get in the Water

All SDI eLearning, including the final exam and online waiver, must be completed by the Friday before your training weekend.

If your online medical questionnaire required a medical signoff, Sink or Swim Scuba must have that completed form before you enter the water. Students cannot participate in scuba training dives without required medical clearance.

What to Bring

Please come prepared for a full day of scuba training, skills practice, and open water diving.

Bring the following items:

• Mask, properly scrubbed and ready for use
• Fins
• Snorkel
• Boots
• Logbook
• SDI app downloaded on your phone for dive logging
• Rental or personal BCD
• Rental or personal regulators
• Wetsuit
• Tanks
• Snacks
• Packed lunch
• Plenty of water
• Towel
• Dry clothes to change into after diving
• Sunscreen or a hat for sun protection
• Swimsuit

What to Expect During Student Training

Your training weekend begins Saturday morning with instructor-led scuba training activities. Depending on your course schedule, this may include a swim test, confined water scuba skills, buoyancy practice, equipment practice, and open water training dives.

For many students, this weekend is where classroom learning, SDI eLearning, pool work, and real-world scuba skills come together. You will work with your instructor to practice and demonstrate the skills needed to become a safe and confident certified diver.

Saturday training usually ends sometime between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, depending on class size, conditions, and student progress.

Sunday begins again at 9:00 AM. Students may complete additional confined water skills, open water training dives, and/or final checkout dives required for SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification. Sunday may end as early as 12:00 PM or last until approximately 4:00 PM.

Get Ready for Your Scuba Training Weekend

This is one of the most exciting parts of learning to scuba dive. Your student training weekend gives you the opportunity to build confidence, improve your scuba skills, and complete important steps toward your SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certification.

Sink or Swim Scuba is excited to help you continue your scuba training and become a more confident diver. Please contact the shop before your training weekend if you have any questions about gear, paperwork, scheduling, or what to expect.

Sink or Swim Scuba
4310K Wilkinson Blvd
Gastonia, NC 28056
704-823-0501
Dive@SinkorSwimScuba.com