Vacation Divers
Finish the time-consuming academics and pool work before a resort, cruise, honeymoon, or warm-water trip.
Travel-ready training
Do the classroom and pool work here. Finish the certification dives there.
Complete the local class and pool work before your trip, then finish certification dives with a destination dive operator. We will help confirm whether the timeline works before you commit.
Local eLearning review
Local pool training
Destination checkout dives
$649 per person
Best For
Vacation Divers
Students who want academics and pool work done before a warm-water trip.
Busy Families
Families who want the structured training done locally before travel.
Destination Finish
Travelers who already have a destination operator ready for checkout dives.
What Happens Next
Tell us where you are headed, when you leave, who is taking class, and when you are available before the trip. We will confirm whether the referral timeline works, what your destination dive operator needs, and the next step before anything is final.
Who This Is For
Referral training is for students who want to learn the classroom and pool skills close to home, then complete the open water certification dives while traveling.
Busy Families
Complete the structured training locally, then leave the destination portion focused on open water dives.
Students on a Timeline
Use your available evenings or weekends before travel to complete the learning and pool requirements.
How the Referral Path Works
- Complete SDI eLearning. Start the academic portion before your pool sessions.
- Review and train with DMZ Scuba. Complete classroom review and confined water pool training locally.
- Receive referral documentation. We prepare the required referral record for the destination operator.
- Finish open water dives while traveling. Your destination dive operator completes the required checkout dives and certification processing.
What's Included Locally
The local referral portion is $649 per person and is focused on academic readiness, water comfort, and pool skills before your trip.
eLearning Setup
SDI eLearning access and guidance so you know what to complete before pool training.
Classroom and House-Call Review
Instructor-led review of the concepts that matter most, with house-call academic instruction included at no extra cost when it fits the training plan.
Pool Training
Confined water skill sessions, coaching, and feedback before you travel.
Referral Paperwork
Documentation for the destination dive operator showing the completed academic and pool portions.
Destination Coordination
Guidance on what to ask your destination operator before booking checkout dives.
Scheduling Support
Help planning the local training timeline around your departure date.
What You Finish at the Destination
The destination dive operator completes the required open water checkout dives and any destination-specific fees, rental gear, site logistics, and certification processing steps they control.
Referral Pricing
$649 per person for the DMZ Scuba referral portion: SDI eLearning support, classroom review, pool training, referral paperwork, and local scheduling support.
Destination checkout dives, destination operator fees, travel costs, site fees, rental gear, and destination-controlled certification steps are separate.
Important Planning Notes
- Confirm your destination operator accepts SDI Open Water referrals before travel.
- Ask about their open water checkout dive schedule, fees, rental gear, and cancellation policies.
- Leave enough time between local pool training and your trip for paperwork and travel planning.
- Referral timelines can vary by destination operator, weather, and travel schedule.
Why Use a Referral
A referral path lets you arrive at your destination with the academic and pool work already handled. That can make the trip feel less rushed and let the destination portion focus on open water checkout dives.
It is a good fit when you want local coaching before travel but prefer to finish certification in warm water or at a planned dive destination.
Planning a Trip and Need a Referral?
Tell us where you are headed, when you leave, who is taking class, and when you are available before the trip. We will confirm whether the referral timeline works and what your next step should be.