SSI’s #1 Certifying Training Facility
throughout the Americas & Caribbean Regions
COURSES
Learning the Art of Diving
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." (Baba Dioum, 1968.)
​
At Aquanauts Grenada, our deep love for the ocean drives us to share the beauty and importance of the marine ecosystem. To inspire that love in others, we believe in the value of exceptional instruction—delivered with patience, kindness, expertise, and adaptability. This commitment is at the heart of why we exist. Our team of skilled instructors works with students from all over the world, helping them connect with the underwater world.
​
We offer a wide variety of courses, ranging from fear-based swim instruction and introductory SCUBA diving to advanced specialties like underwater yoga, adaptive diving, and technical diving. Whether you're just starting or looking to deepen your skills, we’re here to guide you on your journey to fall in love with and better understand our oceans.
​
One of the most common questions we hear is, "What do I need to do?" While the answer depends on your individual goals, this page provides an overview of different paths you can take. We offer certifications through several internationally recognized agencies, including SSI, PADI, SDI, TDI, and HSA, allowing you to choose the one that fits your needs.
Another frequently asked question is, "What’s the difference between PADI, SSI, SDI, and TDI?" For core recreational courses, the answer often comes down to the instructor, as all certifying agencies follow standards set by the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC). The format and pricing of the educational materials, however, are determined by the certifying agency. At Aquanauts, our instructors are qualified to teach through multiple agencies, ensuring that no matter which one you choose, your course is tailored to your personal goals. Offering multiple agencies is like having a shoe store with a variety of brands—it's about finding the best fit for you.
​
Introduction to SCUBA
​
How can you get started? We offer the ability to try SCUBA in a pool just to see what breathing underwater is like, or you can try SCUBA diving in the ocean after a short pool session. Neither of these approaches are certification courses, but both do a wonderful job of introducing you to a new universe.
- Offered by SSI, PADI, and SDI
​
​
​
Open Water Diver
​
The Open Water Course is the first certification course a SCUBA diver takes. It is the most exciting one as well. In this course, you learn the basic skills and information necessary to be an open water diver. The course has three phases to it. The first is academic and all materials are available online now so you can complete it at your own pace. The second phase is in a pool where you learn how to work with the new gear while developing the fundamental skills of buoyancy and trim. The third and final phase is in open water. Here, you refine the skills you learned in the pool while also going for a tour of the local reefs. Once completed, you are certified to dive anywhere around the world to 18M/60' with a buddy.
- Offered by SSI, PADI, and SDI
​
​
​
​
​
Advanced Open Water Diver
Advanced Open Water Diver is where the lines begin to blur with certifying agencies. So what is an advanced open water diver? Skill, experience, and certifications are what we consider advanced. If you think about where you enjoy diving, that will help you with the decisions about education.
There are three courses at the core of any advanced diver. Enriched Air, Perfect Buoyancy, and Deep. This enables the foundation to advance your diving. Enriched Air is safer and allows for longer bottom time. Perfect Buoyancy enables propulsion (forwards AND backwards), perfect trim, and control in the water column. Deep enables you to properly plan and execute a dive to 40M/130'. This includes using bailout bottles and properly managing a surface marker buoy (SMB). With these three certifications, you can dive at any site (within recreational limits) you are comfortable with around the world. Skills and experience are developed by time spent diving.
For SSI and SDI, the requirement to be certified as an "Advanced Diver" is that you need four specialty certifications and twenty-five dives logged. PADI has an advanced open water diver certification course, but it offers only the first dive from five certifications over five separate dives. This course is designed to introduce you to which certifications might be of interest to you.
- Offered by SSI, PADI, and SDI
Continuing Education
Continuing your education is really the center of advancing you diving. There is no magic bullet. It takes time and focus to become better at diving. The folks you see in the water with perfect trim, minimum air consumption and moving seemingly without effort are people who have continued their education. Here are some of the more popular courses: Sidemount diving, Wreck Diving, Conservation specialties, Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV), Navigation, Limited Visibility and Search and Recovery, Intro to Technical Diving and Rescue diver.
- Offered by SSI, PADI, SDI
​
TEC and TEC-REC
For those who want to go deeper, stay down longer or develop the skills to be a truley independent diver we offer TEC courses. Technical Diving International (TDI) is our preferred certifying agency for technical diving. TDI was founded originally for technical diving. This is the heart of their materials and direction. SSI and PADI both have extended-range programs. Depending on how deep or how technical you want to be, we can help you reach your goals. The most popular course is Advanced Nitrox and Decompression Diving which enables dives to nitrox limits (45M/145'). Using open circuit systems, you can now plan and execute decompression dives.
- Offered by TDI
​
Adaptive Diving
​
We believe persons of all abilities should be able to experience the magic of the underwater world. Persons of all abilities can find peace and solace diving. For divers of all abilities, you can train as a Diveheart Adaptive Diver. At the completion of the course, you will be able to dive with a Diveheart team anywhere in the world. We have a fantastic team at Aquanauts, but if you want to create your own team, we offer training for Adaptive Buddies and Advanced Adaptive Buddies. These folks, as part of a Diveheart dive team, are trained to ensure the safety and comfort of divers with adaptations.
