Description
PADI Open Water Scuba Diver is the first scuba certification level. A highly-trained PADI Instructor will teach you how to scuba dive in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to dive at home or abroad and be an ambassador for the underwater world.
PADI’s Open Water Scuba Diver course is the world’s most popular and widely-recognized scuba diving certification. Once certified you can:
-Scuba dive with a partner (without supervision)
-Rent or purchase scuba diving gear
-Book excursions with dive boats and resorts
-Get air fills at local dive shops
Scuba certification includes three phases:
- Knowledge Development During the first phase of your scuba lessons, you’ll learn the basic principles of scuba diving such as:
-What to consider when planning dives.
-How to choose the right scuba gear for you.
-Underwater signals and other diving procedures.
You’ll learn this valuable information by reading it in the PADI Open Water Diver Manual or by using the PADI Open Water Diver eLearning platform. At the end of each chapter, you’ll answer questions about the material to ensure you understand it. Along the way, let your PADI Instructor know if there is anything you don’t understand. At the end of the course, you’ll take a final exam that ensures you have thorough knowledge of scuba diving basics.
- Confined Water Dives This is what it’s all about – diving. You’ll develop basic scuba skills in the pool. The basic scuba skills you learn during your certification course will help you become familiar with your scuba gear and become an underwater explorer. Some of the essential skills you learn include:
-Setting up your scuba gear.
-How to get water out of your mask.
-Entering and exiting the water.
-Buoyancy control.
-Basic underwater navigation.
-Safety procedures.
You’ll practice these skills with an instructor until you’re comfortable. When you’re ready, it’s time for your underwater adventure to begin at an open water dive site.
- Open Water Dives: After your confined water dives, you’ll head to open water, where you and your instructor will make four dives, usually over two days. On these dives you’ll get to explore the underwater world. You’ll apply the skills you learned in confined water while enjoying what the local environment has to offer. Complete your certification locally with The Diving Center’s PADI Open Water Completion Weekend or while on your next holiday with PADI’s Open Water Referral program
Course prerequisites:
-Able to swim
-Medically fit for diving (all students must complete a Dive Medical Form, found here.
-Comfortable in the water
-Minimum 10 years of age
Still have questions about becoming a certified PADI Open Water Scuba Diver? Check out PADI’s FAQ or Contact Us.
Group and Private classes available contact us for details!
