PADI course
Open Water Diver
How to become a certified PADI Open Water Diver
$709per diver
- Duration
- 3 days · 8:00am–5:00pm
- Group size
- Maximum 8 students per instructor
Who can enroll
No certification required Ages 10 and up
From the shop
No certification required. Divers aged 10–11 certify as Junior Open Water Divers, dive to a maximum of 12 meters, and must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian; divers aged 12–14 dive to 18 meters with any certified adult. Those restrictions lift at 15. Every student completes a medical questionnaire first; some answers need a physician's sign-off before getting in the water.
About this course
The Open Water Diver certification is the one that opens the door: qualified to dive to 18 meters with a buddy, anywhere in the world, without an instructor — in conditions as good as or better than those you trained in.
The course is three parts. Knowledge development covers pressure, air, and planning — most students do this online before arriving. Confined water is where the skills become muscle memory, in shallow water with somewhere to stand. Four open-water dives put it together on the reef.
No prior experience is required. You do need to be comfortable in water: the course includes a 200-meter/yard swim (or 300 with mask, fins, and snorkel) and a 10-minute float, neither of them timed.
Photos from the Open Water Diver course
How the course runs
Day 1 — classroom and confined water
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Paperwork, medical questionnaire, and gear fitting
- Knowledge reviews 1–2, with quizzes
- Swim and float assessment (not timed)
- Confined water dives 1–2: assembly, mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy
Day 2 — confined water and first open water
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Knowledge reviews 3–4, with quizzes
- Confined water dives 3–5, including out-of-air skills and mask removal
- Open water dives 1–2 on a shallow reef
Day 3 — open water and exam
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Knowledge review 5 and the final exam
- Open water dives 3–4, to a maximum of 18 meters
- Navigation, buoyancy control, and a debrief
- Certification paperwork
What the fee covers
We provide
- All PADI learning materials and certification fees
- Complete rental gear for the whole course
- Four open-water training dives
- Light lunch on full days
Not included
- Marine park fees
- Hotel transfers
- Underwater photos
Upcoming dates
No dates on the books right now. This course runs on request. See the full schedule, or ask us to set one.
Questions divers ask
How deep can I dive once I am certified?
18 meters as an Open Water Diver, in conditions as good as or better than those you trained in. Advanced Open Water Diver extends that to 30 meters.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You need basic watermanship: a 200-meter swim or a 300-meter snorkel, plus a 10-minute float or tread. Neither is timed, and any stroke counts.
Is equipment included?
Yes — mask, fins, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, computer, tanks, and weights are all provided for the course.
What is the minimum age?
10 years old. Divers aged 10–11 certify as Junior Open Water Divers, dive to 12 meters, and must be accompanied by a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian. Divers aged 12–14 dive to 18 meters with any certified adult. Both restrictions lift at 15.
Can I do the theory before I arrive?
Yes, and most students do. PADI eLearning is a separate fee, billed as its own line, and finishing it beforehand frees your days for diving.
What if I do not finish in three days?
The course is performance-based, not clock-based: you certify when you can do the skills. If you need another session we will schedule one.