About the course

PADI Open Water Diver is the first full scuba certification level and the most popular diving course in the world. Your PADI Instructor teaches you to dive in a relaxed, supportive environment, and by the end you have the skills and the knowledge to dive anywhere on the planet with a buddy.

During the course your instructor will ask you to float or tread water for 10 minutes, and to swim 200 metres unaided (or 300 metres with mask, fins and snorkel). Divers certified between 10 and 14 earn a Junior Diver rating that automatically becomes a full Open Water Diver certification at 15.

What you will learn

Be a confident, skilled diver
Manage your buoyancy
Handle common problems
Assemble and use scuba gear
Respectfully approach marine life

How the course runs

Day 1

Knowledge development through PADI eLearning (5–10 hours, at your own pace before you arrive), then confined-water dives in the pool with your instructor.

Day 2

Open Water Dives 1 and 2. Depart 07:00, return around 14:20. Two dives at two different sites, 45 minutes each, to 12 m — skills plus reef exploration. Log the dives with your instructor.

Day 3

Open Water Dives 3 and 4 at two more sites, this time to a maximum of 18 m. Four open water dives in total and you are a certified diver.

When you are certified you can

Dive to a maximum of 18 m / 60 ft with a certified buddy, anywhere in the world
Rent equipment, get air fills and join dive trips independently
Continue on to Advanced Open Water Diver and the specialty courses

Level up

Continue to Advanced Open Water

Ready to take the next step in your scuba diving adventure? Talk to us about combining courses for a better price.

More details

PADI Open Water Diver