Interested in learning to scuba dive? You’ve come to the right place.
Millions of underwater explorers started right here.
Diving offers an escape from the pressures of daily life, access to an amazing world beneath the waves and the ability to affect positive ocean change.
PADI’s Open Water Course is the world’s most popular and widely-recognized scuba diving certification. You can become a certified diver in as little as four days, or over the course of a year. Once certified you can:
A scuba certification course is much more than just learning how to explore the underwater world safely (but that’s definitely covered). It’s a great way to reconnect with the natural world.
By the time you finish your PADI Open Water Diver course, you’ll understand our ocean planet in a new way. Read on, or watch the video below, to learn how to become a certified diver.
Knowledge Development
You must be at least 10 years old, able to swim, and in good physical health to enroll in a scuba diving course. In some countries, you may be required to attend a medical with a physician (your PADI Dive Centre will advise you if this is the case). If you meet these qualifications, the first thing you’ll do is learn scuba diving fundamentals during phase one, ‘Knowledge Development’.
During knowledge development, you’ll learn all about scuba equipment, familiarize yourself with scuba terminology, and watch videos of diving skills. It is self-study, so you control the time it takes for you to comfortably go through the material. Most people pace themselves and complete their knowledge development over a few weeks but it can be completed in a matter of days.
The most popular choice for knowledge development is PADI eLearning®, an independent study option where you read, watch videos, and take quizzes using your computer or mobile device. Complete your scuba studies whenever, wherever it’s convenient. On average, the program requires eight hours to complete.
At the end of knowledge development, you’ll take a final exam to ensure you have a thorough understanding of scuba diving essentials. Your PADI Instructor will answer any questions you may have along the way
During phase 2, you’ll take your first breath underwater in a calm environment such as a swimming pool or tranquil lagoon (known as “confined water”). You’ll practice basic diving skills such as clearing water from your mask, ascending and descending. Your instructor will demonstrate and review the skills with you until you’re comfortable performing them on your own. When you feel ready, you’ll move on to the final phase, open water diving!
You’ll learn to dive by diving to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet. The open water course includes four open water dives in total, usually done over two days. With your instructor by your side, you’ll practice the skills you learned in confined water, and explore the underwater world.
Most student divers complete their dives close to home, in the ocean, local lake, quarry, or other body of water. You can also complete your four “check out dives” on a tropical holiday; ask your PADI Instructor about an Open Water Referral which allows you to take the knowledge development and confined water sessions in one place and your ocean dives in another!
After completing four open water dives and all course requirements, you become a certified diver – a title that will last a lifetime. Now you are free to explore the other two-thirds of our ocean planet! As a PADI certified Open Water Diver, you’ll have access to many exciting PADI courses that help you reach your diving goals—whether they be exploration, ocean conservation, underwater photography, wreck diving, or your other favorite interest areas.