Open Water Dive Course
Are you ready to discover what lies beneath the surface? The PADI Open Water Diver course is your ticket to underwater adventure! You'll learn everything you need to explore the ocean with confidence—from how your gear works to the skills that keep you safe and having fun.
This course is more than just a certification—it’s the start of a lifelong journey. You’ll train through three exciting phases:
- Knowledge Development (with easy-to-follow eLearning)
- Confined Water Dives (where you build your skills in a pool)
- Open Water Dives (your first real underwater adventures!)
Start your journey today with pool & eLearning: $545 (+tax)
Knowledge Development covers the principles, concepts and terms you need to know for dive safety and enjoyment. During the Confined Water Dives, you learn and practice scuba skills in a pool or water with pool-like conditions. You'll enjoy making one or more minidives, taking you through the same steps you follow when you make open water dives. To complete training you practice, apply and demonstrate what you learn during four Open Water Dives at a local dive site.
Earning a PADI Open Water Diver certification shows that you have met the course requirements. Dive centers and resorts require proof of certification before they will rent scuba equipment, fill scuba cylinders or book dive excursions. As a PADI Open Water Diver, you'll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. It's just the beginning of a lifetime filled with dive adventures.
Scuba certification requirements
- eLearning (independent study)
- Knowledge review
- Pool skill development
- 200 yard swim
Tread water for 10 minutes
- Four open water dives
eLearning
You can complete the independent study requirements using the PADI eLearning program when it suits you. The estimated time to complete the independent eLearning study is about 8-10 hours. The PADI eLearning program is included in our course fees and needs to be completed before you start your pool skill development.
Requirements
The PADI Open Water certification process consists of independent study through eLearning, a knowledge review, pool skill development, and four open-water training dives. A 200 yard swim, and being able to tread water for 10 minutes is required for water proficiency. In order to be certified you need to complete all skills and demonstrate adequate swim proficiency.
Knowledge review and pool skills
Our instructors will go over what you learned through independent study, and then give you a quick knowledge review before entering the pool. You will at that point practice scuba skills in the pool with an instructor. Knowledge review and skill development sessions in the summertime, take place at our pool location in Perry Hall, Maryland. Winter time we teach at local indoor pools once a month. Summer time, we teach one or two weekends a month usually between 8-11AM in the morning on a Saturday and Sunday morning and one or two evenings the following week. Contact us to schedule times that suit you or schedule your session below.
Open Water training
You will have to complete four instructor supervised dives over two days to complete your Open Water certificate. These are usually done at local quarries. If you would like, you can complete your open water checkout dives during a vacation in warmer waters or on one of our group trips, check out our travel page for more information. The Open Water training Lake Allure or Lake Phoenix).
Ready to start?
Make sure that you go through the medical form, before signing up, please reach out if you have any questions. Please also fill out the Diver information form:
- Medical form - Page 3 is only needed if a physician medical evaluation is needed.
- Diver information forms
Cost
The eLearning and confined water (pool) training is just $545 (+tax), to be certified you also need to complete the open water portion either with us or we will provide you with a referral form to take to other operator. You will need to have your own dive grade mask, fins, snorkel and boots. We have all the necessary gear for sale.
Additional Costs:
Pool Fees: Assesed depending on pool used for class.
Quarry Fees: About $30 to $70 per day depending on venue
Air Fills at Quarry: $9 to $12 per tank depending on venue
Students must provide their own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel. All other required equipment is provided
Upcoming pool training (each session is 2 days):
- April 27 & May 4 (HCC) - FULL
- June 7 & 8 (PHSC)
- July 5 & 6 (PHSC)
- July 12 & 13 (PHSC)
- Aug 1 & 2 (PHSC)
- Aug 9 & 10 (PHSC)
HCC - Harford Community College Pool
PHSC - Perry Hall Swim Club Pool
Certification dives are scheduled during the following months:
- May 17 & 18
May 31 - June 1
June 28-29
July 19-20
September 20-21
September 27-28
Other dates can be arranged. Contact us to schedule your certification.
To start your dive adventure, sign up for your Open Water eLearning and pool portion today on one of the days above:
Want to break the cost down into several payments? Pay with PayPal with 4 interest free payments. If you want to secure a spot without a set date please use the following:
Pool & eLearning: $545 (+tax)
Pool, eLearning & certification: $775 (+tax)
FAQ's
Why choose YAY Scuba?
YAY Scuba is dedicated to providing high-quality scuba training with experienced instructors. Our courses are designed to be safe, fun, and educational, ensuring you gain the skills and confidence needed for open water diving adventures.
We are passionate about scuba diving and we teach in small classes for maximum instructor attention and plenty of time to get any questions you may have answered in class.
What equipment do I need?
For open water certification, you'll need have a mask, snorkel, fins and boot. We will supply buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator with alternate air source, dive computer, weights and tanks. For checkout dives we supply exposure protection.
Do I need prior scuba diving experience?
No prior experience is necessary. Open water certification is designed for beginners. We'll start with the basics and gradually build your skills and knowledge to ensure you're fully prepared for open water dives.
How long does the certification take?
The duration can vary based on your availability and learning pace. Typically, it consists of eLearning that takes about 8 hours to complete and practical training in a pool spanning 2-3 days. Finally two days at a quarry or on our trips to get certified. Alternatively you can get a referral form to complete your training elsewhere, e.g. Caribbean. We can provide more specific details once you are signed up.
What are the age requirements?
The minimum age for open water certification is 10 years old. The maximum age limit does not exist; diving is suitable for all ages.
Where can I dive after certification?
Your open water certification allows you to dive in various locations worldwide. However, diving conditions can vary, and some locations may require advanced training due to challenging conditions. We can help you choose dive sites suitable for your skill level and provide additional training for you.
What if I have medical conditions?
If you have any medical concerns or pre-existing conditions, it's essential to consult with a physician before starting scuba diving. The medical form is pretty explanatory, but if there is anything unclear please reach out. Safety is our top priority, and we'll ensure you're physically fit for diving.