Open Water Diver

Learn To Dive - Open Water Diver

During the PADI Open Water Diver course, you'll learn what you need to know to explore the underwater world using scuba. Most people find it a rewarding challenge.

The PADI Open Water Diver course includes three parts: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives, and Open Water Dives.

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 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.

What does it take to get your scuba certification?

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 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.

Independent Study

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.

Knowledge Review and Pool Skill Development

Our instructors will go over what you learned through independent study, eLearning, 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 Sunday morning and 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. Contact us for trip details. The Open Water training is additional $250 plus dive park fees (e.g. Dutch Spring or Lake Phoenix).

Ready to start?

Make sure that you go through the medical form, if you answer yes to any questions, we will need a medical clearance from your doctor before you can start.

Medical form - Page 3 is only needed if a physician medical evaluation is needed.

If your medical form is completed and there are no issues, then please fill in the necessary information in this form:

Diver information forms

Then download these forms and fill out:

PADI forms

Cost

The eLearning and confined water training is just $495.

Bear in mind that with minimum gear that you need to buy e.g. mask, fins, snorkel and boots, along with eLearning, pool sessions, open water training, water park fees that the total cost will likely be around $1,000-1,100 but slightly less if you don't do the open water training with us.

OPEN WATER DIVER