If you've always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures or simply see the wonderous world beneath the waves, this is where it starts. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world's most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle. American Divers International (ADI) has been a PADI 5-Star Training Facility for over 35 years. Our Instructors have over 30 years of combined training experience. In short, no one is more qualified to teach you to dive!
What You Learn
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:
- Knowledge Development (online, home study or in a classroom ) to understand basic principles of scuba diving,
- Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills,
- Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!
Prerequisites
To enroll in the PADI Open Diver course or Junior Open Water Diver course, you must be:
- 12 years or older (PADI eLearning requires a minimum age of 13 years due to international internet laws).
- Download the required PADI Medical Form
The Learning Materials You Need
PADI offers a variety of home-study materials for the Open Water Diver course - book and DVD package or a multimedia DVD. Recently PADI has enhanced this program by offering the learning material in an Elearning environment via the internet.
PADI's Open Water Diver materials cover what you need to know about basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you'll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you'll jump in the pool to practice these skills with your instructor.
The Fun Part
The fun part about this course is...well, just about all of it because learning to dive is incredible. You breathe underwater for the first time (something you'll never forget) and learn what you need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, you'll make at least five pool dives and four dives in the ocean under the supervision of your PADI Instructor.
Course Tuition & Enrollment Fees
PADI Manual
Full use of our HEATED POOL
Full use of all MAJOR EQUIPMENT: Buoyancy Compensators, Regulators, Air II, Wetsuit, & Console Computer
The Scuba Gear You Use
In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear including a dive computer, and standard accessories. The equipment you wear will be chosen by a AMERICAN DIVERS INTERNATIONAL Representative to ensure your comfort throughout the course.
Personal Equipment: Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Booties, Weights, Slate, Gloves, and Surface Marker Buoy
PADI Open Water DVD Refundable Deposit (unless doing e-Learning)
Boat Fees for Certification Dives
Travel & Accommodations
Please take Advantage of Programs we have designed for you, the Student!
100% Mask Guaranteee - The mask is the Single Most Important Piece of Equipment you will ever own; it's your window to the underwater world. If it leaks on you, you will be miserable the entire dive (trust me, I know from experience). If you purchase a mask from us, and you allow us to fit the mask to your face, we will guarantee the fit of that mask for as long as you own it. Doesn't matter whether its two days or two years later, if that mask starts to leak due to a fit issue, we will find you a new mask or give you your money back.
**This guarantee does not cover damage to the mask**
Fin Rental Program - There is no way a person can find the right pair of fins for them just by looking at them. You can't know which pair you'll like without trying them. For $15.00, you can enroll in the Fin Rental Program which allows you to try all of the different fins during the pool sessions, open water dives, and for up to 30 days after the course. This allows you to find out which fins you like and which ones cause blisters or cramps. Then once you've decided which ones you like, you can take that $15.00 and put it back towards the purchase of a new set of fins. It's a way for you to make and educated purchase!
Try It All In The Pool First! - Diving should never hurt or be uncomfortable. It is our goal that you have a fun and awesome experience learning to dive, not be constantly harrassed uncomfortable gear. There's no sure fire way to know if scuba and snorkeling equipment will fit you until you actually get into the water with it. If any of the gear you purchase from us doesn't fit you properly, or is uncomfortable, simply bring it back and we will find something else for you or give you your money back!
**Please contact us to find out exactly which personal equipment items you need BEFORE you buy them and take advantage of programs we have designed to help ensure you purchase the gear that best suits your needs as a student**
Academic
This gives you the basic knowledge and understanding of the underwater environment. Just like learning to drive, you need to know the rules of the road. This knowledge gives you the rules for proceeding into the wonderful underwater environment.
Practicals
Confined Water (Pool) - we test your swimming skills and your ability to float. Then we teach you a series of skills that you will need when you are diving. Skills such as, clearing your mask, how to control your breathing and how to properly control your buoyancy.
Open Water Dives (4 total) - Completed on the last weekend of your course, all of the skills and knowledge that you learned in academics and confined water will now be demonstrated in your open water dives. All dives are completed in the Ocean, off of a boat. We don't dive in any of the marrow-pit, allegator-infested lakes, springs, or swamps. We want you to gain your diving experience where you are most likely to actually dive!. Each dive has a prescribed set of skills that you will demonstrate to your instructor. Once you have completed all 4 dives, you will become a CERTIFIED OPEN WATER DIVER!
Standard Open Water Certification Course:
6:30pm until 10:00pm
Two nights a week: Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays.
3 weeks long
Book & DVD, 3 Week Course: You'll receive the PADI Open Water Manual and DVD to study at home before class. The first two sessions are in an academic setting in our classroom. This will give you the opportunity to go over the Knowledge Reviews with an instructor, ask questions, and engage in discussions about the material with the instructor.
**There is a $45.00 refundable deposit for the DVD***
There are 4 confined water (pool) sessions that make up the remaining 2 weeks.