Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

Experienced divers claim there is nothing better than diving! Join in the fun today and experience a new exciting underwater world. Diving adds purpose to your travel and brings new wonders and adventure to a holiday. It can involve the whole family, a group of friends or members of a club. For some of you it may even become more than just a pastime …….

Certification

Once you complete the Open Water course, you will be a fully qualified diver and awarded a certification. The identification card carries your photo and confirms your level of training and ability to dive to the requirements established by PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

The qualification is recognised worldwide and allows you to dive with another qualified diver without instructor supervision. It also allows you to buy and rent diving equipment throughout the world.

Upon certification you will be able to participate in continuing education courses, including the Advanced Open Water and numerous Specialty courses that can ultimately lead you to the rating of Master Scuba Diver, the highest non-professional certification in recreational scuba diving.

The Open Water course is your passport to the undersea world and the experiences and wonders it has to offer.

Who Can Learn to Dive?

Anyone over the age of 10 who is in reasonable health and is comfortable in the water can learn to dive. You should be able to swim 200 metres and float for 10 minutes. Those under the age of 15 will be awarded the Junior Open Water Diver rating and must dive with an adult after certification.

The Open Water Diver Course

The course is divided into three segments:
1) Knowledge Development:
This gives you the basic principles and knowledge needed for safe and enjoyable diving. The training takes place in a classroom and includes watching videos, discussions with your instructor and short quizzes.
2) Confined Water Dives:
These are conducted in a swimming pool where you will apply the information introduced in the classroom and learn the skills of safe diving.
3) Open Water Dives:
Four dives are required for certification where you will demonstrate the skills learnt in the pool and apply classroom knowledge.

Course Orientation

You will receive all the course materials before the course starts, including the Go Dive manual. This will allow you time to read through and become more familiar with the course. Knowledge development sessions will take place in our classroom at the shop and confined water sessions at Haileybury pool on Saturday evenings (5.45pm), Simon Balle School pool on Wednesday evenings (6.15pm) or Hartham pool on Tuesday evenings (7.30pm). The Open Water dives will then be completed at a suitable location, depending on weather conditions.

Referral options are also available where the Knowledge Development and Confined Water sessions are taken in the UK but the Open Water dives are completed on holiday at any PADI dive centre. This popular option will allow you to maximise your holiday time enjoying diving and we are more than willing to help you arrange a referral course if required. Regular trips to the Red Sea for referrals and dive holidays are organised by In Depth.

Course Fees

The costs include all the course materials, a log book and rental of scuba diving equipment. However, we recommend that you purchase your own fins, boots, gloves, mask and snorkel for personal fit and hygiene.  PADI Open Water Referral course costs £285.4 open water dives to complete the PADI Open Water Diver course cost £150. (This fee does not include travel to the open water sites, entrance and/or boat fees to these sites or overnight accommodation if required.)

On completion of the course, there is an additional certification fee due to PADI of £25.

To Book a Course

Register today with any of our instructors at In Depth Diving or call 01992 589910 to confirm your place on our next course. A deposit of £100 will be required and you will also be asked to sign a Medical Statement, a Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding and an Express Assumption of Risk form prior to the start of your course.