"The best temperate-water diving in the world and second only to the Red Sea"
- Jacques Cousteau
The Best Scuba Instructions on Vancouver Island, with a Variety of The Most Popular Courses.
We Offer a Full Range of Scuba Equipment from Major Manufacturers.
We Provide All The Services a Scuba Diver needs, From Air Fills to Equipment Repair, and more.
SCUBA diving excites your senses. To breathe underwater is one of the most fascinating and peculiar sensations imaginable. Breathing becomes a rhythmic melody of inhalations and exhalations. The cracks and pops of fish and crustaceans harmonize with the rhythmic chiming of the bubbles as you exhale.
Soon, lungs act as bellows, controlling your buoyancy as you achieve weightlessness. And, as in your dreams, you are flying. Combine these otherworldly stimuli and you surrender completely to the sanctuary and serenity of the underwater world. Taking a scuba course will open up a whole new world for you.
Thousands of underwater explorers started right here, with Pacific Water Sports, on Vancouver Island over the past 30 + years. Scuba lessons unlock the door to new adventures and amazing animal encounters. By the end of your scuba certification course, you’ll understand the excilleration of breathing underwater and see our ocean planet through new eyes.
Watch the short videos
3 Certification Options
Complete all three parts of your scuba certification (knowledge development, pool practice, and open water training dives) near where you live
Benefits: take as much time as you need and connect with your local community of divers
If you’re not ready to try diving in your local environment, you can complete everything but the open water dives near where you live
Benefits: connect with your local community of divers, but enjoy the waters of your vacation destination for your open water training dives
Complete all elements of the course (knowledge development, pool practice, and open water dives) — while on vacation. Use PADI eLearning to finish your independent study online before or during travel to minimize classroom time
Benefits: learn to scuba dive abroad, meet students from other parts of the globe
With more than 6,200 PADI dive centres and resorts, and more than 136,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued more than 23 million certifications around the world, you'll find PADI diver courses and scuba diving services nearly everywhere. In fact, on most scuba diving adventures, you'll be surrounded by other PADI Divers who made the same choice you did to...
Join the world's most respected scuba diving community.
Your questions answered
How long does it take to earn a scuba diving certification?
There are three parts to becoming a certified diver: knowledge development, confined water in a pool or pool-like environment, and open water dives.
Independent study using PADI Open Water Diver digital learning program (eLearning) takes about eight hours. In-water work, including pool training and open water dives, can be completed in just a few days.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is flexible and performance-based, which means you progress at your own pace. Once you and your instructor feel confident that you've mastered a skill, you’ll move on to the next one. If you want to try the new skill a few more times, that’s okay too. The goal is for you to learn how to be a safe, confident diver and feel comfortable in the water..
What do I need a PADI Certifcation?
The most important reason to get a SCUBA certification is safety. Open water SCUBA classes start by teaching you the basic skills and knowledge that will be integral to your entire dive career, whether you remain at the beginner level or continue to advance your education.
How old do you have to be to learn to scuba dive?
The minimum age is 10 years old (in most areas). Student divers who are younger than 15 earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification.
The Junior Open Water certification comes with restrictions.
How much do scuba diving lessons cost?
A scuba diving certification costs about the same as a full day of surfing lessons, three hours of private golf lessons, or one amazing night out! Learning to scuba dive is a great value because you earn a certification that allows you to dive anywhere in the world.
When comparing prices for scuba lessons, be sure to ask what’s included. A very low price may be for in-water training only. A higher price may include rental gear, a boat trip and/or online training.
Does a Scuba Certification expire?
No, your certification will not expire. As an PADI Open Water Diver, your certification is good for life. If you do not actively participate in scuba for an extended period of time, however, it's a good idea to refresh your skills through the PADI ReActivate class.
Can you Scuba Dive without a certification?
It is not illegal to dive without certification, but no reputable dive center or club would allow someone to dive with them without first being certified to scuba dive. Can I be Scuba diving without certification? It's not that diving is difficult, it just requires a specific set of skills.
Can I dive without my PADI Certification Card?
Technically you do not need your physical card to scuba dive. However Dive centers will need to verify and check that you are a certified diver, most dive centers can do this online within the PADI system
Can I Scuba Dive Anywhere?
From the first day, scuba diving starts transforming your life with new experiences you can share with friends. And you can do it almost anywhere there is water. Start learning with eLearning and get ready to take your first breaths underwater!
Is Scuba Diving Safe?
Like any active sport there is elements of risks, which is why taking professional scuba training and getting properly certified is important. Proper training greatly reduces the elements of risk.
Is Scuba Diving safer than driving a car?
Statistically, scuba diving is safer than driving a car, riding a motocycle, skiing, playing football, having a kid, skydiving, or running a marathon.
Excellent training! Wonderful experience! Couldn't ask for anyone better to teach you how to dive! Your the best! Thank you
- Lisa Jean Rutzebeck
PADI Open Water Student
During my PADI Advance Course Terry was very encouraging, he shared lots of valuable tips to enhance my dive skills.
- Sue
PADI Advanced Student
Terry and his crew are well organized and methodical. As a PADI Course Director I find their students well educated and prepared.
- Larry Wedgewood
PADI Course Director
(250) 746-6669
Terry(at)Pacificwatersports.ca
260 Trans Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC. V9L 3P9
Winter Hours
Tuesday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday & Monday - Closed