Your Diving Adventure Begins Here

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..

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.

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. 

• Divers 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and dives cannot exceed 12 meters/40 feet. 
• Divers 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult and dives cannot exceed 18 meters / 60 feet
• Children under the age of 13 require parent or guardian permission to register for PADI eLearning.
• Jr. Open Water Divers may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification at age 15 by requesting a new certification card (no additional training is required). 
• Learn more here: https://blog.padi.com/2014/09/16/scuba-diving-lessons-for-kids/ 

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.

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.

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.

 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

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!

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. 

Statistically, scuba diving is safer than driving a car, riding a motocycle, skiing, playing football, having a kid, skydiving, or running a marathon.