PADI Open Water Diver
Challenging, but the most rewarding course you'll ever take
£649 per person
Get your PADI to dive independently
Be qualified to dive to 18 metres
Explore our amazing underwater world
To take this course you must be aged 10 or over and be able to swim 200 metres and tread water or float for ten minutes. For children aged 10-12 we recommend PADI Open Water Diver referral.
Price includes:
all tuition, equipment rental and PADI Open Water Diver eLearning via your phone, tablet or computer
Course length:
Three full days
Make sure you bring:
Swimwear, a towel, and something warm like a coat or hoodie that you don't mind getting wet on the days of your qualifying dives
Dive right in and get your PADI!
Step right into our amazing underwater world with the PADI Open Water Diver course, the world's favourite way to learn to dive. You'll be guided on your journey by one of Dive Academy's professional instructors, fully trained to PADI's exacting standards. When you learn to dive with Dive Academy you'll be working with an instructor who knows it's about you, not us, and who will work to make your experience safe, but also fun and enjoyable.
What will I do?
You'll start your training by receiving your PADI eLearning which is included within the price of the course, our team will be in touch to arrange this and to make sure you have our details for support should you have any questions as you work through the materials. Over five chapters you'll learn everything you need to know before your pool training, this is delivered in a modern inclusive package that includes text and video, with quick quizzes as you go along and at the end of each chapter. The course materials are designed to be accessible, however you learn.
You'll then join us for your pool training. Over five dives you'll work with your instructor to learn the skills you need to know to stay safe and comfortable underwater. You'll learn how to set up and use your equipment, we also know that at some point you'll want to own your own equipment so we'll teach you how to care for it after every dive. You'll also complete a swim of 200 metres and tread water or float for ten minutes to show us that you're comfortable in the water before we go for the qualifying dives.
Your qualifying dives
You'll then complete four qualifying dives with your instructor, you'll learn to plan dives and also to log them afterwards. We typically complete these at Vobster Quay inland diving centre where there are amazing underwater attractions we can visit including the wreck of an aeroplane, underwater quarry buildings and a variety of small and medium sized shipwrecks.
If you want to step into our underwater world and get qualified as a diver via the world's most popular learn to dive programme, review the options below and book your PADI Open Water Diver course with Dive Academy today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience with scuba diving?
No prior experience with scuba diving is required to take part in our Discover Scuba or Bubblemaker sessions. You do however need to be comfortable in the water.
What do I need to bring?
All equipment is supplied, just bring your swimwear, a towel and a t-shirt you don't mind wearing in the pool under the jacket.
I have a medical condition, can I participate?
You do need to be in reasonable physical health and comfortable in the water. If you have a medical condition then please review 'Can I dive' below. If you require medical sign-off, please obtain this before booking.
Is this a good family experience?
Learning to dive is a great family experience. Discover Scuba is for participants aged 10 and over only. If you would like to include an 8 or 9 year old within your group, please book all participants in for a Bubblemaker session.
I want to learn to dive, is this for me?
Our Discover Scuba and Bubblemaker experiences are a great introduction to scuba diving and will help you to understand if you like scuba diving before committing to a full course. If you have already decided that you'd like to learn to dive, our PADI Open Water Diver course will allow you to become qualified to dive independently to 18 metres with another qualified diver
What's next?
For those aged twelve and above, our Open Water Diver course is the ideal next step. This will qualify you to dive to eighteen metres with another qualified diver. If you want to complete the course in a short period of time, you can book one of our intensive courses over as little as three days, or you can spread it out over a number of weeks.
For those aged 8-11, we recommend PADI Seal Team as the next step. This five lesson course teaches your child basic scuba skills with other children the same age in a swimming pool. Of course, if you're unsure then please ask your Instructor who will be delighted to advise you further.
Can I dive?
Most people can learn to scuba dive
Most people who are reasonably fit and well can learn to scuba dive. Please check course pages to confirm any specific fitness requirements. For example, to complete the PADI Open Water Diver course you will need to swim 200 metres without stopping and without swimming aids, and also float or tread water for 10 minutes.
Before completing any course or booking dives (even pool dives and experiences), you will need to complete a standard medical form, click the link below to review the form.
If you have any queries please get in touch with the team on 01935 353525 or email [email protected]. We aren't doctors and can't give medical advice but we can point you in the right direction.
Important:
If you require referral to a doctor, please don't book any activities until you have confirmation in writing that you will be signed-off
If you proceed without sign-off and then cannot complete the course or experience due to medical reasons we will not be able to refund your course fee
Your easy three step guide to completing the medical form:
The easiest way to do this is to print the form, and then come back to this page and complete it using the steps below
Step 1
Complete all ten questions on page one
If you checked no on all of the questions, you're good to proceed with booking your experience or course
If you checked yes on questions 3, 5 or 10 go to step 3
If you checked yes on any other question(s) go to step 2
Step 2
In the box(es) where you checked yes, it will tell you to 'go to box' and a letter between A and G - note that letter
On page 2 complete the supplementary questionnaire for the relevant letter
If you checked yes for more than one question complete the supplementary questionnaire for each answer you checked yes
If you checked no to all questions on the supplementary questionaire(s) you're good to proceed with booking your experience or course
If you checked yes to any questions on the supplementary questionaire(s) then proceed to step 3
Step 3
You'll need to gain sign-off from a physician (doctor) before you can participate in scuba diving - do this before you book any experience or course
You can take your form to your GP or if you are seeing a hospital consultant for the relevant condition then you can take the form to them
The doctor may charge you a small fee for completing the form
Please note: some GPs (including as far as we are aware, all Yeovil GPs) refuse to sign any kind of sports forms
If you require clearance and cannot get this from your GP then you can contact a doctor specialising in diving medicine who will discuss your condition with you and may be able to sign the form (they also charge a small fee as your GP would)