Short answer. The PADI Open Water Diver course takes 3 to 4 days and certifies you to dive to 18 m anywhere in the world. With us it is $395 with theory in our classroom or $450 with PADI eLearning, and all equipment is included. You need to swim 100 m and float for 10 minutes, and be 10 or older.
| Course | PADI Open Water Diver |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3–4 days, starting at 8:30 am |
| Price | $395 (classroom theory) or $450 (PADI eLearning) |
| Offer | Open Water + Nitrox dry course for $450 (1 student) |
| Minimum age | 10 (10–14 certify as Junior Open Water) |
| Depth limit after | 18 m |
What the course covers
PADI Open Water Diver is the world's most popular entry level certification. It has three parts: knowledge development (theory), confined water skills, and open water dives. You learn how pressure affects your body, how to plan a dive, how to handle equipment, and how to stay calm and in control underwater.
The first skills happen in shallow, calm water. Once you are comfortable, you move to the open water dives with your instructor, in the same warm sea our certified divers use.
Classroom or eLearning
You can learn the theory with us in the classroom ($395), or do it online with PADI eLearning before you arrive ($450 total) and spend more of your holiday in the water. eLearning is paid directly to PADI and is not refundable; classroom theory with us is refundable before the course starts, like everything else. Read the full detail on the Open Water Diver page.
What to check before you book a course
Prices vary between dive centres, so compare what the number includes:
- Is all equipment, including tanks and weights, included?
- Is the PADI certification fee included, or extra?
- Is the eLearning included, or paid separately?
- How many students does the instructor teach at once?
- Is transport included?
Ours includes all equipment and free tuk-tuk pickup from hotels within about 5 km and from Mirissa.
Requirements
- Age 10 or older.
- Swim 100 m and float for 10 minutes. This is a comfort test, not a race.
- A short PADI medical questionnaire. Some conditions need a doctor's sign-off, so ask us if unsure.
After Open Water
Most divers take the Advanced Open Water next, which opens dives to 30 m, including our deeper sites. The Nitrox course is a one-day dry course for longer bottom times. Our special offer pairs Open Water with the Nitrox dry course for $450 for one student.
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