If you have landed on this page, you are most likely wondering what is the best way to obtain a scuba diving certification.
This is exactly the same question I have asked myself back in 2004. That is exactly when I started approaching the scuba diving world and decided to get scuba certified.
After some research, I had decided to take my open water diver certification with PADI. Since then I have completed all my diving education up to Specialty Instrctor with PADI.
If you have already madeup your decision, and can’t wait to become a certified open water diver, you are halfway through as the next steps are simple and few: check if you fulfil the course prerequisites and requirements, sign up for the open water certification on the PADI website and select the dive center where you will be completing the practical sessions.
As next steps, complete the theoretical knowledge development part either online or in classroom format, enjoy learning the first scuba skills in a confined water environment and complete your skills development in open water having fun diving.
I personally have not tried other training agencies. But can certainly recommend that if you become a certified PADI open water diver you will have a first-class, fun and professional training.
Additionally, you will obtain certification which is recognized worldwide.
Becoming a certified open water scuba diver is relatively simple and quick if you put the right effort in it.
Just like any other educational activity, if you are proactive, study in advance, make questions, and train properly, you will be able to complete your open water diver certification in as quick as four days.
One of the main advantages I like about PADI courses is their flexibility.
For example, in case you do not mange to take your certification in the shortest possible time, your PADI instructor will be usually happy to accommodate a different schedule.
Let’s recap the 5 steps to become a certified open water scuba diver before we get into the details:
1. Check if you fulfil the course prerequisites and requirements,
2. Sign up for the open water certification on the PADI website and select the dive center, where you will be completing the practical sessions,
3. Complete the theoretical knowledge development part either online or in classroom format,
4. Enjoy learning the first scuba skills in a confined water environment,
5. Complete your skills development in open water having fun diving.
Course prerequisites
More in details, the prerequisites and requirements to become a certified open water diver are:
- Minimum age: 10 years old
- Be able to swim
- Be medically fit for diving
- Be able to commit between 8 and 15 hours of your time
Most aspiring divers get somewhat scared when first reading the “able to swim” prerequisite.
You should not worry at all as you will not be required to swim like a pro. Speed should not be a concern either.
Instead, you can swim at your own pace and in the style you prefer. The important thing is to remain at the surface and swim for 50 meters/yards in a straight line.
In case you are unsure whether you will be able to swim for 50 meters, the best solution is to give it a try in a safe and supervised environment such as a local swimming pool.
I can guarantee that this goal is reachable even if you have never taken a single swimming course.
The next prerequisite to sign up for an open water diver certification is to medically fit for diving.
This prerequisite is often overlooked by aspiring open water diver candidates. You will be requested by your instructor to fill in a medical questionnaire.
In case you reply “NO” to all questions you will be deemed medically fit for diving.
The general tendency (and huge mistake) of open water diver candidates is therefore to reply “NO” to all questions without even reading the medical statement.
My suggestion is to take the medical statement seriously, read through it before even signing up for the open water diver certification and in case of any doubt check with your General Practitioner.
Having a proper medical clearance will also allow you to better enjoy your open water diver course and all your future dives.
After you are sure that you are meeting all the course prerequisites and requirements to become a PADI open water diver, it’s finally the time to sign up for the real course.
Sign up for the open water certification on the PADI website
You can do this in two ways.
If you already know a PADI dive shop or center, you can check directly with them what are their preferred options (foe example sign up online, sign up directly at the shop).
Alternatively, you can sign up for the open water diver course directly on the PADI website.
After purchasing the course, you can select a dive center.
In case you are planning to take your certification during a trip, you will also be able to select any PADI diveshop worldwide.
Once you will have signed up for the PADI open water diver course, the first step is to start the knowledge development phase.
Complete the theoretical knowledge development
You can do this either directly online via the PADI e-learning or in person at your selected dive shop.
I recommend to do the knowledge development online as you can do it at your own pace and will have anyways the opportunity to discuss any doubt with your PADI Instructor.
What will you learn in the PADI Open Water Diver Knowledge Development?
The theoretical part of the Open Water Diver Certificate consists of five sections and a final exam or quiz.
Each section will guide you through theoretical aspects of diving such as Equipment and Equipment set up, Skills you will need to learn, Problem management, and using Dive Computers and Tables.
At the end of each section you have a Knowledge review and a quiz.
Knowledge reviews are mostly multiple choice questions and will help you consolidate everything you have learnt in each of the five theoretical sections.
To pass each section you will need to demonstrate mastery by answering all questions correctly and score 100%.
Don’t worry in case of mistakes as you can retake the knowledge reviews as many times as needed.
After each of the five knowledge reviews you will have a quiz in which you will need to score at least 75% to demonstrate mastery.
I strongly recommend to discuss with your instructor every question that you did not answere correctly to understand the root cause of the mistake and correct it.
In case you score less than 75% you can still proceed through other theoretical sections but will need to discuss thoroughly the results of the quiz with your instructor.
After you have completed the five theoretical sections, you will have the final exam.
This consists of fifty multiple choice questions and you will need to score 75% or higher to demonstrate mastery and to pass it.
There is no time limit to take the exam so you can easily do it at your own pace.
Although many beginner divers are scared of the final exam, this will be no different from the knowledge review questions and section quizzes.
If you have read through all the chapters and taken the knowledge reviews and section quizzes you will have no problems in achieving a final score of 75% or higher.
The theoretical part of the open water diver certification can take up to 12 hours to complete.
You can log on and off the e-learning at any time and your progress is saved automatically. It is really up to you to decide how long it lasts.
I strongly recommend you complete the theory and final exam before you start with the confined water and open water sessions to best enjoy your open water diver experience.
Once you are done with the theory, here is where the fun begins. As you will see, from the moment you first gear up and start with your confined water sessions, it will really be hard to stop diving.
Complete the Confined Water Dives
What will you learn in the confined water sessions of the open water diver certificate?
The confined water part of the open water diver certificate consists of five sessions, usually done in a swimming pool or in very shallow and safe open water (for example lake or beach shore).
Depending on the number of students and their learning pace, confined water sessions your instructor might split the sessions into two or more days.
In your confined water sessions, you will learn some of the essential skills to become a good diver, including:
- equipment preparation, assembly and disassembly,
- mask defogging,
- predive safety check,
- breathing underwater,
- descent and equalization,
- hand signals,
- entry and exit from the water,
- use of alternate air source,
- weight check,
- neutral buoyancy,
- remove replace and clear mask,
- trim and weight positioning,
- controlled emergency swimming ascent.
Although this is just a short list of the actual skills you will be learning, it is quite representative of the main learning objectives of PADI’s open water diver course.
In fact, the main objective is to be able to autonomously assemble and disassemble scuba equipment, learn how to enter the water, learn how to calibrate you weight for optimal buoyancy, learn how to descend and ascend, and basic knowledge of the most important emergency procedures.
Once you will have mastered the confined water skills, you will start the final and most fun part of the course: the open water sessions.
Complete the Open Water Sessions
Here is where the real fun starts.
Through four open water sessions, usually done in two or more days, you will start gaining more and more confidence on your skills as a diver.
You will also start doing some proper dives and explore the underwater world, usually at the end of each session.
In your open water sessions, you will repeat the skills you have done in confined water. This will allow youand gain confidence as and face different situations as a diver.
Your instructor will simulate real life situations, and this is where you will really enjoy the benefits of becoming a certified open water diver.
Upon completing the open water diver programme, you will be certified to dive in open water environments to a maximum depth of 60ft / 18 meters.
This will grant you the access to many activities and dives organized by dive centres worldwide. It will also give you the possibility to dive autonomously with your buddy.
Once you will have achieved the open water diver status, I am sure you will want to continue your training. By continuing your training, you will be able to dive at greater depths and improve your diving skills.
If you are already planning on becoming a Certified Advanced Open Water Diver, check out our article on How to Become and Advanced Open Water Diver.
