Every PADI course has very strict and mandatory rules. For the PADI Open Water, these include:
- A course taught directly by a fully active PADI diving instructor.
- Pool session required before going into the sea/open waters.
- 4 open water dives at maximum depths.
An instructor himself provides the course
A PADI instructor must be your instructor, and you will be certified under his name.
The Open water course cannot be taught by a third party who is not a PADI instructor.
A Rescue diver, a Divemaster, or a former instructor who is no longer a PADI instructor cannot teach.
Before booking a course, it’s best to make sure that a real instructor will be teaching you directly.
Swimming pool required before diving
The pool (or an equivalent environment in terms of visibility, depth, calm, no current, and safety) is the first step before diving in the sea.
The goal is to familiarize yourself with breathing underwater, to be more confindent and to learn many exercises.
The pool is a must before diving in the sea. Many of these exercises learned in the pool will need to be repeated in the sea.
4 dives in the sea
The course includes four open water dives with your PADI instructor.
The first two are to a maximum depth of 12 meters, the other two to a maximum depth of 18 meters (children under 12 years old are limited to 12 meters). You will practice the skills learnt in the pool.
Dives must last a minimum of 20 minutes and reach a minimum depth of 5 meters.
During these dives, you will practice the skills learned in the pool and gain comfort underwater.
Online theory
The theory course is now available online, allowing you to complete it before your visit.
Successfully completing the theory course is essential to be certified.
