PADI Open Water Certification
Learn how to scuba dive with our PADI Open Water course, taught by a certified PADI instructor. The course can be completed in as little as 2 to 4 days and includes the official Open Water Diver Manual, all equipment, and your official PADI certification. Whether you are a complete beginner or have always been curious about the underwater world, this course gives you everything you need to start diving independently. The certification is recognised worldwide and never expires, so it’s a lifetime investment.
With a PADI Open Water Diver Certification you can:
- Plan and execute dives with a certified buddy (no dive professional required)
- Get air fills and rent dive equipment at dive shops worldwide
- Plan and conduct no-decompression dives independently with a buddy, within the limits of your training and experience
- Dive up to 18m/59 ft. without further training (For up to 30m/100ft. you’ll need the PADI Advanced Open Water)
What’s Included in the Course:
Below is a breakdown of everything included in the course, along with a brief overview of what you can expect to learn. If you have any questions about our PADI Open Water course, feel free to check the official PADI website or simply send us a WhatsApp message or email. Contact us here. We are always happy to help!
- eLearning material (worth: $4300 MXN)
- Certified PADI instructor
- Professional diving equipment
- Confined water dives
- Four open water dives
- PADI certification upon completion
What Will You Learn?
Theoretical Part:
- Physics of diving (pressure, buoyancy, light, sound underwater)
- Physiology (how pressure changes affect the body, decompression sickness, barotrauma)
- Equipment (regulator, BCD, dive computer, tank, mask, etc.)
- Dive planning and dive tables / computers
- Environment and environmentally responsible diving
- Safety procedures and emergency management
Practical Part:
- Assembling, putting on and removing equipment
- Breathing with the regulator, clearing and recovering the regulator
- Buoyancy and trim control (inflating/deflating the BCD)
- Clearing water from the mask underwater
- Underwater hand signals
- Controlled ascents and descents
- Simulating emergency situations (e.g. sharing air with your buddy)
That might sound very technical at first and like a lot to take in, but once you have done it, you will notice that it comes naturally. The course prepares you perfectly for recreational diving. The theory consists of 5 knowledge segments and a straightforward final exam. If you choose PADI eLearning, you can complete most of these assessments comfortably online at your own pace before you even get in the water!
PADI Open Water Class Details
Now you know what to expect from this course and what you’ll be able to do with your certification once you finish. Here are a few more important details, such as course duration and prerequisites. Keep in mind that this is a beginner course. You don’t need any prior scuba experience, and we will take everything step by step!
Course Duration:
- For the PADI eLearning you can expect 5 – 10 hours
- For the entire course you can expect 2 – 4 days
Diving Depth:
- Expect shallow dives (12m/40ft) for the first two dives
- The maximum allowed depth is 18m/60ft usually for the 3rd and 4th dives
Course Prerequisite:
- Able to swim
- Medically fit for diving
- 10 years or older
- No prior experience required
PADI Junior Open Water Certification
The junior open water course is especially made for children between 10 to 14 years old. The course content is completely identical to the standard OWD, same theory, same skills, same number of dives. There is no difference in the training itself. Once a Junior OWD turns 15, the certification automatically upgrades to a full Open Water Diver, no additional course required.
Restrictions after certification:
- Junior OWD (ages 10 to 11): may only dive with a certified adult or parent, maximum depth 12m
- Junior OWD (ages 12 to 14): may dive with any certified adult, maximum depth 18m
- Standard OWD: may dive with any certified diver, maximum depth 18m
Frequently Asked Questions
The PADI Open Water Certification is your internationally accepted ticket to recreational scuba diving. At our dive school, we teach you all the fundamental skills needed to explore the underwater world safely. Once completed, you are fully licensed to rent gear and dive globally.
Your PADI Open Water certification is valid for your entire life. Once you earn your license with us, it never expires. We do highly recommend taking a quick refresher course if you have not been diving for over a year, just to ensure your underwater skills stay perfectly sharp.
You will complete exactly four open water dives during your certification. You absolutely do not need any prior experience to join our beginner course. We first practice the basics in a safe confined water environment before taking you out to enjoy the beautiful real ocean dives.
You can safely dive up to 18 meters deep with your new certification. This maximum depth is completely sufficient to see the vast majority of beautiful coral reefs and marine life. We find that staying at this level provides the most vibrant colors and relaxing recreational dives.
Yes, you can dive without a professional guide, but you must never dive completely alone. Your certification requires you to always dive with a trusted buddy. We strongly teach the buddy system because it ensures maximum safety, shared responsibility, and much more fun underwater.
The Open Water course teaches you the absolute basics, while Advanced Open Water expands your existing skills. As a beginner, you are limited to 18 meters. Taking the advanced training with our school allows you to comfortably explore deeper wrecks up to 30 meters and try night diving.