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PADI Open Water Diver Course

Discover the thrill of diving and unlock a world of underwater wonders with our PADI Open Water Course. Whether you're an adventurous soul seeking new experiences or simply fascinated by the mysteries beneath the waves, this course is your gateway to becoming a certified diver.

Master theory, practice skills, and explore stunning underwater landscapes. Gain confidence as you progress from pool training to awe-inspiring open water dives. Earn an internationally recognised certification to dive independently.

Enrol in the PADI Open Water Course today and embark on a lifetime of underwater adventures.

 

If you’ve always wanted to learn to scuba dive, the PADI Open Water Diver Course is for you.

With a PADI Open Water Diver Certification, you will be qualified to dive with a buddy, independent of an instructor, to 18 metres. You will be able to buy scuba equipment, book on trips, explore wrecks, reefs and underwater kelp forests in over 183 countries worldwide.

This qualification is for life, and it will certainly change yours. Most people have diving on their bucket lists, so why not be one of the lucky few who experience the other 70% of this earth - the underwater! 

  • Scuba Diving Equipment
  • Scuba Diving Skills
  • Underwater Compass Skills
  • Dive Planning, Dive Tables and Dive Computers
  • Buddy System Procedures
  • The Open Water Environment
  • Aquatic Life
  • Safe Diving Practices

As a minimum, when you start your course, you are required to have your own mask, and snorkel. While we provide wetsuits, fins, boots, gloves and a knife, these items do have a very personal fit and you will be more comfortable in your own equipment. For the duration of the course, we provide all of the SCUBA equipment you need, but you can, of course, choose to provide your own. Dive Otago has a wide range of scuba equipment for sale and your instructor can help you choose the best gear for your diving needs.

We will provide for you:

  • Wetsuit (7mm)
  • Scuba Diving Fins
  • Weight belt
  • Gloves
  • Boots
  • Dive knife
  • Signal tube (Safety Sausage)

You will need to provide:

  • Mask & snorkel

When you're certified as an Open Water diver you'll be able to dive to 18 metres whenever you're accompanied by a certified buddy of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18+). You don't have to be accompanied by a divemaster or instructor but you can be if you'd prefer. You're also eligible to do the Advanced Open Water Course and many Specialty courses.

The open water certification is forever and never needs to be renewed. However, it is recommended that if you haven't dived for a while (usually a year or more) or feel the need to brush up on your skills to refresh with a ReActivate Course. This review is a short refresher course with a professional that can be integrated into your first regular dive.