what is a good padi ow course

Full Answer

Which diver certification is best?

Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) – PADI is the undisputed leader in recreational scuba diving training. While statistics vary, it is estimated that PADI has certified between 60-75% of recreational scuba divers worldwide.

Is PADI certification difficult?

Getting your PADI Certification is not hard, it's fun and it's an incredible experience, but you do need to follow the rules to make sure that your PADI Open Water Course is also a safe experience. After you have completed the PADI course you will receive the PADI Open Water Certification Card.

Is it worth getting PADI certified?

Once you're certified, there is still so much more learning to come. There is an abundance of shipwrecks and planes on the bottom of the ocean waiting to be explored. Although some may require further certification, many can be explored as an open water diver with a guide.

What are the 4 open water dives?

There are four components to the PADI Open Water Diver course: theory, confined water work, waterskills asessement, and open water dives.

What happens if you fail your PADI exam?

All PADI courses comprise the following: Knowledge development: theory work to help you understand the basic principles of scuba diving. This is reviewed in a final test in which you must score 75% or higher. If you fail, you can retake the test.

How long is the PADI final exam?

The PADI Open Water Diver (OWD) final exam consists of 50 questions, so we have included these practice questions (and answers) to help you study for this test.

Is PADI certification good for life?

Will my certification expire? No, your certification will not expire. As an PADI Open Water Diver, your certification is good for life. If you do not actively participate in scuba for an extended period of time, however, it's a good idea to refresh your skills through the PADI ReActivate class.

Is scuba diving an expensive hobby?

Yes, scuba diving is an expensive hobby. You can expect to spend roughly $300 to receive your diving certification, anywhere from $200 – $2,000 on scuba diving gear, and anywhere between $75 – $150 per dive. Renting your gear instead of buying can let you scuba dive on a budget.

Does it matter where you get scuba certified?

The only truly important thing about where you dive is that you have the training and experience for diving there, and that you have a dive buddy to go with you. Your local PADI Dive Center or Resort can help you organize great local diving or a dive vacation.

How many scuba dives a day?

For recreational divers, a typical limit is 4-5 dives per day as long as you follow dive tables or use a computer to track. For shallower depths, you will need to refer to dive tables to be able to determine how many dives you can safely do in a day and how long those dives can last.

Can you dive alone with PADI Open Water?

PADI Open Water Diver is the first scuba certification level and allows you to: Obtain air fills. Rent dive equipment. Dive on your own with a buddy up to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet.

How do you beat PADI Open Water?

4:3111:01How To Pass Your Open Water Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBefore you actually get your desired depth just inhale. And see if you can hover if you keep goingMoreBefore you actually get your desired depth just inhale. And see if you can hover if you keep going down then add a tiny bit of gas to your BCD. You don't want to thud into the bottom.

What is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver?

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver eLearning is designed to improve your underwater knowledge and skills. You can enroll immediately after earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification regardless of your skill level. The course helps you build confidence in navigation, fine-tune buoyancy skills and introduces you to different diving activities such as wreck diving, night diving or underwater imaging. After completing your eLearning, you'll make five Adventure Dives: a deep dive (beyond 18m/60F), a navigation dive, and three additional Adventure Dives of your choice to earn your certification. *This course fee only covers your online training, assessments and certification card. Practical training fees, dives, dive equipment, student slate and logbook are available at additional fees via your PADI Dive Center.

How many parts are required to become a dive shop?

Choosing a Dive Shop. You can complete this course locally or while travelling. There are three parts to certification: knowledge development, skill practice, and open water dives. You can complete all three parts locally, on holiday, or split between the two. Choose a dive shop close to home to:

How deep is a deep dive?

The depths listed above are the maximum depth, your dive may be shallower. A deep dive is considered anything below 18 metres/60 feet. Put another way, a dive to just 19 metres/62 feet qualifies as a deep dive. The PADI Advanced Open Water course is like a specialty sampler platter.

Can a divemaster give medical advice?

Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive. If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN). Prerequisites & Minimum Age. ...

Do you need a doctor's approval to dive?

Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course.

How old do you have to be to be a PADI divemaster?

To enroll in a PADI Divemaster course, you must be 18 years old and have the following certifications: Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver. Emergency First Response® (or equivalent CPR and First Aid training) within 24 months.

How can I improve my diving skills?

The fastest way to improve your skills is to take additional scuba courses. About one in four divers enroll in the Advanced Open Water course, while others take specialties to improve their buoyancy, underwater navigation, or underwater photos. The chart below shows the many PADI specialty courses available.

What is a master scuba diver?

Master Scuba Diver (sometimes referred to as “MSD”) is the highest level of recreational diving, To become a PADI Master Scuba Diver™ you must: Hold an Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver certification.

What is technical diving?

Technical diving attracts experienced divers who want to go beyond the limits of recreational diving. Tec divers get to explore underwater caves, visit spectacular, untouched wrecks and use cutting-edge dive equipment. Divers who learn to dive a rebreather enjoy unparalleled animal encounters and dramatically longer dive times.

What is a scuba instructor?

Scuba instructors are often portrayed as vagabonds or beach bums, but in reality, they are passionate ocean defenders. Every day, scuba instructors around the world certify new underwater ambassadors who will be a voice for the ocean. Dive instructors also transform lives.

What to do when you first deep dive?

You’ll make your first deep dive with an instructor by your side, work on your navigation skills, and try three different types of specialty diving. Choose whatever interests you: photography and videography, wreck diving, fish identification, etc.

What is a reactivate scuba course?

If it’s been awhile since you went scuba diving, PADI’s interactive online scuba refresher course (ReActivate™) is the perfect way to refresh the skills and knowledge learned during your scuba certification.

What is a PADI eLearning course?

PADI eLearning allows you to start your knowledge development online, whether you plan to do a referral or complete your course from start to finish in the same place. PADI eLearning is the most popular option for knowledge development, but you can also study with a book and DVD and attend classroom sessions instead.

What is a PADI referral?

A PADI referral allows you to complete most of your scuba training at home and finish your certification dives anywhere in the world. Avoid studying during your vacation and support your local dive shop at the same time. Here’s what you need to know: Becoming a certified diver has three phases (listed below).

How long is an open water referral valid?

An open water referral is valid for up to 12 months, but it’s better to complete your training as soon as possible (while your knowledge and skills are still fresh).

How long does it take to get a diving certification?

You can take up to a year to complete your certification, but it’s better to complete your knowledge development and pool training as close to your holiday as possible. Also, you’ll probably end up using different brands of diving gear.

How long does it take to complete a pool course?

The final portion of the course typically takes a day and a half to complete.

Is it better to own a scuba gear or invest in it?

It’s basically the same, but the handling and placement of certain things will be unfamiliar at first. Owning your own scuba gear is a great way to increase your comfort underwater. If you’re not ready to invest in everything at once, consider purchasing a few pieces at a time.

What score do you need to take the PADI test?

This is reviewed in a final test in which you must score 75% or higher . If you fail, you can retake the test. See ‘PADI test questions’ below for more.

How to choose a dive course?

In choosing a course, firstly, make sure your dive centre is certified by PADI . There are centres all over the world that advertise the PADI Open Water Diver course but which aren’t actually certified. They will happily take your money and while you probably will learn to dive, you won’t be certified. Secondly, if you’re a nervous diver, try ...

What is the difference between dive 1 and dive 4?

Dive 1 will orientate you , get you comfortable with the scuba gear and test a few of the above skills. Dives 2 and 3 will rigorously test the above skills while Dive 4 is usually a more relaxed affair allowing you to use and enjoy your newly developed skills.

What is confined water diving?

Confined water dives: this is usually done in a pool or shallow water in the sea with the aim of teaching you basic scuba skills. See ‘PADI confined water tests’ below for more. Open water dives: you must complete four open water dives in which you demonstrate your skills. See ‘PADI open water tests’ below for more.

How to recognize hand signals underwater?

Recognise and respond to hand signals underwater. Clear a partially flooded mask. Clear a fully flooded mask. Remove mask and breathe for one minute while stationary, replace and clear mask. Remove mask and swim for at least 15 metres, replace and clear mask.

How many yards do you need to swim in PADI?

Your PADI Instructor will assess this by having you: Swim 200 metres/yards (or 300 metres/yards in mask, fins and snorkel). There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want.

How old do you have to be to become a PADI diver?

The minimum age is 10 years old (in most areas). Student divers who are younger than 15 earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15. Children under the age of 13 require parent or guardian permission to register for PADI eLearning.

What are the phases of scuba certification?

Scuba certification includes three phases: 1. Knowledge Development. During the first phase of your scuba lessons, you'll learn the basic principles of scuba diving such as. What to consider when planning dives. How to choose the right scuba gear for you. Underwater signals and other diving procedures.

What are the problems that divers face?

Sunburn, seasickness and dehydration, all of which are preventable, are the most common problems divers face. Injuries caused by marine life, such as scrapes and stings, do occur, but these can be avoided by wearing an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.

Where do you learn scuba?

You'll develop basic scuba skills in a pool or in confined water – a body of water with pool-like conditions, such as off a calm beach. The basic scuba skills you learn during your certification course will help you become familiar with your scuba gear and become an underwater explorer.

Is it expensive to scuba dive?

Compared with other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for: a full day of surfing lessons. a weekend of rock climbing lessons. a weekend of kayaking lessons. a weekend of fly-fishing lessons.

Do you have to consult a doctor before diving?

If any of these apply to you, your doctor must, as a safety precaution, assess the condition as it relates to diving and sign a medical form that confirms you’re fit to dive. In some areas, local laws require all scuba students to consult with a physician before entering the course.

How long is a PADI eLearning program good for?

PADI eLearning programs are valid for 12 months from the time you first log on. Prior to the end of this 12-month period, you’re reminded via email at 90 days and again at 60 days before the expiration date. If you let your PADI eLearning program expire, please contact your affiliated PADI Dive Center or Resort to discuss options for completing your training.

What is PADI Instructor Development?

PADI Instructor Development is the independent study portion of the Instructor Development Course (IDC). The nine online sections provide foundational information that better prepares the candidate to focus on learning to become a dive educator and teach the PADI System of diver education.

What is elearning in diving?

Electronic learning (eLearning) is the delivery of education, using your mobile device or web browser. PADI eLearning allows you to begin your dive education at your convenience, using your desktop, laptop or mobile device, and finish your training in the water with a PADI Professional. With PADI eLearning, you complete ...

Is PADI eLearning compatible with Internet Explorer?

The PADI eLearning system is not compatible with the 64-bit version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. If you are using the 64-bit version (versus the 32-bit version) of Explorer, please update your browser or download an alternate browser – recommended browsers are Chrome Internet Explorer, Safari (for Mac), or Firefox.

Can you change your PADI dive center?

Once registered, you can’t change the PADI Dive Center or Resort associated with your online program. However, the eRecord you receive when you complete your online study is accepted by any PADI Dive Center, Resort or Instructor worldwide.

How to learn to dive?

Tips from the Pros: 1 Fitting an Open Water Diver course into a short vacation can be a lot of pressure. If a relaxed, go-at-your-own-pace learning environment is important to you, choose online learning and start your in-water training at a local dive shop. 2 If trying something new in a large group makes you uncomfortable, consider a private or semi-private class. 3 Not sure if scuba diving is for you? Ask your local dive shop about a Discover Scuba® Diving experience. You’ll get to try on scuba gear and test your comfort level in a pool or other calm, shallow water environment with a PADI Dive Pro.

What is the first thing you learn about scuba diving?

If you meet these qualifications, the first thing you’ll do is learn scuba diving fundamentals during phase one, knowledge development. During knowledge development, you’ll learn all about scuba equipment, familiarize yourself with scuba terminology, and watch videos of diving skills.

How many dives can you do on a tropical vacation?

You can also complete your four “checkout dives” on a tropical holiday; ask your PADI Instructor about an Open Water referral. After completing four open water dives and all course requirements, you become a certified diver – a title that will last a lifetime.

How long does it take to become a certified diver?

You can become a certified diver in as little as four days, or over the course of a year. Once certified you can: A scuba certification course is much more than just learning how to explore the underwater world safely (but that’s definitely covered). It’s a great way to reconnect with the natural world.

What is phase 2 of diving?

Phase 2: Confined Water Dives . During phase 2, you’ll take your first breath underwater in a calm environment such as a swimming pool or tranquil lagoon (known as “confined water”). You’ll practice basic diving skills such as clearing water from your mask, ascending and descending.

How long does it take to learn scuba diving?

Complete your scuba studies whenever, wherever it’s convenient. On average, the program requires eight hours to complete. At the end of knowledge development, you’ll take a final exam to ensure you have a thorough understanding of scuba diving essentials.

How many dives are there in phase 3?

Phase 3: Open Water Dives. You’ll learn to dive by diving to a maximum of 18 metres/60 feet. The open water course includes four total dives, usually done over two days. With your instructor by your side, you’ll practice the skills you learned in confined water, and explore the underwater world.