Open Water Diver Scuba Diver Course

Ages 10 and up can take this course.

If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, travel the world or just dive and spearfish locally, this is where it starts. Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course.

To enroll in a PADI Open Water Diver course (or Junior Open Water Diver course), you must be 10 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with scuba diving is required.

What are your options?

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

Knowledge Development to understand basic principles of scuba diving.
1 Open Water Diver Online eLearning $199.00.*
2. Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills. $250.00
3. Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore! $150.00

* Open Water Diver Online does not require classroom and exams. We meet for a short quiz to verify the knowledge and then it’s straight to the equipment and confined water dives.
You may be able to get college credit for the Open Water Diver course.

When can you start learning?

Enroll in Open Water Diver Online – PADI’s eLearning option and you can start learning right away. PADI Open Water Diver Online and TouchTM gives you the background information you need to dive safely and allows you to study at your own pace through an interactive computer-based program. Get started now!

You can also start learning with PADI’s home-study materials and Open Water Diver Video (a book and DVD package). Contact Dakota Scuba to enroll in the course, get your materials and start reading the book and watching the video. Your PADI Instructor will schedule time with you to check your progress and make sure you understand important scuba diving information.

What scuba gear will you use?

In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device and a tank. The equipment you wear varies, depending upon whether you’re diving in tropical, temperate or cold water. Personal equipment that you will need for the water phases of the class are mask, snorkel, fins and booties. These can be purchased from Dakota Scuba.

Check with Dakota Scuba about the gear you’ll use during this course and get advice about everything you need from your PADI Instructor.

Try scuba diving with the Discover Scuba Diving program.

Download a Medical Statement and Questionnaire (pdf).

Browse the scuba certification FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)