PADI Open Water Diver Course

This is PADI’s entry level diver certification and if you are looking to learn to Scuba dive, this is where it begins. When people talk about ‘doing their PADI’ this is what they are referring to. This qualification will certify you to dive safely anywhere in the world to a maximum depth of 18m. Is that what you were looking for?

Holiday for PADI Open Water divers

Let me start by saying that here at Dive Odyssea, we take great pride in being absolutely honest in our dealings with our students and dive club members alike. That’s why we have been so successful since Dive Odyssea opened its doors in 1996. We guarantee that there are absolutely no hidden costs involved. We will not give you a price verbally and then hit you with a bigger bill upon completion because of all the previously unmentioned ‘add on’s’. Unfortunately, there are still one or two dive centre’s out there that will do exactly that so please be careful when shopping around.

First of all we’ll take a look at what’s involved in learning to scuba dive before we move on to what is or is not included in the price. After that you can decide for yourself if we are the dive school that you are looking for. If you’re still not sure; then please, either pick up the phone or drop in and talk to us.

Our price guarantee

The price for this course is an all inclusive one. The price we quote you is for everything as listed on this page. There are no hidden extras, no top ups and no add on’s.  This is guaranteed.  No argument.

What’s involved?

The PADI Open Water Diver Course is taught to a worldwide standard. This means that you should learn exactly the same things during a course taught by us as you would on a course taught by a PADI dive school in Mozambique, Russia, Egypt or anywhere else around the globe. There is a self certificating medical questionnaire to complete in order to ensure there are no medical reasons why you shouldn’t dive (unlikely) and as long as there are no issues, then there should be absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t scuba dive. If you think that your health may be a factor, again, call us or drop in. Your own GP can assess you or else we can provide details of some local doctors that have specialist diving knowledge to set your mind at rest.

The course involves an element of self study, either classroom presentations or “eLearning” (see “Any Other Options” below), pool sessions and finally, the ‘real diving’ portion. It is broken down into the ‘Classroom & Pool Phase’ and the ‘Open Water Phase’. 

The Classroom and Pool Phase

This is the self study, classroom and pool element of the course. Each session is usually conducted on a once a week basis but that is flexible depending on your availability and time frames. If required, we will schedule your training schedule for two, three or even four times a week if need be. We have never yet been beaten by a shift pattern or an imminent holiday deadline.(See our FAQ page) All of your academic sessions will be conducted in one of our purpose equipped classrooms in the dive centre itself. (See ‘About Dive Odyssea’)

Session one is an orientation session. Together with you, we go through all the equipment that we will be using during your course so that it is not a complete mystery to you when we begin your pool sessions. We also complete all the course admin and answer all those questions that you forgot to ask when you made your initial enquiry! We also drink tea and have a laugh.

Sessions two to six involve both an academic portion covering what you will have completed during your home study, followed immediately by a pool session. There is a very simple multiple choice quiz after each classroom session. The whole course is geared up so that 10 year olds can complete it so there’s no pressure there then!!

Each time you come along to the school, we go through the academic stuff with you before moving on to a briefing about the dive skills we’ll be covering in the pool that night. We then hit the water and start that sessions pool skills. There is a final ‘multiple choice’ quiz at the end of the Confined Water classroom phase which you must pass before moving to the Open Water portion of the course.

Remember, this is a worldwide standard; all divers have to do this whichever dive school they learn to dive with.

As different people learn at different speeds, in the unlikely event that it takes a couple of extra class or pool sessions to get you up to the required standard, then so be it. This is at no extra cost to you. Our aim is to ensure that you qualify both confidently and safely as a scuba diver. Since we started teaching in 1993 we have never had a student fail to qualify and we are very proud of this record. We aim to maintain it.

After successful completion of the Confined Water element, you have two options in order to complete the Open Water section. You can continue with us through the Open Water phase up to final completion, or else you can move to another dive centre (in your holiday resort maybe?) in order to complete. This is a very popular option with those of you that are facing a short deadline or wish to dive only in warm tropical waters. We run regular overseas trips (see our Worldwide Trips page) so you can still complete with us if you wish and have a great holiday at the same time.

The other dive centre option is called ‘Referral’ as we refer you to them for the Open Water portion. We reduce our course price if this is your preferred method, and you pay the dive centre that puts you through the Open Water phase for the qualifying dives. This may, or may not be more than you would have paid to complete with us so please check before you make your decision. You can decide after you have started the course with us if you wish so there’s no panic.

The Open Water Phase

(This is the ‘real diving’ bit.)

You are required to complete four dives over two days in a body of open water (the sea or lake) in order to qualify as a PADI Open Water Diver. PADI’s worldwide diving standards dictate that a maximum of three training dives per day are allowed and therefore, two days are required in order to complete this portion.

Every PADI dive school in the world must comply with this standard.

You will be doing the same skills that you will already have become familiar with in your pool sessions so there will be no nasty surprises. We promise that we will not let you anywhere near this phase until both of us are happy that you are ready for it. Weather permitting, we will always aim to ‘finish you off’ as it were, in the coastal areas such as Weymouth or Swanage. If this is not possible then we will visit one of the purpose equipped inland diver training sites.

After successful completion of the Open Water dives, you will be a fully fledged PADI Open Water Diver. How scary is that?!!

***Special Offer***

If you complete the PADI Dry Suit Diver Specialty Course with us during your Open Water weekend , we will substantially reduce the price for that course. This is our famous and very popular Open Water weekend package. 95% of our students take up this offer just ‘cos it’s a great deal. Please see our Specialty Program page for full course details. You can’t get an App for this!!

What’s included?

If you decide to enroll with us, and frankly you’d be mad not to, we will issue you with your Open Water dive manual for home study, access to PADI’s on-line training video stream, access to the on-line the PADI Recreational Dive Planner and a diving log book. They are all contained in a sturdy zip up folder. These are yours to keep and are what’s collectively called the PADI Crew Pack. This is paid for with a course deposit of £200 which is deducted from your course fee. Remember, any extra pool/class sessions (within reason) are also included free of charge.

For the confined water section, we provide all of your classroom & pool tuition, pool entry fees, all equipment and air fills plus tea & coffee. Very important that last bit!

When we subsequently move on to the Open Water section, your diving suit, all scuba equipment, air fills, tuition and certification costs are all included.

What’s not included?

For your two day Open Water weekend, your B&B costs (if applicable) are excluded as well as any inland diver training site entry fees or boat fees if applicable. Before you ask, no we’re not paying for your beers either. We’re very good but we’re not a registered charity!

Any other options?

Of course there are. We always have options in life.

If time constraints are a problem, instead of coming along to us for your self study and classroom sessions, why not complete the PADI eLearning course at home or in the office? That way you can complete all your academic studies on line in your own time and then come to us for the pool and final open water sections of the course. We will always be on hand for any guidance you might need but otherwise, you can do it at 3 O’clock in the morning if that suits you.

You can find details and sign up for your PADI eLearning materials here.

(NB: the cost quoted on the PADI website is for the training materials only: call us to find out the cost of the diving element of the course)

This then is what we at Dive Odyssea can offer you as a great value for money PADI Open Water Diver course. If you can find another PADI dive centre that offers this level of quality service at this remarkable price, then please give me a call so I can sign up with them!!

If you would like to learn to dive with us or would just like further information before you do, then please give me a call on 01702 542759.

We’re here to help.

Debbie