What does it cover?

The PADI Open Water Diver course is, by far, the worlds most popular scuba certification course. Millions of people have started diving as certified PADI Open Water Divers. Learning to scuba dive requires both knowledge development (facts, principles, concepts) and motor procedures (skills, techniques, methods). The PADI Open Water Diver Course online provides the knowledge development portion you need. You develop the remaining skills by actually diving with a PADI Instructor at your local PADI Dive Center or Resort.

How does it work?

What does it cost?

The PADI Open Water Diver Course online is $120 (US) nonrefundable. The fee covers your knowledge development training and gives you unlimited access to an electronic version of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual (course textbook). Your PADI Dive Center or Resort will charge an additional fee for the inwater portion of your certification. You will also need to purchase a mask, snorkel, pair of fins, and other personal dive equipment. Your PADI Dive Center or Resort will guide you through this process and may suggest additional equipment along with the required purchase of a Recreational Dive Planner (Table or eRDP version) and a log book.

Important Information about E-Learning

To become a scuba diver, you need to be comfortable in the water and have basic swimming skills. When you visit your chosen PADI Dive Center or Resort, your instructor will have you do a 200 metre/yard swim or 300 metre/yard mask, snorkel and fins swim, and a ten minute float to determine if you have basic swimming abilities. You should also be in good overall general health, particularly your respiratory and circulatory systems.

In addition to the online knowledge development portion of the PADI Open Water Diver course, you'll need to complete inwater training. You can visit your chosen PADI Dive Center or Resort to begin your dives at any point after you complete the first section. When you visit the facility, be sure to bring your eLearning Record with you and remember, the $120 US nonrefundable fee is for the online portion of the course only. You will be required to pay an additional fee to your chosen facility for the inwater portion of your certification. You are also responsible for purchasing or renting any required equipment such as a mask, snorkel and pair of fins, as well as the scuba system. Your PADI Dive Center or Resort may suggest additional equipment along with the required purchase of a Recreational Dive Planner (Table or eRDP version) and a log book.

Because of various laws and regulations governing children and the internet, you must be at least 13 years old to participate in the PADI Open Water Diver Course online. If you are at least 10 years old, you can still become a diver, but you must visit a PADI Dive Center or Resort to begin your training.

Learning to dive is fun and exciting, but it is a learning experience and you need to commit to learning the information. The most important thing is that you, and you alone, complete all the Quick Quizzes, Knowledge Reviews, the section quizzes and the final exam. These assessments help ensure you understand the basic principles and guidelines of diving. In addition to the online assessments, your instructor will have you complete a Quick Review prior to PADI Open Water Diver certification.

You must complete a medical statement before any inwater training. Download the 'Medical Statement' form here. This information is confidential and, because it identifies medical conditions that may be affected by diving, it is vital that you are complete and accurate. If any of the conditions apply to you, you will need to consult with a physician and receive written clearance before any inwater training. Your instructor will be able to help you with this step if it is necessary. Also local regulations or laws in some areas require all prospective scuba divers to receive medical clearance. If you require a physician's approval for diving, you may print the medical statement, complete it and take it to your physician for approval. Take this completed form (including physician's signature if necessary) with you when you visit your PADI Dive Center or Resort to schedule your dives. Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort if you have questions about the form.

When you visit your chosen facility you'll also complete a liability release or acknowledgement form stating you understand the risks of diving and agree to assume those risks. In addition, you'll also need to complete a PADI Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding. This outlines safe dive practices and reminds you of your responsibility to follow them while diving. The PADI Open Water Diver course online allows you to complete the knowledge development portion of your course on your own time. You'll have one year to complete the entire program and you'll have unlimited access to the PADI Open Water Diver Manual online for reference both during and after the course.

Acceptance clause:

As a PADI Open Water Diver course online student diver, I understand it is solely my responsibility to complete the entire program. If, at any time I have questions about the course, it is my responsibility to contact my instructor at my chosen facility. I also understand and agree that this online knowledge development is just one segment of the entire PADI Open Water Diver course, which also includes inwater training and assessment. I understand that this program is designed to provide the basis for my confined and open water dives to be conducted by a PADI Instructor. I understand and agree that I should not attempt any unfamiliar skill or type of diving without advice or training from a certified instructor. I should not attempt to learn to scuba dive except under the direct supervision of a certified instructor. Otherwise, I will be exposing myself to risk of serious injury or death. I understand all the information provided above and recognize my responsibility to heed the warnings and that failure to do so could result in serious injury or death.