Thinking about getting my Open Water PADI certification had been floating around in my head for ages. The idea first popped up over 15 years ago after a cool trip to the Virgin Islands. My partner and I thought, “Hey, let’s get certified!” Life got busy, and the plan got parked. Fast forward to the last-minute scramble to find a birthday gift for my husband, and there it was – a Groupon for Open Water PADI certification. I thought, “Why not?” and got him a certificate. Then the quirky side of me kicked in, and I got one for myself too. The entire process took less than a week without certification dives and it was very straightforward. So, if you’ve been sitting on a scuba diving dream, just go for it. Here is how we got PADI Open water certified.
Types of open water certifications
There are various types of open water certifications catering to different diving levels and preferences. The widely recognized PADI Open Water Diver certification allows individuals to dive independently with a buddy up to a depth of 60 feet. Similarly, NAUI Scuba Diver, SSI Open Water Diver, and SDI Open Water Scuba Diver certifications offer similar entry-level credentials with different teaching approaches. CMAS, BSAC, and YMCA also provide their versions of open water certifications, emphasizing specific aspects such as self-reliance, personalized instruction, or limited depth supervision. Choosing the right certification depends on individual goals, location, and the preferred training philosophy of the certifying agency, ensuring that aspiring divers find the program that suits their needs.
Open water certification price – what to expect?
Scuba diving is not cheap. The certification itself is around $500-600, and that doesn’t even include the dives. Groupon might help a bit, but the real spending happens when you get your scuba gear.
As of 2023, the cost of PADI Open Water Diver certification can vary based on factors such as location, inclusion of training materials, and whether the certification includes the cost of required open water dives. Generally, you can expect the cost to range from $400 to $800 or more.
Here’s a breakdown of potential costs:
Course Fee: The instructional part of the course typically ranges from $200 to $500. This includes classroom or online learning, confined water (pool) training, and theoretical assessments.
Training Materials: Some packages include the cost of digital or physical training materials, while others may require an additional fee of $50 to $150 for manuals, e-learning access, or other educational resources.
Certification Dives: The cost of the required open water dives can vary based on the location and the number of dives included in the certification. Expect to pay $200 to $400 or more for the open water training dives.
Equipment Rental: If equipment rental is not included, you may need to budget for additional expenses. Rental costs for basic gear (mask, fins, snorkel) can range from $50 to $100.
Logistical Costs: Consider any additional costs related to travel, accommodation, and transportation to the dive site for the open water dives.
It’s essential to check with specific dive centers or training facilities for accurate pricing details as they can vary. Additionally, keep an eye out for any promotions, group rates, or package deals that may offer a more cost-effective way to obtain your PADI Open Water Diver certification.
Open water remote dives : Should you do it?
Yes, for sure and it’s easier than you’d think, especially if you’re planning a trip to somewhere tropical like Hawaii. You just need to find a PADI (or other ) center there and get your certification company to send them a request and supporting paperwork. The catch is that lots of people like you want to do the same thing, escaping to a beautiful place to do their certification dives and learn to scuba dive. Because, let’s be real, it’s more fun to dive in Hawaii than in, say, New York. No offense, New York 🙂 Even California, where you have more options including shore dives, Catalina and Channel Islands, can’t compare to tropical warm water. And yes, I hate 5mm wetsuit that we have to use here in California.
Scuba gear – what scuba gear to buy for beginners?
About gear – it can get really expensive if you want to own all scuba gear. I don’t think its all necessary. You need your own mask, tube, fins, and booties. Some people choose to use their Apple Watches Ultra for scuba diving as a dive computer. My husband did that and he liked it. But honestly, you can rent a dive computer wherever you go. We’re still beginners, but from what we’ve seen, the most important things for newbies are a comfy mask and tube. That’s where you should spend your money if you’re just starting.
How to get PADI Open water certified?
The certification process for becoming a PADI Open Water Diver is an expensive but super exciting journey. It typically begins with knowledge development, where you learn the fundamental principles of scuba diving through a combination of online or classroom sessions. This phase covers safety procedures, equipment usage, dive planning, and underwater communication. Following knowledge development, you move on to confined water sessions, usually conducted in a pool, to practice essential scuba skills under the guidance of certified instructors. These sessions focus on mastering skills like buoyancy control, regulator use, and emergency procedures. The final step involves open water training dives, where you apply the acquired knowledge and skills in real-world diving scenarios under the supervision of instructors.
We got certified with Beach Cities Scuba in Oceanside and they are amazing. Laid back, but super experienced and very safety oriented. Our pool day was long – 8 hours! At the end, we had to float for 15 minutes. It was pretty funny watching each other try to float. Then there’s another written exam on paper(!!!). That’s how Beach Cities Scuba did it.
Certification Dives
Certification dives are the exciting part. We decided to do ours in Big Island. I barely found a company that had availability there because everything was booked. We did two days, two dives each day. You have to plan those days carefully because you can’t go higher than 2000 feet 18 hours after the dive.
Certification dives: My experience
Now, my experience with the certification dives? Honestly, I was super nervous. I had trouble putting together my scuba gear, but the instructor was really patient. I guess they’re used to people like me being nervous. The real trouble started when I got in the water. I couldn’t clear my scuba gear, so instead of pushing the water out, I accidentally drank some saltwater. I had to stop, tell the instructor I needed a minute, get myself together, and the rest of the dive was great. Why am I telling you all this? Because it’s better to know before you go on your dive. Expect to be nervous, but if you are, just stop and calm down. It’s all part of the adventure.
This should give you a great idea what to expect from the entire certification process. Obtaining our PADI certification was a long-awaited goal, and I’m thrilled that we finally took the plunge. I’m eager to kick off my open water diving adventure
