top of page

Scuba Diver 

cave underwater

What will you learn?

You learn the basic safety guidelines and skills needed to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. If you make an open water dive, you’ll practice a few more skills in shallow water to prepare for your adventure. Get ready to:

  • Go over the scuba equipment you use to dive and how easy it is to move around underwater with your gear.

  • Find out what it’s like to breathe underwater.

  • Learn key skills that you’ll use during every scuba dive.

  • Have fun swimming around and exploring.

  • Hear about becoming a certified diver through the PADI Open Water Diver course

​

How can you start learning now?

Contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort to sign up for a Discover Scuba Diving program and get a Discover Scuba Diving Participant Guide. Your Participant Guide explains the experience and lets you pre-study the safety rules and skill techniques your dive professional will review with you. You’ll also learn about opportunities to become part of the scuba community after you complete your underwater experience.

What scuba gear will you use?

Your PADI Pro will likely provide all the basic scuba gear you’ll use including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, dive gauges and a tank.

Visit your local PADI Dive Center or Resort to learn more about the gear you will need to start your adventures in Discover Scuba Diving.

What will you learn?

 

The PADI Scuba Diver course consists of three main phases:

  • Knowledge Development (online, independent study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving – just the first three of five sections of the Open Water Diver course.

  • Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills – just the first three of five dives of the Open Water Diver course

  • Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore – just two of four dives of the Open Water Diver course.

How can you start learning now?

 

Get started by registering for Open Water Diver Online – PADI’s eLearning option. The web-based system gives you the background information you need to dive safely and allows you to study at your own pace through an easy-to-use, interactive program. You only need to complete the first three sections, but have a year to complete the whole program if you choose to go on to earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification.

There are other home-study materials you can choose from including the Open Water Diver TouchTM (a tablet app) and the Open Water Diver Manual and Open Water Diver Video (a book and DVD package). Stop by your local PADI dive shop to enroll in the course, get your materials and start reading the book and watching the video. Your PADI Instructor will meet with you to schedule knowledge review sessions, confined water and open water dives.

What scuba gear will you use?

 

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. Your PADI Instructor will explain the equipment you need and may suggest additional educational materials, such as the required logbook.

bottom of page