Beginner - Open Water Diver Course

To become a PADI certified scuba diver, this is the first step - your knowledge development and in-pool training.

Classes start Saturday at our dive centre at 1:00pm. We continue to the pool around 3:00pm, and wrap up Saturday evening around 7:30pm. Sunday morning, we meet at the pool at 9:00am and finish around 1:00pm after which it is required to come back to Southeast Scuba Escape to complete gear care training, and to sign education records and move into next steps

Minimum Requirements:

• Medically fit to dive

• Must be able to swim 200 meters

• Float/tread water for 10 minutes

• Age 10+

After you register here, you will receive an email with your online knowledge development course.

• Complete your online PADI profile

• Complete and sign the digital waivers that accompany the email

• Upload a Photo (PADI will not allow us to process your certification without a photo)

• Note that any YES answers to your medical questionnaire will require a physician who is not your spouse to sign off before you can enter the pool for class.

Next, you will need to come visit us to be fitted for your rental gear which is included in the course.

PLEASE DO THIS EARLY IN THE WEEK PRIOR TO YOUR CLASS DATE.

This gear consists of:

• Bouyancy Control Device (a vest that allows you to add and remove air to compensate for weight)

• Tanks (full of normal air, (not oxygen contrary to popular belief) compressed to 3000 psi)

• Weights (to help you become neutrally bouyant under water - all will be explained)

• Regulator (regulates the pressure that comes out of the tank so you can breath easily)

• Wetsuit (to keep your body temperature regulated)

While you are here, we will also help you select and fit your personal gear.

These are items you purchase to own for yourself. For proper fit, and comfort, you will want to try these items and on carefully think through the various options. We have a great variety here, and our staff is well-versed and will help you find exactly what you need. You will have a 10% Student Discount on this purchase and any retail purchase you make while a student.

• Mask (yes, we are able to put prescription lenses into your mask). Fit is important.

• Fins (trust us, there is a big difference in fins, depending on your strength, and the reasons you are diving)

• Snorkel (a tube for air that PADI requires. we may not agree with PADI on this, but you do have to have one for class)

• Booties (for inside your fins and to protect your feet when walking on the dive boat/shore/etc)

Your Instructor will contact you late in the week prior to class to ensure your questions are answered and you are ready for class.

What to bring to class?

• Water bottle

• Snacks for the breaks at the pool

• A sweatshirt or sweater to warm up if needed

• Swimsuit

• Towel

• Your mask/fins/booties/snorkel purchased at the shop prior to your class

What happens after pool training?

A PADI Instructor will need to watch you on four dives (called "checkout" dives) in open water to confirm you are able to safely dive, control your position and bouyancy in the water, and complete basic self and buddy safety skills. Up to three dives may be completed in one day, however, we complete ours locally over two days, with two dives per day.

Your Open Water Diver fee, includes local open water "checkout" dives at no additional cost. However, if you choose to complete your open water dives in tropical or other waters with a different dive centre/instructor on vacation, they will charge you a separate instruction fee. If you choose to complete your open water checkout dives with us on an escape, you will receive a discount on the trip cost to account for those dives.

Ready to sign up? Our friendly and experienced dive pro team is looking forward to working with you!