PADI Open Water Diver

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases. The first is Knowledge Development, which covers everything you need to know about basic techniques, terminology and safety procedures in scuba diving. The second is Confined Water Dives, which are training sessions conducted in a pool or water with pool-like conditions. They give you the opportunity to get used to the gear you'll be using and practice the basic skills of diving and techniques to keep you safe. The third is your Open Water Dives. This is what it's all about - you'll make your first dives in the ocean! During four dives, you'll perform various skills under water and on the surface to make sure you're a safe and competent diver. The training portion usually only takes up the first part of the dive, meaning that you will get to spend a big part of your time diving with your instructor and exploring the underwater world. As soon as your open water training dives are approved by your instructor you will be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver! This means you will be allowed to rent diving equipment and dive anywhere in the world down to 18 meters, lifelong!

Itinerary 

If you choose to do the whole course with us in Santa Catalina and Coiba, the course will take 3 full days, where one day will be theory (self-studying, video, correction of knowledge reviews and exams) plus 2 days in water training. If you sign up for e-learning you will pass the theory at home at your own time and just do the 2 days of in water training and diving with us.

On the 2 days we are diving, we will leave Santa Catalina beach between 8:00 and 8:30, so you should be here the afternoon before ill 6:30 or in the morning between 7:30 and 7:45. After a general briefing we take a boat ride of 1 to 1:30 hours to a sheltered beach in Coiba National Park, where you will start your diving experience. After a lunch break on one of Coiba's beautiful beaches and some more skill training in shallow water, we will do a second dive before we head back to Santa Catalina, where will be around 3:30 to 5:00 pm. A similar schedule will apply for your second and last day of training. After having mastered all parts of your training you will be certified PADI Open Water Diver (or Junior Open Water Diver below 15 years). This is the first level of FULL certification, allowing you to dive with another certified diver and rent or own air tanks internationally. It is also the pre-requisite to continue your dive training to a more advanced level or even professional diver.