Learn to dive on holiday with our PADI open water diver course in just three to four days at the Red Sea Diving College. Experience the adventure and excitement of SCUBA diving in the Red Sea and walk away with an internationally recognized lifetime certificate.
Fancy exploring the mesmerizing underwater world? The PADI Open Water Diver course is your golden ticket to this thrilling realm. This globally recognized certification program is your first step in the journey of scuba diving, taking you to the heart of the ocean to experience an environment that constitutes about 70% of our planet.
From witnessing vibrant marine life to discovering historical shipwrecks, the PADI Open Water Diver course opens up a world of adventure. The course is tailored to ensure that you learn and master the essential skills required for scuba diving, providing you with the confidence and competence to navigate the underwater world safely.
PADI, short for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, is the world’s largest and most respected scuba diving training organization. With over 29 million certifications under its belt, PADI has a robust network of dive centers, resorts, and professional members spread across the globe.
As a PADI certified diver, you not only gain access to unparalleled dive sites worldwide but also become part of a global community committed to ocean conservation. PADI’s mission goes beyond imparting dive education; it encourages divers to become torchbearers for ocean change, contributing positively towards protecting our blue planet.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is a comprehensive program that combines theoretical knowledge, skill development in confined water (think pools or similar environments), and actual dives in open water. This course equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to venture underwater independently, up to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet).
The PADI Open Water Diver course is divided into three main segments:
This section introduces you to the basics of scuba diving. You’ll learn about diving principles, safety guidelines, equipment handling, and dive planning. PADI offers flexible learning options, including offline study and PADI eLearning, allowing you to learn at your own pace and convenience.
In this segment, you’ll learn and practice essential scuba skills in a pool or a pool-like environment under the guidance of a PADI Instructor. This includes learning how to set up your scuba gear, getting comfortable underwater, mastering buoyancy control, and handling potential underwater problems.
The final part of the course involves four open water dives, where you’ll put into practice the skills you learned in the confined water dives. These dives are usually conducted over two days in a lake, ocean, or similar body of water.
To enroll in the PADI Open Water Diver course, you need to meet a few prerequisites:
One of the advantages of the PADI Open Water Diver course is its flexibility. You can opt to complete the entire course locally, split it between your home location and a vacation spot, or complete the entire course while on vacation.
This flexibility extends to learning methods as well. PADI’s eLearning platform allows you to complete the theoretical part of the course online, at your own pace, making it easier to fit scuba lessons into your busy schedule.
The four open water dives are the culmination of your PADI Open Water Diver course. Each dive builds upon the skills you developed in the confined water dives and knowledge development sessions.
The first two dives are usually conducted to a maximum depth of 12 meters, focusing on building in-water comfort and introducing new divers to the open water environment. The last two dives go up to 18 meters and involve the practice of more advanced skills.
Safety is a top priority in PADI’s scuba diving courses. PADI Instructors undergo rigorous training to guarantee your scuba certification class is both safe and enjoyable. Before every dive, you’ll perform a pre-dive safety check and adjust the weight you need during the dive.
Once you earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification, you become part of the PADI community. This network of divers, instructors, and dive centers is not only a great resource for furthering your dive knowledge but also a powerful force for ocean conservation.
Your diving journey doesn’t end with the Open Water Diver course. PADI offers a range of continued education courses like Advanced Open Water Diver and Deep Diver to further develop your skills as a diver. These courses offer you the opportunity to explore new activities like wreck diving, night diving, or underwater photography.
Remember, although your PADI certification never expires, it’s important to keep your skills fresh, especially if you’ve had a long break from diving. PADI offers the ReActivate program, which allows you to quickly refresh the knowledge and skills you learned in the Open Water Diver course.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is more than just a diving certification; it’s a doorway to a whole new world of exploration and conservation. Whether you’re planning to dive in PADI Hurghada or any other location, your PADI certification will ensure you’re welcomed with open arms. Dive in today and embark on an unforgettable underwater adventure!