PADI Full Open Water Certification
(Accelerated 3-4 Day Course)

Prerequisites for Getting Certified

PADI Course Outline

Prerequisites for getting certified:

Medical fitness: SCUBA diving takes us into a realm in which our bodies need adaptations, therefore good cardiovascular, respiratory (lungs and sinuses), and neurological health are paramount for safe diving practices. A medical history review will ascertain whether you have any conditions which need a physician's approval prior to beginning your SCUBA diving training.

Learning Agreement: SCUBA diving is a unique sport that requires a commitment of time and energy from the student and instructor for successful completion of certification. We are committed to providing the highest level of instruction to you. We conduct our classes only in small, semi-private groups to ensure the best opportunity to develop excellent fundamental diving skills and the self-confidence needed to continue SCUBA diving post-certification. On the student's part, preparation is the key! It is critical to come to class physically and mentally prepared for the learning process. This means that you are well rested each day and have completed all the necessary paperwork prior to the start of class.

Gear: No gear purchases are required although we do recommend having you own mask, snorkel, booties, and fins. SCUBA diving is safer and more fun when you are using equipment with which you are familiar. We are available to help you select equipment, especially your mask which is the most important piece of equipment.

Time: The course is set up as a three/four day course taking 20-30 hours. Each day takes about 6-8 hours and requires quite a bit of effort. (Many people note the importance of being well-rested and of sleeping well at night!!) Consequently, the certification course leaves little time for much else, and we strongly suggest not scheduling anything else until after you are certified. As stated earlier, this course works only if you come to class prepared with all the work completed ahead of time (forms properly filled in, book read and understood, knowledge reviews filled in, videos watched, and a grasp of the terminology and descriptions of the skills in the videos).

Although the course is demanding, many students enjoy learning this way. Generally, people who are comfortable in the water especially if they have snorkeling/diving experience and who are in good physical (and mental) shape have no difficulty learning diving through this accelerated course. Some of the benefits are: having one instructor, doing all the learning in the ocean (no pool to ocean transitions) so you get more ocean time, and having time set aside specifically for SCUBA certification without the distractions of everyday life and work.

Reservations: If you are choosing to go this route, early reservations are especially important, so we can send you the materials in advance and you can get started!

Course Outline:

PADI Open Water certification has several basic components.

First, the preliminary paperwork must be completed. This includes a Release and Liability form, Medical History form, and a personal/emergency contact information form. We also require signing of the Learning Agreement.

Second, the entire Open Water Diver Manual must be read and the knowledge review at the end of each module (chapter) filled in prior to the start of the class. Generally speaking this portion of the course takes about 10 hours of independent study, so it is important to set aside enough time to complete this prior to the start of class. During class (at the beach!), we will review the information and then quizzes and a final exam will check for your understanding of the material.

Third, a set of videos need to be watched (about 2.5 hrs.) also prior to the start of the course. The videos are extremely valuable tools as they preview the diving skills which are taught the first day of the course. Additionally, the videos emphasize important information in the book.

Fourth, the diving skills are taught on the first day on the course. First, we will preview and learn the skills on the beach, and then proceed into shallow, calm ocean water ("confined water") to practice them. This is probably the most demanding and rewarding day and with a bit of concentration and patience you will learn many new skills that will be the foundation for your diving adventures!

Fifth, the Open Water Dives comprises the final portion of the course. During these four dives in typical dive conditions, you will refine the skills you learned in the previous day. Additionally, since we dive in small, semi-private groups, we spend half the dive touring underwater after we have performed our skills.