I’ve spent most of my adult life exploring our world, and some of the most beautiful things I’ve seen are underwater. There’s nothing like scuba diving! So I created this guide with everything you need to know to get your open water diver certification.

The Ultimate Scuba Diving Guide

Learning to scuba dive can seem overwhelming: How do you get certified? Where do you go? Which company should I go with? How much does it cost? How long is the process? What if I feel claustrophobic?

But getting your open water diver certification is more straightforward than you think, and it’s ABSOLUTELY worth it.

Ready to jump in? Here’s how to get your open water diver certification!

Which company to get certified with

You should get certified with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). There are many other diving companies, but PADI is the world’s most globally recognized and accepted certification.

No matter where you go in the world, your PADI certification card will allow you to scuba dive.

The first level of PADI certification is Open Water Diver, which is what this guide will walk you through step-by-step. The PADI Open Water Diver Certification consists of online learning modules and exams (that you’ll complete before you get in the water), multiple practice sessions in a pool, and four open water dives.

After you get your Open Water Diver Certification, you can continue your diving education with PADI to get your Advanced Diver, Tech Diver, Dry Suit Certification, or any of PADI’s other courses!

To get scuba certified, you have to be a good swimmer. You’ll be required to swim 200 yards without stopping or holding on to the side of the pool, but there’s no time limit. You’ll also need to tread water for a set amount of time.

You also need to be in good physical condition. The dive shop where you’ll take your diving course will require you to complete a detailed health questionnaire before starting your class. And based on how you answer this questionnaire, you might be required to complete a physical with your doctor before starting the course.

While you must be in good health to scuba dive, PADI has developed a range of techniques and policies to accommodate people of all physical abilities. So if you have a mobility or physical disability, more than likely, you can still dive.

You’ll just need to notify your dive shop before starting your course.

Step-By-Step Guide For Getting Certified

Step 1: Select the dive shop you will get certified with. The PADI website is the best resource for researching and selecting the best dive shop based on when and where you want to get certified.

Once you’ve determined which dive shop you will use, reach out directly to the dive shop to register, fill out any required documents, book your course dates, and receive a dive shop identification number needed for step 2.

Step 2: Create a PADI online account and purchase the e-Learning Open Water Diver Certification course. Then enter the identification number of the dive shop you will use so PADI knows who’s administering your course.

Step 3: Complete the e-Learning portion of your course. There are five modules, each with multiple sub-sections to read, videos to watch, and quizzes to take. It took me 2-3 hours to complete each module, and I did one module a day during the week leading up to the water portions of my course.

You can complete these modules at your own pace, but they’re the foundation of everything you’ll do and need to know in the water. So take your time with these modules.

Step 4: Complete your pool training sessions. These are called “confined water dives.” Your PADI instructor will have you practice all the skills you read about and watched in the e-Learning modules. The instructor will also ensure you’re intimately familiar with scuba equipment, common problems divers face, and how to problem-solve.

There is no set amount of time for the pool sessions. It’ll take as long as it takes you to correctly demonstrate every skill and prove to your instructor that you’re ready for the open water. I completed my pool sessions in one day (four hours in the morning, a lunch break, then five hours in the afternoon).

But one person in my class needed an extra half-day to complete their pool sessions. So plan on your confined water dives taking two days. It’s always better to plan for more time than you might need. And this way, if you have bad weather one day, you won’t have to extend your trip.

Step 5: Complete your four open water dives. Your instructor will be with your every step of these dives. And just like in the pool, you’ll need to demonstrate all skills and equipment mastery in the ocean.

My open water dives took two days (two morning and two afternoon dives). I had planned to do these dives on consecutive days, but we had bad weather one day, so my open water dives ended up taking me three days total instead of two.

Just like with your pool sessions, give yourself an extra day or two for the open water portion of your course, just in case.

Step 6: Your dive instructor and dive shop will complete your paperwork, register your completed course with PADI, and you should receive your online certification card within 24 hours.

Step 7: Put your new certification to use by planning a dive trip!

Gear You’ll Need

When I got my certification, I didn’t have any of my own equipment. I rented everything from the dive shop.

I HIGHLY recommend you rent gear for your certification course and your first few dives after certification. This will let you try out different types of equipment and gear styles. Then once you have a “feel” for what you like, you can start investing in your own personal gear if you want.

The one essential item I cannot recommend enough for new divers is an elastic headband to keep your hair out of your eyes and from getting tangled in your goggles. Other than this, just bring your most comfortable swimsuit (ladies, avoid suits with bulky cups and multiple tie straps because they can be uncomfortable under wetsuits).

Cost

The cost of getting your open water diver certification depends on where you’re doing your training. Typically, the course is between $300 – $600, and the e-Learning course is around $230.

You’ll want to ask your dive shop: Is rental gear included? Are the course materials included in the price? Are there any additional fees?

How Long You’re Certified For

Your diving certification never expires. It’s good for life! However, just like any skill, you need to keep practicing. PADI has refresher courses if you go for long periods between dives. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t been diving in over a year, you might want to do a refresher session.

Common Fears Potential Divers Have

It’s normal to be nervous about diving – I certainly was! So here are some common fears potential divers have and how to overcome them.

Feeling Claustrophobic: I was worried about this but never felt claustrophobic once during my diving course. In fact, like many people, I found the “weightlessness” of being underwater to be incredibly freeing and cathartic. Your dive instructor will work with you on breathing techniques, body positions, and buoyancy control that will help alleviate any claustrophobia or anxiety you might experience.

Afraid of Marine Life: Injuries from marine life while diving are extremely rare. And 99% of the time when there are injuries, it’s because the human made a poor choice underwater (provoking a shark, touching a scorpion fish, or sticking their arm down a hole they can’t see into). The e-Learning portion of the course goes into detail on how to behave and what to do when biting, stinging, or poking marine life is nearby. And your dive instructor will give you practical tips on how to behave and what to do around specific marine life.

Getting Lost or Disoriented: When you dive during and after your Open Water Diving Certification, you’ll always be with a dive master who leads the dive. Your dive master will know precisely where to go, and they’ll constantly do head counts and check in with each member of their dive group.

Plus, you’ll always have a designated buddy or two. So you don’t have to navigate yourself on a dive. You just have to stay in sight of your dive master and the rest of your group, which is easy to do.

Next Steps

The best advice I can give you is to go ahead and “take the plunge” into getting your diving certification!

I wish I’d gotten certified sooner. Whether you’re exploring shipwrecks, drift diving under reef walls, navigating kelp forests, or swimming with whale sharks, nothing compares to experiencing life “unda da sea!”

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