PADI OPEN WATER DIVER

What It Is

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba certification and your passport to underwater exploration. You’ll build essential diving skills through confined water sessions, real open water dives, and knowledge development. Once certified, you’ll be qualified to dive with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 meters (60 feet)—anywhere in the world.

Who it is for

This course is perfect for complete beginners or those who’ve tried a Discover Scuba Dive and are ready for the real thing. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby, a thrilling vacation activity, or the first step toward a dive career—this course sets you up for a lifetime of underwater exploration.

Options

We offer three tailored packages to match your goals:

• Standard – Includes the full Open Water course with the eLearning, 2 to 3 pool sessions and 4 open water dives.

  
  

• Conservation – Adds Peak Performance Buoyancy and Dive Against Debris specialties for stronger skills and an environmental focus (6 dives) and FREE PADI Club membership.*

  
  

• Skill Master – Includes Open Water, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Nitrox for improved control and extended dive times (6 dives) and FREE PADI Club membership.*

*Includes 1-year PADI Club membership—get exclusive eLearning savings, dive content, travel deals, gear discounts, and more.

What you learn

• Basic principles for safe and enjoyable scuba diving

• How to use and take care of diving equipment, including mask, fins, regulator and BCD

• How to conduct safe and comfortable dives with a buddy

• Basic underwater navigation skills

• How to respond to common diving emergencies

Extra learning with specialties bundles

• Expanding your knowledge and skills through a wide range of specialty courses

• Building your confidence in various dive environments and conditions

Course Structure & Schedule

The standard course runs over 2 to 4 days, combining eLearning, pool sessions, and four ocean dives.

Choose any of the extended bundles and add just one extra day to gain more skills, certifications, and confidence underwater.

Why Choose This Course

• Get certified to dive up to 18m/60ft anywhere in the world

• Train with experienced instructors in world-class dive conditions

• Learn in small groups with personalized attention

• eLearning lets you start anytime, at your own pace

• Bundle options add meaningful certifications and more in-water time

• Perfect first step toward becoming a dive professional

Where You Dive

Playa del Carmen offers the perfect mix of vibrant reef life and unique underwater environments. During your training dives, you’ll explore shallow coral gardens and deeper reef systems teeming with parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels, and curious nurse sharks. Encounters with graceful sea turtles are common, and from November to April, you might even add a Bull Shark dive to your experience. Want to take it further? Ask us about upgrading your training to include the world-famous Cozumel drift dives or the mystical freshwater cenotes just inland—two of the region’s most iconic diving adventures.

Pricing

• Standard: $449 USD

• Conservation Bundle: $729 USD

• Skill Master Bundle: $814 USD

Ready to dive in?

Pick your bundle and let your underwater journey begin. Whether you're diving for fun, future travel, or dreaming of a pro career, this is where it all starts.

Before booking, please review our Cancellation Policy and ensure you meet the requirements of the mandatory Diver Medical Form.