PADI Open Water Diver

Welcome and thank you for your interest in our PADI Open Water Diver course in beautiful Port Douglas! At ABC Dive and Snorkel Charters, where the vibrant reef meets the lush rainforest, we are proud to be a Five Star PADI Instructor Development Centre.

The PADI Open Water Diver course is your gateway to the underwater world, allowing you to dive unsupervised with a buddy, rent or purchase dive equipment, and continue your diving education. This comprehensive course is divided into three main components: eLearning or classroom sessions, pool dives, and open water dives.

1. eLearning or Classroom Sessions: There are five chapters where you will learn the basic concepts of scuba diving at your own pace, either online or in a classroom.
2. Pool Dives: These five pool sessions are where you will practice and master essential scuba diving skills in a controlled environment.
3. Open Water Dives: Over two days, you will complete four open water dives in the ocean or a lake. Here, you will apply everything you’ve learned, demonstrating your skills to your PADI Instructor—while being watched by curious fish!

Embark on this exciting journey and discover the wonders of the underwater world with us.

PADI eLearning makes it easy to fit scuba diving lessons into your busy schedule. Learn about scuba diving principles and terminology at your convenience, whether you’re at home or on the go. Study online using a computer or mobile device, and connect with your instructor if you have any questions.

eLearning Time Commitment: 5 – 10 hours
Course Duration: 4 days – 2 days for pool dives and 2 days for 4 open water dives

For those who prefer a more traditional approach, classroom sessions are also available, providing a structured learning environment.

For those who prefer traditional learning, using a PADI Open Water Diver Manual is still available and provides a lasting reference on your bookshelf for future review. The manual consists of five sections that you will need to read thoroughly. Each section ends with a “Knowledge Review,” which you must complete.

When working on the “Knowledge Review,” if you’re unsure of an answer, simply refer back to the relevant part of the manual. This method ensures you get the most out of your manual. All five “Knowledge Reviews” must be completed before the class begins.

Course Duration: 5 days

• Days 1-3: Five class sessions and five pool dives
• Days 4-5: Four open water dives at The Great Barrier Reef

This approach combines three days of classroom and pool sessions with two days of open water dives, offering a thorough and structured learning experience. Dive into the wonders of the ocean with the confidence and skills you’ll gain from this comprehensive course.

Course Prerequisites:

• Ability to swim
• Medically fit for diving
• Comfortable in the water

During the PADI Open Water Diver course, your instructor will ask you to:

• Float or tread water without aids for 10 minutes
• Swim 200 meters without aids

Minimum Age: 10 years

• Divers certified between the ages of 10 and 14 years earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification.

Note:
PADI Junior Open Water Divers automatically become PADI Open Water Divers at the age of 15. Any replacement certification card or eCard purchased the day after the diver’s 15th birthday will automatically reflect the PADI Open Water Diver certification (not Jr Open Water Diver).

Embark on this exciting journey and start exploring the underwater world today!

Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications, and/or recent surgery may necessitate written approval from a physician before you can dive.

To avoid any disappointment, please review the “Diver Medical Form” to determine if you need a physician’s approval before enrolling in the PADI Open Water Diver course. As your instructor, I am not a physician and cannot provide medical advice.

In my opinion, the best course of action is to visit your physician for a check-up before enrolling. Ensure your medical statement declares you “fit to dive,” and from there, it’s smooth sailing!

By taking this step, you’ll be ready to fully enjoy your diving experience with confidence and peace of mind.

Meals:

• During the pool/class sessions, please bring your own lunch.
• On the two open water days, lunch will be provided.

Personal Equipment:

• Each student needs to have their own mask, fins, and snorkel. Some snorkeling equipment may be suitable for scuba diving.
• If you don’t have these items, you can purchase them from our store in Port Douglas.

Scuba Equipment:

• All necessary scuba equipment will be provided during the course, both for the pool dives and the open water dives.

We aim to ensure you have everything you need for a safe and enjoyable diving experience. If you have any questions or need assistance with your equipment, our team is here to help!

Choosing to learn at a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Centre ensures you receive top-quality instruction and facilities for your PADI Open Water Diver course. Upon certification, you will receive a prestigious “Gold” certification card.

We keep our class sizes small, allowing you to receive almost individual attention from our experienced instructors. Our instructors are fluent and relaxed in teaching scuba diving, ensuring a comfortable and supportive learning environment.

The PADI Open Water Diver course is performance-based, meaning both you and your instructor need to feel confident in your diving skills before progressing to the next stage. This approach ensures that you have ample time to develop into a confident and competent diver.

Our goal is to make sure you enjoy your diving experience, which is essential for two reasons: it increases the likelihood that you will dive again and encourages you to become an advocate for the marine environment. Your enthusiasm and love for diving can inspire others and contribute to the protection and preservation of our precious marine ecosystems.

Embark on this journey with us and dive into a world of adventure and discovery!

Feel free to enquire with our PADI Course Director Wayne Abraham for any questions or more information.

As a certified PADI Open Water Diver, you can:

• Buy or hire scuba equipment.
• Plan no-decompression dives with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 meters.
• Enroll in continuing education courses to explore special interests.

One exciting option is the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course, which also offers an eLearning component. This course consists of five dives over two days. Each dive is the first dive of a specific specialty course. Two dives are required: Underwater Navigation and Deep. The remaining three dives can be chosen based on your interests.

Can you go straight to this course? Yes! Consider this: by completing both the PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver courses in quick succession, you will have logged at least nine dives under the direct supervision of a PADI Instructor. This experience includes diving at a variety of sites and becoming proficient in equipment setup, buddy contact, pre-dive safety checks, ascents/descents, and much more.

Taking this next step will not only enhance your diving skills but also expand your underwater horizons, making you a more confident and capable diver. Dive deeper into your scuba journey with us!

Contact our PADI Course Director Wayne Abraham for more information.