If you’re interested in learning to scuba dive, the PADI Open Water Diver course is your path to the underwater world. After successfully completing the Open Water Diver course, you will be fully capable of making open-water scuba dives, whether that involves exploring coral reefs, shallow shipwrecks or whatever body of water is close to home.

So what do you need to know before learning to scuba dive? Well, here’s a breakdown:

Benefits of the PADI Open Water Diver course

The Open Water Diver course will teach you everything you need to know to be a safe, competent diver. You’ll be able to set up and break down gear; safely ascend, descend and breath underwater; and assist your buddy before, during and after your dives.

Prerequisites for the PADI Open Water Diver course

You don’t need prior scuba diving experience under your belt, but you must be at least 10 years old. Also, you need to possess the physical fitness and swimming skills that diving requires. Students must fill out a medical questionnaire and may have to be cleared by a doctor if medical issues exist.

Ready to dive? You can start your course online

What you’ll learn in the PADI Open Water Diver course

There are three major portions of the course: academic, pool training and open-water training. You can conveniently complete the academic portion of the course on your computer through PADI’s eLearning program, which uses a combination of videos, slides and quizzes to teach you everything you need to know leading up to the pool training. In the pool, you’ll learn basic skills with an Instructor by your side, and in open water you’ll put those skills to the test and make your first dives.

Your first giant stride into the ocean is your first step into making a dream come true. What are you waiting for? Sign up for PADI eLearning to get started and become a diver.

From a PADI Expert

“The PADI Open Water Diver course was designed so that when you get into diving, you have the foundation you want for what you want out of diving. You learn the principles and skills you need, not just to dive safely — that should be a given — but so that you dive confidently and comfortably.

Learning to dive is diving, and most people enjoy the PADI Open Water Diver course for its own sake. And it's student-centered and flexible, with eLearning or printed manual, whatever you prefer. Your instructor guides you at your pace. It doesn't matter whether it takes you 10 seconds, 10 minutes or 10 hours to learn to clear your mask, as long as you learn it. That's how you go through the PADI Open Water Diver course — all PADI courses, actually.

When you learn to dive, another consideration is whether a dive boat or resort will recognize your certification. More people learn to dive in the PADI Open Water Diver course than all other options combined, so this is a non-issue when you're PADI certified. Flash your PADI card at the most exotic, distant and disconnected dive site in the world, and the pro there will know what it is.”

– Karl Shreeves, PADI Technical Development Executive