OPEN WATER COURSE
Get your first PADI Here!
The PADI Open Water Diver is the most popular scuba diving certification in the world. It is accepted worldwide and takes just two to four days to complete depending on your time constraints!
No prior scuba diving experience is needed and you will be certified to dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters. Contact us now to book your Open Water Diver course.
OPEN WATER DIVER PREREQUISITES
To start the PADI Open Water Diver Course you need to be at least 10 years old. You need to be able to swim 200 Meters and float/tread water for ten minutes.
You also need to be in good physical health. Please take a look at the PADI Medical Participant Questionnaire to find out if you should be examined by your Doctor before participating in Recreational Scuba Diving.
What is involved?
You’ll learn the theory behind open water diving so you have the knowledge and skills to plan fun and safe dives. You’ll learn all about scuba equipment and how to use it effectively. The Open Water Course consists of three sections:
Knowledge development (online, independent study)
Confined water dives (to learn all the basic scuba skills)
Open water dives (to practice your skills and gain confidence)
PADI OPEN WATER COURSE SCHEDULE
DAY 1
Starting: 8:00 - 11:00 am or 13:00 - 16:00 pm
Classroom - Your Instructor will evaluate the knowledge reviews you’ve completed online and explain anything not fully understood.
Then you’ll spend the morning or afternoon in a protected area for the confined water session. In shallow water close to one of our pristine beaches you’ll learn and practice important scuba diving skills while gaining confidence under the water!
DAY 2
Choose your time: 7:00 - 12:30 pm or 13:00 - 17:30 pm
Complete Open Water Dives 1 and 2 to a maximum depth of 12 meters. During these dives you will be under the close supervision of your PADI Instructor as you further master the scuba diving skills learned during the confined water session.
DAY 3
Choose your time: 7:00 - 12:30 pm or 13:00 - 17:30 pm
Complete Open Water Dives 3 and 4 to a maximum depth of 18 meters allowing you to explore some of our deeper dive sites under the close supervision of your PADI Instructor. You’ll finish up back at the shop to log your dives and receive you PADI certification.
Congratulations you’re certified!
Open Water Course
13,600 THB
FAQ
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No prior experience is required. The course is designed for beginners with little to no diving experience.
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The course includes online elearning, the certification e-card, an instructor, all necessary equipment, basic insurance, lunch, water, coffee, tea, and fruits.
Excludes the Phi Phi National Park fee of 600 Thai Baht for the day you do open water dives 1+2 and another 200 Thai Baht for the day you do open water dives 3+4
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To enroll, participants must be at least 10 years old and have adequate swimming skills. Parental consent is required for participants under 18 years old.
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The course typically consists of knowledge development (e-learning) which you have to complete sections 1-3 before starting your confined water session, the confined water session, and the open water dives. It can be completed in as little as two to four days, but the exact duration may vary depending on the schedule and pace of learning.
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The course covers essential scuba diving concepts, including dive theory, dive equipment, dive planning, underwater communication, dive safety, and environmental awareness.
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Upon successful completion of the course, participants will earn the PADI Open Water Diver certification, which is recognized worldwide and allows you to dive independently with a buddy to a maximum depth of 60 feet (18 meters).
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Absolutely! The PADI Open Water Diver certification serves as a foundation for further diving adventures and training. You can pursue advanced courses such as the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and various specialty courses to expand your skills and knowledge as a diver.
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In many cases, it's possible to reschedule the remaining portions of your course for a later date that better suits your schedule.
Depending on how far you've progressed in the course, you may be eligible for partial certification like a Scuba Diver License which allows you to dive to 12 meters. We can guide you on what steps are necessary to obtain a partial certification if applicable.
Your instructor can also provide you with a Course Record and Referral Form that you can take to another dive center to complete you Open Water training within one year.
What if I don’t have time to complete the Open Water course?
For those who don’t have time to complete the full PADI Open Water certification, we offer the PADI Scuba Diver certification which is an entry-level scuba diving certification that allows individuals to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 meters/40 feet. Here are some key points about the PADI Scuba Diver license:
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Certification Level: The PADI Scuba Diver certification is one step below the PADI Open Water Diver certification. It is designed for individuals who may have time constraints or prefer a shorter course compared to the full Open Water Diver course.
Training Requirements: To earn the PADI Scuba Diver certification, candidates must complete knowledge development sessions, confined water dives, and open water dives (in a controlled environment) under the guidance of a certified PADI Instructor.
Depth Limitations: Scuba Divers certified at this level are limited to diving under the supervision of a dive professional to a maximum depth of 12 meters/40 feet. This limitation is in place to ensure safety and manage risk for less experienced divers.
Recognition: The PADI Scuba Diver certification is recognized worldwide and is a valid credential for participating in recreational diving activities.
Continuing Education: Scuba Divers who hold the PADI Scuba Diver certification can continue their education by enrolling in the PADI Open Water Diver course or pursuing specialty courses to expand their diving knowledge and skills.
Overall, the PADI Scuba Diver certification is a great option for individuals who want to start their scuba diving journey but may have limited time or prefer a more streamlined course structure. It provides a solid foundation for further diving adventures while emphasizing safety and supervision during initial dives.
What our students say?
“Can’t recommend the team at Barakuda enough! My boyfriend and I did the PADI Open Water Diver cert as first time divers and we had an absolute blast.
Massive shout out and thanks to Keegan, we could not have asked for a better instructor. Super knowledgeable, fun, experienced and a great teacher, he brought the energy and always made sure we felt comfortable, safe and confident in our own skills.
The rest of the team were great and helpful, and we saw some incredible wildlife on our dives around Phi Phi. Definitely give scuba diving a go if you’re interested, rest assured you’ll be in good hands if you come to Barakuda :)
Cat Wong
I did my PADI Open Water Certification with Jeremy as a instructor. He was very helpful accommodating the course dates to my schedule and maintained a very good communication throughout the whole process, answering every question that I had. At the spot, very clear briefings to prepare the techniques that we were going to be performing underwater. Under the water, very easy going session, smooth and checking on me and other divers periodically, leaving us freedom to dive around without compromising safety at any moment. I can highly recommend Jeremy as a diving instructor because you will have a lot of fun and you will learn diving in a very intuitive and professional way. You can feel that he is really passionate at what he does, and that has an impact on the students. The crew of Barrakuda and other instructors were very friendly and the atmosphere was always very nice. If I come back to Phi Phi, I will choose Barrakuda again. Thanks for making a memorable experience and initiating me in the "business", and I hope we see you guys again!
David TG
Myself and 5 friends took the PADI open water cert course whilst traveling through the region. The experience was fantastic from start to finish. Our main instructors (huge s/o to Keegan and Italo) knew their material, were funny, kind, and handled the group with ease. Would heartily recommend the experience & this company.
A couple things I liked that I didn’t know I cared about:
- instructors humor made the boat, diving, learning experience comfortable. Made the tricky skills enjoyable to practice/learn
- Barakuda has a wide range of instructors speaking many different languages. In our case there was absolutely no language barrier (something I wasn’t too worried about but didn’t know how it would go)
- the online/in person option was sweet to get the book material via PADI’s platform before traveling to Thailand. Then just focus on actually diving and the confined skills day
- Good vibes between all instructors
- a few other customers were getting other certs or doing fun dives
- the wildlife and coral on every dive
Scott Schubert
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