Are you curious about the time it takes to become certified as a diver? There are many options available depending on your level of experience. PADI offers a beginner course that focuses on the basics of diving. The PADI Open Water Diver certification program is also available.
PADI's entry-level diver course
PADI's entry-level diving course includes five chapters, four Knowledge Reviews, a final examination, and one final exam. It is generally completed over three to four days, though it can be faster if you can take the online course instead. This course covers the fundamentals of diving and includes several open-water dives.
The PADI Open Water Diver Manual is your guide to the basics of diving. It covers terminology, safety, equipment, and much more. Five videos are included to explain each topic and answer your questions.
Open water certification dives
You need to take a few steps before you can get your open water certification. Get your training. Before you can begin open water diving, you will need to spend a few sessions in the pool. These sessions will allow you to re-examine your diving skills. The orientation dive is the first, and the scuba skills dive is second. Relaxation is the goal of the third dive, while the final dive is intended to consolidate all that you have learned.
You can get your certification done in a weekend if you are a member of a local dive club. But, you will need to follow the instructions of your instructor or dive center if you are training at a remote location. It takes approximately three to four working days to become open water certified.
Next-level certification dives
Beginners can begin by doing a few test dives in the pool. You can usually do try-dives in shallow water (less 6 feet). Open water diving requires that you are more confident in all aspects. Open water diving is performed in bodies of water such the ocean, lakes or even flooded quarry holes.
You can get certified in a few days, although it may take longer. If you take an online course, you can complete the entire process within a week or two. You don't have to meet any deadlines for entry-level classes, but some professionals might need to wait.
Prerequisites required for certification at the next level
Before you get your next-level scuba certification, you should first get some experience in the water. It is a great way to learn the sport. Also, you can dive in lakes and flooded quarry pits. Open water diving requires more experience than a try-dive.
The SDI open water training course is intended for those who want scuba certification. It will teach basic scuba skills and problem solving skills. It will also show you how to perform self-rescues, which are used by rescue divers. Open water training is a prerequisite for many liveaboards and more challenging dive sites.