The PADI Open Water Diver course with AQUANAUTICS DIVE

If you've always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures or simply see the wonderous world beneath the waves, this is where it starts. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world's most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.

What You Learn

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

• Knowledge Development (online, home study) to understand basic principles of scuba diving,
• Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills,
• Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!

Prerequisites

To enroll in the PADI Open Diver course or Junior Open Water Diver course, you must be:

• 12 years or older (10 yr olds may take the class but there is a surcharge as the class size must be restricted by standard for supervision requirements)
• Minors must have parental conscent and parents or legal guardians must be at all in water sessions, and boat. The exception for beach and pool is if the minor is able to drive themselves to an from the location.
• Students must be able to get medical clearance from a doctor if required.

The Fun Part

The fun part about this course is...well, just about all of it because learning to dive is incredible. You breathe underwater for the first time (something you'll never forget) and learn what you need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, you'll make at least five pool dives and four dives at local dive sites under the supervision of your PADI Instructor. We schedule our classes at a more relaxed pace than some others do. We do not do the 2 weekend wonder classes. The reason is that we can do it easily but those schedules are designed for the instructors and facilities efficiency. But from years of experience we believe this schedule is not as easy for others that don't do it all the time. We want the experience to be fun and enjoyable. We want to help our students become divers by building in to their lives and personal schedules. Not just kill a couple weekends, and check it off the list. 

The Scuba Gear You Use

In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear including a dive computer, and standard accessories.

Personal Gear: Students must purchase from Aquanautics Dive Mask, Fins, Snorkel, Boots, Gloves, Signal Tube, Whistle, Octo holder, and some other miscellaneous items. Students get a 10 % discount on all gear not already discounted. Gear selection is taught during the first session of the course. The course fee was discounted with the student getting the course materials and cerfication fee at no charge with the understanding that the student will be purchasing these items from Aquanautics. If the student is not purchasing gear or buying it elsewhere then the student will not be given the discount on the course materials and certification fee.

Rental Gear: This is the rest of the required scuba equipment needed to go diving for most students. This rental package is included for the standard package duration of the course as scheduled. The rental package includes wetsuit, tank, weights, BCD, regulator with computer, gear bag, weight bag, and Hood. The rental gear must be returned within 2 days after the completion of the course schedule.

The Learning Materials You Need

We offer the PADI Elearning program so that you can do your course work at home and you can start shortly after you register for the class online. So as soon as you decide this is the adventure you want sign up so you can get started. Then you could possilby already have your homework done before the class even starts.

PADI's Open Water Diver materials cover what you need to know about basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you'll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you'll jump in the pool (or pool-like environment) to practice these skills with your instructor

In our classes we try to teach the student how to dive both off the shore and dive boat whenever possilble as it is the proper training for our local environment. Included in the cost for the course is one Boat Charter or trip to the island. Beach dive day expenses are usually just parking fees. Varies with the specific course schedule. If because of weather, or other circumstances, a 2nd boat or island trip is necessary additional fees will apply. 

Beach Diving: Fortunately at Aquanautics Dive all of our staff are avid beach divers. We always have included beach dives in our open water classes whenever possible. Some other stores in the past have advocated against beach diving. We believe it is important to learn the skills to dive from the beach as it increases access and opportuninty to dive at lower costs with all the same experiences. It also builds better skills and increases diver confidence. 

Conditional requirements:

The Open Water Scuba Diver course is a group class requiring a minimum enrollment of at least 4 students to go as scheduled. If for some reason the enrollment is insufficient to make running the class econimically viable, there are a few options. You can transfer to another class schedule if there is not enough. If there are only 3, then we can try to run the class as scheduled if all students agree to pay a $175 surcharge to cover the instructors cost that would have been covered with the additional student. You can opt to do a Semi Private (2 person) or Private Class. We want to find a way for the class to go as scheduled so we will see what we can do to be flexible. That said, we do not expect our instructors to lose money to teach the class as we respect their time and expertise in what they provide. If you have scheduling conflicts that we can make adjustments for we will try to do so as long as all the students and instructor agree (Contact us so we can see what we can do). Make up fees may apply for missed sessions. Our schedule is a plan but sometimes Mother Nature does not cooperate so we will adjust to whatever conditions we find. Your fun and safety is the primary concern.

Semi- Private (for 2) and Private Classes (for 1) are available with custom schedules. The Semi-Private and Private Class schedules are just for display reasons. Actual schedules will be customized between the students and instructors. So if you have scheduling issues call to discuss prior to signing up for these classes. Private, Semi-Private and below minimum courses it will be required that the students collectively cover the instructors boat and expenses to teach. We are confident that you will appreciate the hard work they do to keep you safe and fun while you learn to do this life changing activity.

If the class does not look like it is going to meet the minimums the schedule may be pulled a week before the start date and any enrolled students will be presented with options. So sign up early. Plan ahead. Bring friends.

The store is able to offer this pricing because of the expectation that the customer will be buying personal gear. The advantage to buying the gear from our store is that you get a student discount on the gear and we can make sure it is the right gear for you.

Prices are subject to change without notice.

Please contact us and ask if you have any questions.