Are you curious about the time it takes to become certified as a diver? There are several options that you can choose from depending on your experience. PADI offers an entry-level course that teaches basic diving skills. The PADI Open Water Diver certification program is also available.
PADI's entry-level diver course
Five chapters, four Knowledge Reviews, and a final exam make up the PADI entry-level diver course. You can complete the course in 3-4 days. If you prefer to take the online course, it may take less time. This course covers basic diving skills and includes open water dives.
PADI Open Water Diver Manual is your basic guide to diving. This manual includes information about proper equipment, terminology, safety procedures and many other topics. It also contains five videos that explain each topic and answer any questions you might have.
Open water certification dives
You need to take a few steps before you can get your open water certification. Start by getting your training. Before you go open water diving, there will be several sessions in the swimming pool. These sessions will allow you to re-examine your diving skills. The orientation portion of the first dive is focused on scuba skills, while that of the second is for orientation. The third dive is for relaxation, while the last dive is for consolidating everything you have learned.
You can get your certification done in a weekend if you are a member of a local dive club. You may have to work around the instructor or dive center's schedule if you choose to do your training in a different place. Open water certification takes about three to four days.
Next-level certification dives
A beginner scuba diver can start with a few pool-side try-dives before progressing to the next level. Most try-dives are done in shallow water (6 feet or less). Open water diving will require you to become more comfortable in all aspects, from navigation to safety. Open water diving is performed in bodies of water such the ocean, lakes or even flooded quarry holes.
While the actual time to become certified can vary, it typically takes four days. If you take an online course, you can complete the entire process within a week or two. For entry-level courses there are no set deadlines. However, some professionals may need to wait.
Prerequisites for next-level certification
You should get some water experience before you can get your next-level certification. A pool is a great place to start learning the sport. You can also dive in lakes or flooded quarry pits. Open water diving requires more training than a first dive.
For those who want to further their scuba training, the SDI open-water course is ideal. It will give you basic scuba skills, as well as problem solving skills. You will learn how to self-rescue, which is a technique used by rescue divers. Open water training is a prerequisite for many liveaboards and more challenging dive sites.