Introduction to Scuba Diving
PADI Open Water Scuba Diving is a full entry level certification you earn by successfully completing the entire Open Water Diver course.
It qualifies you to:
- · Dive independently while applying the knowledge and skills you learn in this course, within the limits of your training and experience.
- · Procure air fills, scuba equipment and other services.
- · Plan, conduct and log open water no decompression dives when equipped properly and accompanied by a buddy in conditions with which you have training and/or experience.
- · Continue your diver training with a specialty dive in the PADI adventures in Diving program, and/or in PADI Specialty courses.
Course Structure
Open Water Diver Course Structure
This course includes instruction in the proper use of equipment, safety, physiology and open water diving.
This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to safely enjoy and gain limited experience in the diving environment under normal OW diving conditions.
PADI OW Diver course consists of three segments:
- Confined Water Dives
- Knowledge Development
- and Open Water Dives
During confined water dives you apply dive principles, and you learn and practice dive procedures and skills. You will do this in either a swimming pool, or a body of water with pool-like conditions, under your instructor’s guidance and supervision. There are five confined water dives that corresponds with five knowledge development sections.
Knowledge development establishes the principles and basic information all divers need to dive safely that you will complete primarily on your own time. Your instructor will review and elaborate on each segment. A short quiz confirms that you’ve picked up the information you need from that section.
Open water dives complete your training as an entry level diver by applying and further developing your knowledge and dive skills in a dive environment under your instructor’s supervision and guidance. You will make at least four scuba dives.
ALL PADI courses apply the concept of “performance based learning”, which means that you progress based on meeting specific performance requirements under your instructor’s guidance.
*This course schedule is intended as a guide and is subject to change.
Course Prerequisites
Course Prerequisites & Certification Requirements
Here are the prerequisites in order for a person to participate in the course:
- Demonstrate that you’re comfortable in water and have some basic swimming skills.
- You will float/tread water for 10 minutes and swim 200/yards (no time limit) or swim 300 yards in mask, fins and snorkel (no time limit).
- Mentally, you need a mature attitude, good judgment and self-discipline to follow the guidelines and principles required for safe diving.
- Complete a medical statement. If you have any medical condition you will need a medical clearance from your physician prior to starting any training
Upon completion of the course, the Certification Requirements are:
- Pass evaluation and pool skills
- 75% or better on final written examination
- Working knowledge of recreational dive tables.
- Successful completion of the four open water training sessions
*This course schedule is intended as a guide and is subject to change.
Course Content
Course Content & Location of Dives
What the course consists of are:
- Diving Equipment
- Diving Physics
- Medical Aspects
- Diving emergencies
- Diving environment
- Safe Diving Practices
- Diving activities
- Scuba Diving Skills
Where the Open Water Dives take place:
- Conducted at Clear Springs Scuba Park, Terrell, TX
- Four days are required, with only two dives permitted on each day
*This course schedule is intended as a guide and is subject to change.
Expenses
Course Expenses
- OW Scuba course fee: $100.00. Payable prior to starting course.
- You are responsible for your travel expenses to the scuba park.
- Your are responsible for your park entrance fees: $20.00/day.
- Your are responsible for required equipment rental: wet suit, tank, regulator.
- Your are encourage to purchase your personal mask, fins and snorkel.
Otherwise, you will need to rent these items from the scuba shop. - You are responsible for purchase of the required OW scuba manual. Approx $49-$59.00.
If you have a problem with this purchase, see your instructor for assistance.
*This course schedule is intended as a guide and is subject to change.
Course Schedule
Course Schedule
This is a typical schedule of the course:
Date:___________ Orientation, forms Completion, 200 meter/Yard swim, 10 minutes float/tread.
Reading assignment: Introduction, Chapter 1&2, complete knowledge development.
Date:___________ Chapter 1, Knowledge Review, Confined water Skills.
Date:___________ Chapter 2, Knowledge Review, Confine Water Skills.
Date:___________ Chapter 3, Knowledge Review, Confined water skills.
Date:___________ Chapter 4, Knowledge Review, Confined Water skills.
Date:___________ Chapter 5, Knowledge Review, Review and Final Exam. Complete PADI Training Envelops, Photo & other fees, Log Book, pick up Equipment. Confined water skills.
Date:___________ Clear Springs Scuba Park, Dive 1 & 2. Open Water Skills.
Date:___________ Clear Springs Scuba Park, Dive 2 & 4, Open Water Skills.
*This course schedule is intended as a guide and is subject to change.
All Photography by Jimi Mack.