PADI Open Water Diver
The world's most recognised dive certification, earned in real ocean — not a pool. Three days. You leave with a licence that opens every ocean on the planet.
$420 / person
Schedule
Day 1 (14:00–18:00): Briefing + confined water session at the dive center
Day 2 (07:30–13:00): Open water dives
Day 3 (07:30–13:00): Open water dives
This is the one. Open Water is the certification that lets you dive, rent gear and join dives anywhere in the world, to 18 metres, without supervision. You do it over three days with us: theory and e-learning you complete before you arrive, confined-water skills to build the fundamentals, and — from day two — real dives on real reef. Small groups — never more than two divers to an instructor in open water — warm clear water, and an instructor who’s certified more nervous first-timers than they can count. You arrive unable to dive. You leave a diver.
What’s included
- Pool / confined-water session and all open-water dives
- All PADI course materials and certification fees
- PADI e-learning — the link is sent by our manager after you book; complete it before Day 1
- Full equipment throughout, plus water, tea and snacks
- A day-by-day schedule in your confirmation and reminder emails
- Book with a 50% deposit online; the remaining 50% is paid in person on Day 1
Not included
- GoPro photos and video (not included on PADI courses)
- DAN dive insurance (recommended)
- Your e-learning time before arrival
- Travel and ID
Good to know
Minimum age 15, and you must be able to swim 200 m and float for 10 minutes. No prior dive experience needed.
Highlights
- Earn the world’s most recognised dive licence — valid for life, everywhere.
- Learn in warm, clear ocean, not a swimming pool.
- Real reef dives from day two.
- Just two divers per instructor on your open-water dives.
- Dive to 18 m once certified.
Requirements
- No prior experience needed.
- Water skills: you must be able to swim 200 metres (or 300 metres in mask, snorkel and fins) and float or tread water for 10 minutes — the standard PADI Open Water requirement.
- Minimum age 15. Standard PADI Open Water only — we do not run Junior certifications.
- Diver medical questionnaire, and your e-learning completed before Day 1.
Programme & duration
Three days — block them out. See the day-by-day times in the schedule above.
Medical, flight & insurance
Most people answer “no” to every question on the diver medical questionnaire and are cleared to dive. A “yes” to any question means a physician must sign the medical form confirming you’re fit to dive — bring the signed form with you on Day 1.
Planning to fly after diving? PADI and DAN recommend waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive, 18 hours after multiple dives, and ideally 24 hours for complete peace of mind.
We recommend DAN Europe (Divers Alert Network) dive insurance — recommended, not required, and no sign-up is needed to book. Dive safe, dive insured — get covered with DAN →
What to bring
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Biodegradable sunscreen
- Passport or ID for Day 1
- Your e-learning completed before you arrive
Meeting & pick-up
- Arrive 30 minutes before your start time — for registration, briefing and equipment fitting.
- Meet at the Diving Mirissa centre. Free tuk tuk pick-up within 5 km; $7 for 5–10 km; $10 for 10–12 km; no pick-up beyond 12 km.
- Your confirmation email carries the exact meeting point and time.
Who it’s for
For: Anyone who wants to become a certified diver — nervous beginners included.
Not for: Not for people who only want to try diving once (that’s a Discover Scuba Dive), and not a single-day activity — block out three days.
Dive sites & marine life
Athamaramba Rock, White Rock, Lopsta Point (15–17 m), Mirissa Point (to 25 m), plus Dispa, Yala and Bridge Rock. You’ll likely see green and olive ridley turtles, parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels and eagle rays — occasionally a manta.
Choose your date
August 2026
Select a date to see availability for PADI Open Water Diver.