The Open Water Diver certification diver course at Underwater Adventures is the entry-level certification program for the first step towards your basic scuba diving. At the completion of this program, you will receive your PADI Open Water certification Card, the most popular and most recognized certification in the world.
"You must be at least 10 years old to enroll. Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving. You will also be required to complete a 200 yard swim and 10 mins of treading water"
Program Costs Class Requirements Class Policies Forms OW Diver Fact Sheet 2021
What you will learn
Through a combination of academic work, in-water pool and lake skills and sessions, you will learn how to become a safe, confident, and capable scuba diver. We will help you develop your skills so you can see more and do more underwater and have a great experience while diving on your vacation.
The Program consists of 2 parts
- Part 1 - combines academics with pool sessions that are completed during a single weekend. (2 full days) here at Underwater Adventures Dive Center in our own pool.
- Part 2 - is the Open Water training dives where you demonstrate your skills in a real water environment, such as a lake, quarry or Ocean. (2 full days) Done in Pennsylvania.
PART 1 – ACADEMICS AND POOL
Academics
Open Water Part 1 - You have 2 choices with academics.
** All academics take approximately 10 - 12 hours to complete and must be completed at home prior to your scheduled class.
- Books - consists of classroom on Friday night at 6:00 pm, 8:30 am Saturday and Sunday mornings and pool sessions in the afternoon. We spend part of each session in the classroom discussing important diving concepts and relating real life examples that you will use when you are in the water. Much of the academic work is done at home prior to class.
- Online eLearning - As an alternative for even more flexibility, you can complete the academic portion of the class online through PADI before proceeding to the pool sessions. You will come in on Saturday/Sunday morning at 10:00 am for a quick quiz, go over equipment and have afternoon pool sessions.
All preparing you for the Open Water Part 2 Certification dives.
Pool Sessions
Here’s where you experience what it’s like to scuba dive! You’ll learn how to use scuba equipment and develop diving skills in a safe and fun environment. We go at your pace and make it an experience that you’ll never forget.
You will also be required to complete a 200 yard swim and 10 mins of treading water" along with other pool skills needed for your scuba diving adventures.
PART 2 – OPEN WATER TRAINING
To complete your certification, you will need to participate in a PART 2 course which includes four dives over two days, putting your diving skills to use and having fun exploring what there is to see underwater. All your equipment is included.
This training is usually completed at Dutch Springs which is closed and is now (Lake Hydra), a scuba diving facility in Bethlehem, PA (approx. one hour away). We are waiting for Lake Hydra to re-open. We do have some alternative locations, but will require some travel and a 1 or 2 night stay over. These locations are in Pennsylvania at Willow Springs and Lake Allure and on occasion to North Carolina at Fantasy Lake. We will make this a fun group event!
This course will have travel expenses.
Please review our missed class and cancellation policies and procedures in our Class Policies page.
Pre-registration is required. Call or drop us an email for details.
Additional options for Open Water Part 2 Training
Instead of completing your open water part 2 dives locally here with us, you can finish your part 2 - training while on vacation through a PADI recognized Dive shop. This can be done with a referral from us or you can use your logbook as a referral. Pre planning and registration with your destination dive shop is required.
At the completion of this program you will receive your PADI Open Water Diver Certification Card from your destination dive location.
Required Forms