Beginning Open Water Classes

This is where it all starts…
If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure, and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it all starts. Get your scuba diving certification with Divepoint's PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world.

 

To enroll in Divepoint's PADI Open Water Diver course (or Junior Open Water Diver course), you must be 10 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with scuba diving is required.

 

Open Water Scuba Diver is the entry level PADI certification that upon completion allows you to dive with a qualified buddy to depths of up to sixty feet below the surface of open water (open here meaning the surface has air, no caves or wrecks). Our PADI Open Water Course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you will need to safely visit the underwater environment.
 
You earn this certification by completing the following:

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• 5 Knowledge Development Sessions (classroom video and lecture)

• 5 Pool Sessions

• 4 Open Water (ocean, lake, or quarry) Certification Dives with your dive instructor

 
On completion of the open water certification dives you will receive your PADI certification card, which never expires. The cost for the complete certification is $375. A $75 deposit holds your space in class. You also receive your PADI Open Water book kit. Deposit is non-refundable if the book kit is not returned or is damaged. You also have the option of doing part of the course with us and being referred to another dive shop to complete your certification dives. The cost of a referral class is $300 (class and pool with us) or $200 (certification dives with us). More detailed information is below. 

Upcoming SCUBA Class Dates
Spring and Summer 2024

Weekday Classes
(Mon & Wed or Tue & Thu 5:30pm-9:30pm)​​​​​​​​​​​​

• April 23, 25, 30, May 2

• June 10, 12, 19, 24

• July 9, 11, 18, 23

• July 22, 29, 31, August 5

Weekend Classes
(Fri 5:30pm-9:00pm, Sat & Sun 8:00am-3:00pm)​​​​​​​​​​​

• May 10, 11, 12

• May 31, June 1, 2

• July 5, 6, 7

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More about PADI Open Water Diver Course
 

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

1. Knowledge Development to understand basic principles of scuba diving.

2. Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills.

3. Open Water Dives to review your skills and explore!

     
If you’ve tried scuba diving through a Discover Scuba Diving experience or resort course, the skills you learned may be credited towards a portion of the full PADI Open Water Diver course certification. Ask your instructor or call the shop ahead of time to get the required form.

Breathing Underwater
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 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 our PADI Instructors.

Get College Credit
You may be able to earn college credit for the PADI Open Water Diver course. Check PADI's website for more information.
 
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. We will provide everything you need except for what we consider your personal gear (mask, fins, boots, snorkel). You will wear a full wetsuit in both the pool classes and during your checkout dives.

The Learning Materials You’ll use
The Open Water Diver materials are included in the cost of certification and 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 to practice these skills with your classmates and instructor. Later, as a certified diver, use the course materials as a reference guide for future diving adventures and to review what you learned.
 
How Much?
The cost of the open water diver course is $375 and includes books, dive table, gear rental, and your open water checkout dives. A $75 down deposit is required to hold a spot. We do not charge extra for your checkout dives like other places do. They are included in the cost of your certification! You also have the option of doing part of the course with us and being referred to another dive shop to complete your certification dives. The cost of a referral class is $300 (class and pool with us) or $200 (certification dives with us). Once again, a $75 deposit is required to hold your spot. This option is popular during the winter months for those that want to complete their classroom and pool sessions with us and finish the certification dives in a much warmer and more tropical location! 

The Checkout Dives
The checkout dives are four required dives for certification and are conducted in a local lake or quarry. Location will vary depending on the time of year and size of the group. One of our locations (Lake Wazee) has a small fee to gain admittance to the park – not more that about five dollars usually (and well worth it). All other lakes have no additional costs involved. Checkouts are conducted between May and October. Remember you will need your own snorkeling equipment: mask, fins, and snorkel .... and we recommend you consider booties and gloves if you will be doing your checkout dives in the spring or early summer.
 

Open Water Certification Dive Dates
~2024~

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​After completing your pool sessions, 
you will need to pick 2 dates to complete your 4 required open water dives.
 
~DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE~
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May 18, 19, 25, 26

June 8, 9, 22, 23, 26

July 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

August 6, 10, 11, 22, 24, 25

September 7, 8, 21, 22

October 5, 6, 19, 20

Remember for your open water dives

• You may pick any two days to complete your four required dives. Sorry, PADI does not allow 1 day certification.

• Be sure to call to get your name on the roster ahead of time.

• The day of your dives, we will meet at the diveshop by 7:45 am to load gear and leave promptly at 8:00 am.

• We return at approximately 1:30 pm, depending on the number of students and what lake we go to (A few hours later if diving at Lake Wazee). 

• The cost of these dives and SCUBA gear rental is included in the course cost!

• Bring your own swimsuit and towel. Pack a light jacket, most people are a little chilled after diving.

• Bring your mask, fins, snorkel, boots, and gloves. 

• Bring a water bottle, stay hydrated, and feel free to pack a snack.

• Bring your log book! You will need to note the time, date, location, depth, etc. of each dive.

• If it has been over a year since you took the open water class, you will need to take a separate refresher course.

Want to sign up? Still have questions? Call us at 715-344-DIVE (3483)