PADI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE

DXDIVERSSKU: OW

Price:
Sale price$399.99

WHAT WE PROVIDE:

  • Like-new Aqua Lung rental equipment BCD, regulator with an octopus and dive computer, wetsuit and tanks*
  • 4 dives total off our Newton 46’ custom dive boat, Lady Go Diver
  • Professional instruction with experienced PADI instructors
  • Certification card processing
  • Transparent and convenient experience - no hidden fees, rentals or charter expenses

  • *Rental equipment is replaced each year with the newest model for your safety and comfort

WHAT YOU PROVIDE:

  • Purchase and complete the PADI eLearning for Open Water $180
  • Completed medical release form with sign offs from a physician if needed
  • Purchase Personal and safety equipment: mask, snorkel, fins (boots if using open heel fins), weights, safety marker buoy (SMB) with finger spool, whistle and logbook

ELEMENTS OF DXDIVERS OPEN WATER COURSE

SCUBA DIVING THEORY

PADI’S ELEARNING COVERS THE PHYSICS OF DIVING, SAFETY AND SOME COOL HAND SIGNALS

CONFINED WATER POOL SESSION

PUT YOUR THEORY KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AT OUR ON-SITE POOL

OPEN WATER BOAT DIVES

4 OCEAN DIVES OFF OUR BOAT, LADY GO DIVER, FOR A TOTAL OF 2 TRIPS

WHAT WILL I LEARN DURING THE PADI OPEN WATER COURSE WITH DXDIVERS?

The PADI Open Water course is your introduction to scuba diving. During the course, you will practice skills that are foundational to becoming a competent diver like clearing your mask, recovering your regulator and towing your tired buddy. Equally important, you will learn how to dive off a boat rather than the beach, an important skill that will allow you to reach the most interesting dive sites. At DXDivers, our primary goal is to keep you safe and show you how to become a self-sufficient diver. This means putting your own gear together, planning your own dives, checking your buddy before your dive and not exceeding your limits.


A PADI Open Water certification is your ticket to a world of possibilities. Once you have this certification, you can venture to different hobbies within scuba. For instance, you can learn to catch your own dinner through lobster or spearfishing, learn underwater photography or even try night diving. Gain confidence in your abilities and become part of the DXDiver family! Join us for our many events like the Annual Pier Clean up, Trashy Fridays and our Lionfish Derby.

WHAT ELSE SETS US APART?

  • Skip the sandy beaches and learn how to dive off of a boat rather than off the beach
  • Get certified with the only dive shop in South Florida to have its own classroom, on-site pool and dive boat
  • Gear package exclusive deals only for our DXD students
  • Become part of the DXDivers family and join us for events - follow our hashtag #DXDiversFamily
  • Join us for our weekly hunting trips and eat what you catch to live more sustainably
  • Continue your diving education with us and become a PADI Professional at our PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center
  • Dive amazing sunken ships with a crew that knows it's secrets
  • Travel around the world to go scuba diving with our regularly scheduled guided dive trips
  • Become an underwater conservationist by joining us on the boat for Trashy Friday
  • FREE boat trip (2 dives) off our boat, the Lady Go Diver, once you're certified
WHAT IS THE "FULL DXDIVERS EXPERIENCE"?
Glad you asked! Here at DXDivers, we’re proud to have an all encompassing facility and dive boat to provide a convenient and relaxing scuba experience. We have a full retail store equipped with over 100 diving brands and over 3000 unique products. On-site, we also have a training pool out back and several classrooms upstairs. Once you’re certified, check out our drive-thru tank fill station so you don’t have to lug your tanks through the store. Best of all, you can hop on our 46’ Newton custom dive boat, the Lady Go Diver, docked less than a mile from the shop. Did we mention we’re the only dive shop in South Florida to have both a full retail dive shop and our own charter boat? We manage every aspect of our operation to better serve you and provide the best possible diving experience.
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED TO START THE COURSE?

You need your own personal and safety equipment. This is mandatory for the course: mask, snorkel, fins (boots if open heel), weights, safety sausage with finger spool, whistle and PADI logbook. All gear can be purchased in our retail store, we give all our students a "student discount".

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE?
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, you must complete the digital eLearning prior to you starting the course. There will not be a traditional classroom presentation as this is covered in the eLearning. That being said, the pool session for all 5 modules of the PADI Open Water (OW) course are completed in 1-2 pool session(s) that takes about 4 hours. To complete the course, 4 ocean dives off our boat, the Lady Go Diver for a total of 2 trips are required. Each trip on the boat is 4 hours long. In totality, the in-person sections of the course can be completed in three days. *Ocean dives are dependent on weather conditions*
IS THERE AN EXPEDITED OR PRIVATE CLASS OPTION?
Yes, for an additional $180, you can upgrade your class to private or expedited. Finish the course according to your schedule and get the one-on-one experience with one of our instructors.
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GET CERTIFIED?
10 years old and up! If you are between the ages of 10-14 you will be certified as a Junior Open Water Diver. Between the ages of 10-11, maximum depth is 40 feet. Between the ages of 12-14, you can dive up to 60 feet with a certified open water diver of legal age. At 15 years old you will automatically be upgraded to Open Water Diver and you can dive to a maximum of 60 feet.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU RUN THE PADI OPEN WATER COURSE AT DXDIVERS?
Every Saturday we have a new Open Water class starting in the pool! That means your eLearning must be completed before the pool session. Make sure to confirm your spot by calling us at 954-420-0009 once you have completed the final exam and have your personal and safety equipment.
AFTER GETTING CERTIFIED HOW DEEP CAN I DIVE?
Once you get your PADI Open Water Certification, if you’re over the age of 15 you can dive up to 60 feet (18 meters). Divers between the ages of 10-14 are considered Junior Open Water divers. Divers 10-11 years old must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and dives cannot exceed 12 meters (40 feet). Divers 12-14 years old must dive with a certified adult and dives cannot exceed 18 meters (60 feet).
WHY DO I NEED TO PURCHASE ELEARNING CREATED BY PADI?
Great question! As a scuba diving business, we are not a certification agency. PADI is the organization that creates and distributes courses and training materials to dive shops. We sell all the PADI physical books, materials, and digital eLearning courses. Buying from us helps support a small business! We also charge less than PADI. Click the “Learn to Dive” button to get started now.
IS IT TRULY A LIFETIME CERTIFICATION?
Yes! You will never have to take the PADI Open Water course in its entirety ever again. However, some dive shops/charters (us included) will require you to have gone diving at least once in the past year in order to dive off a commercial dive boat. If it’s been longer than a year, you are welcome to do a reactivate, previously known as a refresher course with us.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SECURE MY SPOT IN THE PADI OPEN WATER COURSE?
By purchasing the eLearning and our course over the phone or online. Once you finish the eLearning, you can hop into whatever Saturday pool session works for you. Please call us at 954-420-0009 to secure your pool session spot.
ARE THER ANY MEDICAL ISSUES THAT MAY PREVENT ME FROM TRYING SCUBA DIVING?
This is ultimately up to your doctor. Please see the medical diver questionnaire here. Anything marked “yes” will require you to obtain a release from your doctor.
DO I NEED TO GET CERTIFIED TO GO SCUBA DIVING?
Yes, it is legally required in the United States to be a certified diver. Not only is scuba diving a serious sport with unique gear, you’re also putting yourself under pounds of pressure and it’s important to understand the physics and physiology of that pressure on your body.
WHEN CAN I START THE PADI ELEARNING?
As soon as you purchase the course through our website, you will get instant access so you can start your scuba education from the comfort of your own home!
WILL I GET DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS A.K.A. "THE BENDS"?
Getting the bends or “getting bent” is much more rare than you have been led to believe. The best way to prevent getting bent is to get certified and ensure that you dive enough to feel comfortable. Panic coupled with rapid ascent is the reason divers get bent.
I LIVE OUTSIDE OF FLORIDA, CAN I DO MY POOL SESSION IN MY HOME STATE AND DO THE OCEAN DIVES WITH DXDIVERS?
Absolutely! PADI calls this the “Referral Program”. Make sure you do your pool sessions with a PADI center and have the instructor give you the referral paperwork with sign offs. Call us at our shop, 954-420-0009 to make arrangements and plan your ocean dives.
CAN I GET A REFUND IF I DECIDE I DON'T WANT TO COMPLETE MY CERTIFICATION?
We do not offer refunds on courses or course material. If you’re at all wondering if you would like scuba, try the Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) program out in our pool with one of our instructors. You get to put on the gear and go through a short pool session to see if you would like it.
SHOULD I BRING MY OWN FOOD, SNACKS OR DRINKS TO THE BOAT?
On the Lady Go Diver, we provide complimentary light snacks, cold drinking water and soda. We highly encourage you to bring your own snacks and drinks so you can feel comfortable while diving with us.
IS THERE SOME SORT OF INSURANCE I CAN GET FOR DIVING?
Although it is not required, Divers Alert Network (DAN) is an insurance agency that specifically covers diving-related accidents. While you’re taking the course with us at DXDivers, you are automatically signed up for coverage throughout the duration of the course or up to 180 days, whichever comes first.