WHAT WE PROVIDE:
- Like-new Aqua Lung rental equipment: BCD, regulator with an octopus and dive computer, wetsuit and tanks*
- All required eLearning course material for both Open Water and Enriched Air
- 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 for rentals or charters
*Rental equipment is replaced each year with the newest model for your safety and comfort
WHAT YOU PROVIDE:
- Complete the PADI medical questionnaire in your PADI eLearning profile, with a physician’s sign-off if needed
- Your own personal and safety gear: mask, snorkel, fins (boots if using open heel fins), weights, surface marker buoy (SMB) with finger spool, whistle and logbook (students get 10% off personal gear)
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 DXDivers family! Join us for our many events like the Annual Pier Cleanup, Trashy Fridays and our Lionfish Derby.
WHAT ELSE SETS US APART?
- Skip the sandy beaches and learn how to dive off a boat rather than off the beach
- Get certified with the only dive shop in South Florida to have a classroom, on-site pool and dive boat all in one place
- 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 its 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
What is the full DXDivers experience?
We’re proud to offer everything you need in one place. Our full retail store carries more than 100 diving brands and over 3,000 products, and we have a training pool out back and classrooms upstairs. Once you’re certified, our drive-thru tank fill station means you never have to lug your tanks through the store. Best of all, our 46’ Newton custom dive boat, the Lady Go Diver, is docked less than a mile from the shop. With our retail store, training pool, classrooms and dive boat all close together, every part of your diving experience fits together seamlessly.
What equipment do I need to start the course?
You’ll need your own personal and safety gear, which is required for the course: a mask, snorkel, fins (plus boots if your fins are open heel), weights, a surface marker buoy (SMB, also called a safety sausage) with a finger spool, a whistle and a PADI logbook. You can pick up everything in our retail store, and students get 10% off personal gear.
How long does it take to complete the course?
Start with the PADI eLearning, which you finish online before any in-person training. It takes the place of a traditional classroom presentation. Next comes the pool: all five Open Water skill modules are completed in one or two pool sessions. Plan on about 6 hours in total for your pool session(s), from the time you arrive until you head home. Then you’ll make 4 ocean dives off our boat, the Lady Go Diver, over 2 boat days. Plan on about 6 hours for each boat day, from the time you arrive until you head home. Altogether, the in-person part of the course can be finished in three days. Ocean dives always depend on the weather.
Can I choose a different schedule or a private class?
Yes! The standard course is a group class, with a new class starting in the pool every Saturday. If you’d like more flexibility, you have two upgrades: the Flexible Schedule Upgrade (+$180) gives you semi-private training scheduled around your availability (we may add other students if needed or wanted), and the Private 1-on-1 Upgrade (+$250) gives you one-on-one instruction with flexible scheduling. Upgrades are added on top of the bundle price.
How old do you have to be to get certified?
Divers can start at 10 years old! Ages 10–14 earn the Junior Open Water Diver certification. Ages 10–11 can dive to 40 feet with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian, and ages 12–14 can dive to 60 feet with a certified adult. At 15, a Junior Open Water Diver is automatically upgraded to Open Water Diver, with a maximum depth of 60 feet.
How often do you run the PADI Open Water course?
A new Open Water class starts in the pool every Saturday. Your eLearning needs to be finished before your pool session, so once you’ve passed the final exam and have your personal and safety gear, give us a call at 954-420-0009 to confirm your spot.
How deep can I dive after I’m certified?
Open Water Divers 15 and older can dive to 60 feet (18 meters). Junior Open Water Divers ages 10–11 must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian and can go to 40 feet (12 meters); ages 12–14 must dive with a certified adult and can go to 60 feet (18 meters).
Why do I need PADI eLearning?
Great question! DXDivers is a dive shop, not a certification agency. PADI creates the courses and training materials that dive shops like ours teach, and we sell all of PADI’s books, materials and digital eLearning. We also charge less than PADI does. Good news: both the PADI Open Water and Enriched Air eLearning are already included in this bundle.
Is it really a lifetime certification?
Yes! Once you’re certified, you’ll never need to repeat the full Open Water course. Keep in mind that some dive shops and charters, including ours, require you to have been diving within the past year to dive from a commercial dive boat. If it’s been longer than that, our PADI ReActivate (formerly called a refresher) will get you back in the water.
What’s the best way to secure my spot in the course?
Buy this bundle online or over the phone. Once you’ve finished your eLearning, you can join whichever Saturday pool session works best for you. Call us at 954-420-0009 to reserve your spot.
Are there any medical issues that could prevent me from scuba diving?
That’s ultimately up to your doctor. You’ll fill out the PADI medical questionnaire in your PADI eLearning profile. If you answer “yes” to anything on it, you’ll need a release signed by your doctor before diving.
Do I need to be certified to go scuba diving?
Yes. Dive shops, dive charters and air fill stations require proof of certification before they’ll let you dive with them, rent scuba gear or get your tanks filled. Beyond that, scuba is a serious sport with specialized gear, and underwater your body is under real pressure, so it’s important to understand the physics and physiology behind it before you dive.
When can I start the PADI eLearning?
Right away! After you buy this bundle, we email you a link to redeem your PADI eLearning code, so you can start learning from the comfort of home.
Will I get decompression sickness (“the bends”)?
Getting the bends (“getting bent”) is much rarer than most people think. The best way to prevent it is to get properly certified and dive often enough to feel comfortable in the water. Panic combined with a rapid ascent is the main reason divers get bent, and your training teaches you how to avoid both.
I live outside Florida. Can I do my pool sessions at home and my ocean dives with DXDivers?
Absolutely! PADI calls this the Referral Program. Do your pool sessions with any PADI dive center and ask your instructor for the signed referral paperwork. Then call us at 954-420-0009 to plan your ocean dives with us.
Can I get a refund if I decide not to finish my certification?
We don’t offer refunds on courses or course materials. If you’re not sure scuba is for you yet, try PADI Discover Scuba Diving first: you’ll put on the gear and take a short pool session with one of our instructors to see how you like it.
Should I bring my own food, snacks or drinks on the boat?
We provide complimentary light snacks, cold water and soda on the Lady Go Diver. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks, too, so you feel comfortable throughout your dive day.
Is there insurance I can get for diving?
Dive insurance isn’t required, but Divers Alert Network (DAN) offers insurance that specifically covers diving-related accidents. While you’re taking the course with us, you’re automatically covered by DAN for the length of the course or up to 180 days, whichever comes first.