PADI Open Water Diver
Age 10+
What is PADI Open Water Diver?
Open Water is your first full scuba card. Finish the PADI eLearning theory online before you arrive, then work through shallow-water skills and four reef dives with your instructor in West End, Roatan. Adults train to dive with a certified buddy to 18 meters / 60 feet. No previous scuba experience needed. Just basic swimming ability and a completed medical questionnaire. Your certification never expires and is recognized across the world.
How the Open Water Diver Course Works
Complete PADI eLearning
Complete dive theory, equipment, safety and planning online before arrival.
Practice Skills in Shallow Water
Work through breathing, mask, regulator, buddy and buoyancy skills in shallow water.
Complete Four Reef Dives
Use those skills during four open water training dives on Roatan’s reef with your instructor.
Get Your PADI Certification
Finish the requirements and receive your PADI Open Water Diver certification.
Skills You Will Learn
Equipment Set Up
Assemble, check and take apart your scuba gear before and after a dive.
Breathing & Recovery
Breathe steadily and recover your regulator without returning to the surface.
Mask Clearing
Clear water from your mask and stay calm while you finish the skill.
Buoyancy & Buddy Skills
Control your depth, communicate, plan the dive and stay with your buddy.
Course & Certification Details
Four reef dives, the full beginner curriculum and a certification card that doesn’t expire. This is the standard starting point for independent recreational scuba diving.
Key Takeaways
TL;DR
- Practice dives in shallow water until comfortable
- Four real open water dives on Roatan's reef
- Adult depth limit of 18 m / 60 ft
- Certification never expires, recognized worldwide
- Must be 10+ and in good health
Whats Included
$400
- Includes PADI eLearning & fees
- All equipment and rental gear
- Instructor guided skill development
- Four open water dives
- PADI certification processing
Open Water FAQ
Do I need to have scuba experience?
Open Water is the first full scuba certification. You need basic swimming ability, comfort in the water and a completed medical questionnaire.
Is there a swimming test to complete?
You’ll swim 200 meters or yards without stopping, or 300 meters or yards with mask, fins and snorkel. You’ll also float or tread water for 10 minutes.
How deep can I dive with Open Water certification?
Adults and Junior Open Water Divers aged 12 to 14 train to a maximum of 18 meters / 60 feet. Divers aged 12 to 14 must dive with a certified adult. Divers aged 10 and 11 are limited to 12 meters / 40 feet and must dive with a PADI Professional or a certified parent or guardian.
How long does the course take?
Plan for 2 to 3 days after finishing the eLearning. Your exact schedule depends on your start time, progress and the in-water sessions.
What's Diving in Roatan Like?
You’re learning on the Mesoamerican Reef right off the dock in Half Moon Bay, West End. Roatan’s calm water, great visibility and quick reef access is perfect for beginners. In a couple of days and you leave with a PADI Open Water card that lets you dive anywhere in the world with a buddy.
Ready to Become a Diver?
Message our crew to started on your Open Water Diver course in Roatan.
What Comes After Open Water?
Open Water gets you in the water. Advanced Open Water is how you stay longer and go deeper. Most divers do it the day after Open Water. We run them back to back from our dock if you want to combine them.
PADI Advanced Open Water
Five adventure dives. No exam. Depth limit goes to 30 meters.
Peak Performance Buoyancy
One day, two dives. Better buoyancy for the rest of your diving life.
Join our Daily Fun Dives
We run two single tank certified dive tours for Open Water level divers every afternoon.
9,034+ PADI Certifications
24+ Years Open in West End
4+ Daily Certified Dive Tours
Roatan's Only TEC Dive Shop
Diver Experiences
Amazing team! I got my Open Water certification with them, and they did an excellent job walking me through every step of the process, making sure I felt comfortable and confident at every stage. My instructor, Sean, broke everything down with thorough, easy-to-understand explanations that made learning enjoyable and stress-free.
