How to Earn Your PADI Open Water Diver Certification

 The PADI Open Water Diver course typically takes two days to complete in Key Largo with Sail Fish Scuba—Day 1 includes pool training and 2 open water dives, and Day 2 continues with more pool skill sessions and 2 additional open water dives, giving you a total of 4 boat dives on the beautiful Florida Keys coral reef. 

 With a PADI Open Water Diver certification, you can explore the underwater world and experience amazing marine wildlife. This certification is valid for life and allows you to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 metres (60 feet). You can book dive excursions with boats or resorts, rent scuba gear and tanks, get air fills, and connect with fellow ocean lovers!

 To complete your scuba diving certification, you must swim 200 metres/219 yards (or 300 metres/328 yards in mask, fins and snorkel) without stopping, and float/tread water for 10 minutes, using any swimming methods you want. 

 Your scuba diving certification lasts a lifetime! That said, it’s important to dive regularly to keep your skills sharp and your knowledge up to date. Try to avoid going longer than six months without diving. If it’s been a while since your last dive, consider taking the PADI Reactivate Scuba Refresher course to regain your confidence and refresh your skills before you jump back in. 

 Once you sign up for the PADI eLearning course, you’ll be asked to complete several waivers, including a Diver Medical Questionnaire which may require your medical doctor’s approval before diving. In addition to the PADI waivers, you’ll also fill out our own Smartwaiver online to complete all the necessary paperwork. 

  PADI courses/programs are performance-based. Certification signifies that the student demonstrated mastery of all course knowledge and skill performance requirements. 

 PADI defines mastery during confined and open water dives as performing the skill so it meets the stated performance requirements in a reasonably comfortable, fluid, repeatable manner as would be expected of a diver at that certification level.

 While many students complete their certification with ease, others may need additional time or practice depending on their individual comfort level, learning style, readiness, or overall understanding of the skills. At Sail Fish Scuba, we’re committed to providing the personalized support and extra training needed to help every student succeed and feel confident in the water. 

The only item not included in the course price is your personal gear, which we define as your mask, fins, and snorkel. While it isn’t required to purchase your personal gear from us, you're welcome to bring your own or take advantage of our great dive gear packages. As a student, you’ll receive a special discount on our high-quality equipment from Cressi, a trusted name in scuba diving gear known for its comfort, performance, and Italian craftsmanship. Cressi gear is designed by divers, for divers, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced underwater explorers!

Absolutely! You can always bring your list of completed skills from your other PADI instructor (known as the PADI Open Water Referral form) and we can take over your training with the open water dives. If you finished only a part of your pool training, we can still finish the required remaining skills in the pool and then head out on the boat to get your open water check out dives done.

 If the weather isn’t suitable for your open water checkout dives, we’ll arrange training dives in a protected, confined lagoon instead. This way, you can complete your certification safely and comfortably, regardless of the conditions. 

 At Sail Fish Scuba, we’re all about empowering you to become a confident diver while having an amazing time. Every class features a friendly, professional in-water Dive Guide at no extra cost, with small groups—4:1 or fewer—so you get plenty of personal attention and feel totally comfortable and safe. We love getting to know each diver, capturing free underwater photos, and welcoming you like family from day one. Choose Sail Fish Scuba for your PADI Open Water Diver certification, and let’s start this unforgettable adventure together!