The PADI Open Water Diver is one of the most famous diving courses and normally spreads over 3 to 5 days.
It constitutes the beginners’ diving course of the diving organisation. The training corresponds to the Independent Diver in accordance with ISO 24801-2 and EN 14153-2 certification.
Thanks to this course, millions of people have already dived into the secrets of the underwater world and expanded their life experience with an adventurous factor.
Requirements for the PADI Open Water Diver
For the participation to this diving course, a minimum age of 10 years (for the Junior Open Water Diver) is stipulated. Whoever has already completed the Discover Scuba Diving Programme, can have all of the acquired skills accredited to the complete PADI Open Water Diver Diving Course.
Course contents
In this course, the diving student learns how to breathe under water and other basic principles. The course contents are, among others, observations regarding diving gear for the diving environment, planning and executing dives, as well as preventing and dealing with problems. The pleasure of diving is always present in the foreground. However, taking responsibility for oneself and others is not neglected.
The course is divided into three parts:
At home via the Internet or on site in a classroom, the basics of scuba diving are taught (theoretical knowledge).
Only once this is completed, you go into restricted waters to practise the essential diving skills. In order to do so, swimming pools or defined areas in outdoor water bodies are used. The use of the diving equipment also becomes a routine.
Dives in open water are subsequently planned, so that everything that was learned can be practised and recapitulated.
An exemplary procedure of such a course, spread over 5 days, can be as follows:
Day 1
Theory
Chapter 1 of the course book
Answering the knowledge review questions in the book
Quiz on the first chapter
Evaluation of swimming fitness
10-minute swimming or floating on the surface
Swimming for 300 metres with ABC equipment (mask, snorkel, fins)
Diving vertically with the equipment into the water, which is too deep for standing
When surfacing, blowing out the snorkel and then breathing through it
1st Dive in restricted water
Putting on and adjusting the diving equipment
Inflating and emptying the buoyancy jacket
Breathing under water
Blowing out (removing the water) of the diving regulator
Putting the diving regulator on again
Removing the water from a partly flooded mask
Swimming under water
Using the pressure gauge
Breathing from an alternative air supply (Octopus)
Hand signals
Ascending
Practising the diving skills
Getting out of the water and recapping
Day 2
Theory
Chapters 2+3
2nd Dive in restricted water
Safety check (Buddy check) before the dive
Getting into the water
Blowing out the snorkel
Changing from a snorkel to the diving regulator
Snorkelling on the surface with full diving equipment
Begin of the dive
Taking off the mask, putting it on again and blowing out
Underwater breathing without a mask
Releasing the inflator tube
Neutral buoyancy
Simulation of the situation: “Too little air”
Practising the diving skills
Ascending
Blowing out and emptying the jacket
Taking off the weight belt
Taking off the equipment and getting out of the water
3rd Dive in restricted water
Descent to dive
Neutral buoyancy underwater
Blowing the buoyancy jacket with the mouth and inflator
Simulation of the situation: “Running out of air” combined with breathing from the alternative air supply (Octopus)
Breathing from a deflating diving regulator
Controlled, swimming emergency ascent
Practising the diving skills
Easing a cramp on the surface
Towing a “tired” diver
Getting out of the water and recapping
Day 3
1st Open water dive
Meeting
Preparation of the diving equipment
Putting on and adjusting the equipment
Safety check (Buddy check)
Getting into the water
Buoyancy check at the surface of the water
Controlled descent up to maximum 12 metres
Exploration of the underwater world
Ascent
Getting out
Recapping and common logbook entry
2nd Open water dive
Meeting
Preparation of the diving equipment
Putting on and adjusting the equipment
Safety check (Buddy check)
Getting into the water
Buoyancy check at the surface of the water
Easing a cramp – for oneself and the partner
Towing “tired” diver for 25m
Changing from a snorkel to the diving regulator
Controlled descent up to maximum 12 metres
Creating neutral boost
Blowing out a partially or totally flooded mask
Putting on the diving regulator again and blowing it out
Breathing from an alternative air supply (Octopus)
Exploration of the underwater world and buoyancy exercises
Ascent
Taking off the weight belt at the surface
Getting out
Recapping and logbook entry
Day 4
Theory
Chapter 4
Written final examination
4th Dive in restricted water
Diving for one lap without a mask
Neutral buoyancy underwater
Practising the diving skills
Getting out and recapping
5th Dive in restricted water
Taking off and putting on the diving equipment and the weight belt again under water
Ditto at the surface
Practising the diving skills
Getting out and recapping
Day 5
3rd Open water dive
Meeting
Preparation of the diving equipment
Putting on and adjusting the diving equipment
Buddy check
Getting in
Buoyancy check at the surface of the water
At the surface, navigating with a compass for 50 metres
Descent to a depth of 6-9 metres (max. 18 metres)
Buoyancy check with the mouth
Blowing out the mask
Controlled emergency ascent
Exploration of the underwater world
Safety stop at 5 metres for 3 minutes
Ascent
Taking off and putting on the equipment again at the surface
Getting out
Recapping and logbook entry
4th Open water dive
Meeting
Preparation of the diving equipment
Putting on and adjusting the diving equipment
Buddy check
Getting in
Buoyancy check at the surface of the water
At the surface, navigating with a compass for 50 metres
Descent up to max. 18 metres
Buoyancy check
Taking off the mask, putting it back on and blowing out
Navigation with the compass
Exploration of the underwater world
Safety stop at 5 metres for 3 minutes
Ascent
Getting out
Recapping and logbook entry
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