The Open Water SCUBA Diver course is your gateway to unforgettable experiences beneath the waves. Imagine the incredible places you’ll explore! This course is the essential first step into the SCUBA diving lifestyle.

The entry level certification course where you will learn the fundamental knowledge and skills to safely dive in open water. During this course, you will learn about modern dive equipment, diving science, responsible diving practices, diving environments, and safety and technical skills. Diving skills will first be taught in a confined water environment (pool) and then evaluated in the open water training checkout dives with a certified instructor.

In the Open Water SCUBA Diver Course, you will cover all the critical skills and knowledge for SCUBA diving, including:

• The Aquatic Environment: Understanding vision, light, sound, heat loss, tides, currents, and waves.
• Physics and Physiology: Learning about buoyancy, pressure, air spaces, and the effects of breathing compressed air.
• Dive Equipment: Selection, assembly, use, and maintenance of SCUBA gear.
• Dive Planning: Preparing for safe and enjoyable dives.
• Basic SCUBA Skills: Mastering mask and regulator techniques, swimming underwater, buoyancy control, basic rescue techniques, and emergency procedures.

Earning your SCUBA Diver Certification card is an accomplishment to be proud of, paving the way for a lifetime of underwater exploration and discovery. The Open Water SCUBA certification does not expire and can be used at any dive site in the world!

Get  Started!

Getting started is easy! Anyone aged 15+ and in good physical condition can enroll in the SCUBA Diver course. We also offer a Junior Open Water SCUBA Diver course for ages 10-14. This course covers the same skills and materials as the standard course, but please note that junior divers cannot dive with anyone younger than 18 years old and are limited to a maximum depth of 60 feet. Sign up online or reach out to the Louisville Dive Center for more information! A mask, fins, booties, a snorkel, and surface marker buoy are required for the course and are at the expense of the student.

This course is made up of 3 phases:

• E-learning: Online component to learn science and skills. Must be completed by end of Confined Water/Pool Sessions.
• Confined Water/Pool Sessions: Made up of 3-4 classroom/pool sessions, 2 days a week for 2 weeks (M/W or T/Th). We also offer a weekend course (F/Sa/Sun) to complete all confined water skills. 
• Open Water: 4 Open Water Checkout Dives are required for each diver to perform skills learned in confined water upon command and with little Instructor Aid. This phase is a weekend (2 day) in Pennyroyal, Mermet Springs, Vortex Springs, or a special location such as Key Largo with our instructors. All housing, transportation, and food is not included in the price of the course. We recommend reaching out to the respective dive centers for accommodations and diver discounts. 
   

Please note: A $80 fee will apply for confined water courses and a $90 fee for open water checkout dives for no-shows or reschedules made within 48 hours of the course.

All participants must have their own mask, fins, snorkel, boots, and surface marker buoy. 

Accommodations, transportation, meals, and park fees at the respective open water site are NOT included in the price of this course. 

The Confined Water/Pool Sessions come before the Open Water Checkout Dives and those dates can be selected via this page.

Your adventure awaits!