Open Water Scuba Diver
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.
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 Open Water SCUBA Diver course. We also offer a Junior Open Water SCUBA Diver course for ages 10-14. The Junior Scuba Diver 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!
- Before you can begin the e-learning modules or participate in the confined water portion of the course, it is necessary to complete a DAN medical waiver. Please review the waiver carefully (emailed upon signing up or can be found online), as it will indicate whether a doctor's evaluation and signature are required.
- 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 (Day/Night 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 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. Personal gear, swimsuits, towels, and a change of clothes are necessary on the first night of class.
- A medical waiver must be completed before receiving e-learning and participating in the class.
- Accommodations, transportation, meals, and park fees at the open water sites are NOT included in the price of this course.
- The Confined Water/Pool Sessions come before the Open Water Checkout Dives.
Your adventure awaits!
Availability: In Stock
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.
Other items to consider:
- The Open Water session must be completed within 6 months after your Confined Water session to maintain student insurance and e-learning activity.
- E-learning must be 100% complete before participating in the Open Water checkout dives.
- Rental equipment for the dive is included in the price of the course but its transportation and care is at the responsibility of the student.
- Accommodations, transportation to and from the dive site, and any weekend park fees are not included in the course and are at the student’s expense.
For accommodations near Pennyroyal and Mermet Springs (our most popular checkout dive sites), we recommend:
- Holiday Inn & Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites in Hopkinsville, KY (mention you're diving with Pennyroyal for the diver’s rate).
- Holiday Inn Express in Metropolis, IL (for a $94/night diver discount, call 618-524-8899 and mention Mermet Springs).
During the winter season, our instructors take students to Vortex Springs in Ponce de Leon, FL to do their checkout dives.
- The spring's water temperature is 68F year-round.
- The drive from the Louisville Dive Center to Vortex Springs takes approximately 9 hours.
- Checkout dives will begin on Saturday and Sunday at around 9 AM local time, concluding at approximately 4 PM on Saturday and 12 PM on Sunday. If you drive, you'll have time to return on Sunday. However, if you choose to fly, you must wait until Monday (24 hours after your last dive) to fly back.
- Flying will also require you to rent tanks and gear from Vortex Springs at an additional cost, in addition to any gear not rented from us.
- Onsite camping and lodging are available at Vortex Springs, and there are hotels in the nearby area, with Ponce de Leon being the closest city. We recommend arriving Friday evening.
- Panama City and Destin are about an hour away, and there's a possibility of doing checkout dives with the Panama City Beach Dive Center on their boat on Sunday.
- We strongly recommend renting gear from us and driving to Vortex, as you will incur extra charges for gear rental at the site if you opt not to rent from us. Rental gear from the Louisville Dive Center is included in the Open Water course price.