PADI Open Water Diver Course
The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed to give you the skills, confidence, and knowledge to dive independently with a buddy. It’s the perfect introduction to a lifetime of underwater adventure.
 
eLearning
Your course begins with PADI’s interactive eLearning materials, which guide you through the essential theory of scuba diving, including:
How buoyancy, pressure, and breathing underwater work
Equipment setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting
Dive planning, safety procedures, and underwater communication
You can begin the digital learning as soon as you’re registered. It’s interactive, easy to follow, and completely self‑paced, allowing you to study whenever it suits you.
 
Confined Water Sessions
Once you’ve completed the theory, you’ll move into the pool to develop your foundational scuba skills in a warm, controlled environment. With your instructor’s support, you will:
Learn essential skills such as mask clearing, regulator retrieval, and buoyancy control
Practise emergency procedures, including air‑sharing techniques
Build confidence through structured, supportive training
These sessions prepare you for your open water dives.
 
Open Water Dives
Your course includes four open water dives, where you will:
Apply the skills learned in the pool
Gain experience in real‑world diving conditions
Explore the underwater environment while practising safe diving techniques
This is where your training becomes true underwater exploration.
 
Where & When Your Training Takes Place
 
Pool Sessions — Wednesday Evenings
You’ll complete five pool sessions, each designed to build your skills progressively and comfortably.
Location: The Mount School, York
Time: Wednesday evenings, 19:00–20:30 (meet at 18:45)
This mid‑week schedule makes it easy to fit training around work and family life.
 
Open Water Dives — One Full Weekend
Your open water training takes place over one full weekend at one of our local dive sites:
Eight Acre Lake, North Cave
Capernwray Diving Centre, Lancaster
Across the weekend, you’ll complete four open water dives — two on Saturday and two on Sunday — giving you time to build confidence and enjoy your first real underwater experiences at a relaxed pace.
 
What’s Included in Your Course Price
Full eLearning materials
All pool sessions
All open water training sessions
All scuba equipment required for the course
Insurance throughout your training
 
Certification
Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll earn the Open Water Diver certification, recognised worldwide and accepted at dive centres across the globe. You’ll be qualified to dive with a buddy to 18 metres (60 feet) and ready to continue your diving journey.