Seventy percent of the Earth's surface comprises of water, no surprise then that PADI professionals train seventy percent of the world's scuba divers! The PADI Open Water Course is the most popular and exciting learn to dive course in the world and is recognised the world over. On completion of the course you will be presented a certification card and certificate allowing you to discover what the underwater world has to offer! Don't spend four days of your holiday learning to dive, take your scuba diving course here in Swansea with Bay Divers and spend your holiday diving and not learning! We have two scuba diving locations in Swansea, and one is only 5 minutes from the M4 and 45 minutes from Cardiff.

Pre-Requisites

Minimum age is 10, 12-15 year olds will be awarded the PADI Junior Open Water certification. All students must fill in a PADI medical questionnaire prior to participation. You will also need two passport-sized photos ready for the end of the course.

Course Outline

The course is in three phases - Knowledge Development, Confined water training sessions and Open water dives.

Knowledge Development

The course is structured on a self-study method allowing you to study in your own time. On meeting in Morriston Leisure Centre, (just off Junction 46 of the M4 and just around the corner from Morriston Hospital) we issue your open water crewpacks. The crewpacks contain an open water manual, electronic dive planner, dive logbook and sticker - all yours to keep. There is also some paperwork to retained by your instructor. You will be told what needs to be completed before your next pool session but during the next five weeks we will be meeting for two dedicated theory training sessions as agreed by all the students on the course. It's your course and we run the sessions around you. How accommodating is that?!

Confined Water Sessions

At the pool facility in Morriston Leisure Centre (close to Swansea) you will learn the skills necessary to scuba dive safely and with confidence. Perfecting buoyancy and learning to clear your mask of water are among the fun and exciting skills that your Bay Divers PADI Instructor will teach you. Water competency skills including a 200 metre swim (no time limit) and a 10-minute tread water need to be demonstrated before moving on to the Open Water phase of the course. If you, or we feel you are not yet ready to progress to open water we will retain you free of charge for a few extra sessions to ensure that you have the confidence to pass and enjoy your experience.

Final Exam

Don't be too worried. This is an easy multiple choice exam that takes place in an informal setting covering all the essentials that you have learnt so far!

Open Water Dives

This is the most exciting phase of the course, there are four open water dives over two days where you will demonstrate the skills that you have learnt during your pool sessions whilst discovering the aquatic realm! These scuba dives will take place either in Gower Swansea, West Wales or the National Diving Activity Centre in Chepstow.

Course Duration

Five weeks, one evening per week in the pool plus one weekend at the Open Water site. Fast-Track courses are available upon request and are normally and at least four days in duration.

How much is it and what is included?

The course costs £350 and includes:

• PADI Open Water Manual
• PADI Recreational Dive Planner & Instruction Booklet
• PADI Diver Logbook including full training record
• PADI Certification fee
• Full Equipment hire
• Certification card and Certificate given to you by your Instructor on successful completion!

What is not included?

Travel to and from the training locations and Open Water sites are your responsibility. If the Gower diving sea conditions are unsuitable for the last two days of Open Water training we use the facility at NDAC Chepstow, there is a fee of £15 per student per day payable directly to the centre.

What happens after the Open Water Course?

Once you have gained certification as a PADI Open Water Diver you have the option of moving on to the PADI Advanced Open Water scuba diver course, which will increase your experience and develop your underwater skills whilst giving you a taste of some of the PADI specialty courses. Incidentally, on completion of the course you will be allowed to enrol in many of the exciting speciality courses that PADI has to offer.

Similarly you may wish to consolidate your newly found diving skills by joining us on our regular training nights. We meet at Morriston Leisure Centre (near Swansea) every Monday evening for a dive between 8 and 9pm, obviously keeping clear of the course in progress, followed by a decompression stop at the local pub! You will also be made very welcome to join us on the many scuba diving trips organised throughout the year in the UK and abroad.