You're not the only one wondering about how long it takes for a scuba certification. There are a variety of options depending on how experienced you are. PADI offers an entry-level course that teaches basic diving skills. PADI Open Water Diver allows you to be certified.
PADI's entry-level diver course
Five chapters, four Knowledge Reviews, and a final exam make up the PADI entry-level diver course. It is generally completed over three to four days, though it can be faster if you can take the online course instead. This course covers basic diving skills and includes open water dives.
PADI Open Water Diver Manual will guide you through the basics of diving. It covers terminology, safety, equipment, and much more. The book also includes five videos that will explain each topic in detail and answer any questions.
Open water certification dives
You need to take a few steps before you can get your open water certification. Get your training. You will spend several sessions in the pool or a shallow area before you begin your open water diving. These sessions will help you improve your water skills. The orientation dive is the first, and the scuba skills dive is second. The third dive is designed to relax and consolidate what you have learned.
Your certification can be completed in one weekend if your local dive center is available. To complete your training, however, you might need to adapt to the schedule of the instructor or dive centre if the location you chose is not available. It usually takes between three and four days to become open water certified.
Next-level certification dives
An instructor can give a beginner scuba diver a few try-dives in a pool before moving on to the next level. Try-dives are usually done in shallow water (under 6 feet). Open water diving demands that you be more confident in all aspects. Open water diving takes place in bodies of water such as the ocean, lakes, and even flooded quarry pits.
Although the time required to become certified varies depending on where you live, it usually takes around four days. You can complete the whole process in one week if you take an online course. Entry-level courses have no deadlines, but waiting periods may be necessary for professionals.
Prerequisites for the next-level certification
You should get some water experience before you can get your next-level certification. It is a great way to learn the sport. Dive in lakes and flooded pits is also possible. Open water diving requires more than just a test-dive.
The SDI open water training course is intended for those who want scuba certification. It will give you basic scuba skills, as well as problem solving skills. The course also teaches you how to do a self rescue, which is used by rescue divers. Open water training must be completed before you can dive on more difficult dive sites or liveaboards.