What is open water certified?
PADI Open Water Diver is the first autonomous scuba certification level, and holding the certification allows you to: Obtain air fills. Rent dive equipment. Dive on your own with a buddy (who can be another Open Water Diver and does NOT have to be a diving professional) up to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet. The PADI Open Water Diver course is the first of PADI’s core courses and the first scuba certification level. Following the completion of the Open Water Diver course, participants are certified scuba divers and have the skills and knowledge to dive independently at home or abroad.There is no upper age limit for scuba diving. Many seniors finish the PADI Open Water Diver course (the entry-level course you need to take to become a certified scuba diver) and enjoy diving for years.Most recreational divers rarely dive deeper than 130 feet. But commercial divers can use atmospheric suits to descend to depths up to 2,000 feet. Some recreational divers have descended to depths of 1,000 feet and beyond and survived the experience without any problems.To dive deeper, you should take the Advanced Open Water Diver and/or the Deep Diver Specialty courses. If you want to exceed the recreational limit of 40 meters/130 feet, there are PADI certifications for that too: the PADI TecRec courses. There is one caveat to all of the above.The point at which it’s basically impossible to get the bends, regardless of bottom time, is around 25 feet. Deeper than that requires planning your dive and following that plan to avoid a decompression obligation which, if skipped, can result in decompression sickness.
What comes after open water certification?
The natural progression after Open Water is the Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Don’t be intimidated by the word ‘advanced’! It simply means that this certification builds on the knowledge you gained in your open water course. Can you scuba dive without being certified? Yes, you can.To be a scuba diver, one must be an excellent swimmer and be comfortable in the open ocean, physically fit, mentally alert, and strong. If the magical world of the ocean fascinates you, scuba diving is a fascinating career. Diving into the depths as a professional diver opens up a whole world of opportunities.While it’s technically possible to experience scuba diving without certification through introductory programs like Discover Scuba Diving or resort dives, full certification offers a world of deeper, richer, and safer underwater experiences.It is not illegal to dive without certification, but no reputable dive center or club would allow someone to dive with them without first being certified to scuba dive. Can I be Scuba diving without certification? It’s not that diving is difficult, it just requires a specific set of skills.
How long does an open water cert last?
PADI Open Water Diver Certification Does Not Expire This will allow you to review topics that you might not remember or didn’t fully grasp from your open water course. The refresher course will also update divers on the latest safer diving practices. Your Open Water Diver Certification is a lifetime certification, it never expires. If it’s been a year or more since your last dive, we highly recommend a scuba refresher class to ensure your comfortable with your gear and skills.PADI® Open Water Diver is the first scuba certification level. A highly-trained PADI Instructor will teach you how to scuba dive in a relaxed, supportive learning environment.Like other major certifying agencies, padi scuba certifications do not have an expiration date and remain valid indefinitely. However, diving at least annually or undertaking a padi scuba review refresher is strongly suggested to keep your skills sharp and ensure your safety underwater.Once your instructor submits the certification paperwork, your PADI card will be valid for life and recognized internationally. This rule applies to all recreational PADI courses, including Junior Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, and Nitrox Diver.In order to complete your PADI Open Water Diver certification, you must complete academic training (Aquatic Adventures uses the PADI online Touch program), 5 confined water dives, and 4 open water dives.
How many dives are needed for open water certification?
You can typically gain your Open Water qualification in three to four days. This course involves elements of theoretical study, practice dives in a pool or pool-like environment, and four dives in open water. A lot of people seem to worry about the open water exams, but they really don’t need to. It’s 50 questions multiple choice, and by the time you have to do it you will be fully prepared. Your instructor will talk to you about dive theory as part of the course, and you will cover everything that’s in the exam.
How deep can you dive with open water certification?
The 18-Meter Limit With an Open Water certification, you can dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters, or about 60 feet. That might not sound very deep, but it’s more than enough to experience some of the best diving in the world. The depth to which a non-certified individual can dive is significantly restricted. Most dive centers and resorts allow non-certified individuals to experience scuba diving under the direct supervision of a certified instructor, typically limiting dives to a maximum depth of 12 meters (40 feet).For recreational divers, entry level certifications train them to about 18m/ 60ft. After additional training, the maximum recommended depth is 40 meters, or about 130 feet, according to most training agencies. Beyond this, risks like nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness increase dramatically.While it’s technically possible to experience scuba diving without certification through introductory programs like Discover Scuba Diving or resort dives, full certification offers a world of deeper, richer, and safer underwater experiences.In the underwater world of scuba diving, descending to depths up to 40 meters (130 feet) is considered recreational scuba. When divers exceed this limit, they enter the realm of technical diving.