Learn to scuba dive while on your holiday in Phuket by taking your PADI Open Water Diver Course which can be completed in as little as 3 days.

Thailand's Andaman Sea boasts vibrant tropical reefs and amazing underwater seascapes. The clear blue water is the perfect place to learn to dive.

Become a PADI Open Water Diver qualified to dive independently with your buddy. Discover for yourselves the mysteries around your coastline, or exotic destinations and sample the stunning marine life of the coral reefs.

Become an Open Water Diver and begin to live your dreams.

Course outline

The course itself is divided into 3 areas,

1. Academic Training (classroom and independent study)

2. Confined Water Training (swimming pool sessions)

3. Four Open Water Dives (under Instructor supervision)

The full course runs over 3 or 4 days. For those that do not have that many days free consecutively it is possible to run the course as 4 individual days of your choosing allowing even people with the busiest of schedules to learn to dive.

The first day is spent with independent study of the Open Water manual, including 5 knowledge reviews, and 4 quizzes to be completed.

During the course you will complete 4 open water dives under instruction, demonstrating your skills to your instructor, who upon your successful completion of these dives, will sign your certification documents and issue you with your temporary certification card.

After completion your certification details are sent to PADI International for registration, and they will then issue you your permanent certification card.

As a Open Water Diver you will be certified to dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres/40 feet, in conditions equal to or better than those in which you qualified, as a recreational sport diver on compressed air.

Course timetable

Independent study by reading the manual and completing all the short quizzes and the five main knowledge reviews, one at the end of each chapter. The knowledge reviews will be required by your instructor on the first day of your course, so this independent study section of the course is very important.

Module one

In module one you will learn the principles of buoyancy, pressure and its relationship to volume, density at depth. You will begin to look at dive equipment and the buddy system.

Module two

In module two you will look at the effects of being underwater on sight, sound, heat loss, movement and respiration. You will take a more detailed look at certain items of equipment and exposure suits. You will learn about communication signals and pre-dive safety checks, (BWRAF). You will also look at some of the water skills you will be learning, and why they are so important.

Module three

In module three you will learn about the dive environment, dive planning, aspects of boat diving, problem management and basic general open water skills.

Module four

In module four you learn more about various dive equipment accessories etc. You will look at health and fitness for diving, the effects of breathing air at depth, Nitrogen Narcosis and Decompression Sickness; you will be introduced to the recreational dive planner/ tables and dive computers and special considerations when planning repetitive dives.

Module five

Module five covers special dive table and computer procedures, using a dive computer, basic compass navigation and additional study of the recreational dive planner, dive safety practices and a section on continuing your diving education.

You will also be taught shown how to assemble your own equipment, followed by a detailed briefing on what is expected in the first pool session.

Confined Water session

During each pool (confined water) session on the course your instructor will explain each water skill to you and demonstrate them clearly, before asking you to perform them. You will soon see that the skills you practice build up your confidence in the water and in the equipment.

This session is seperated into 5 dives and usually takes one afternoon to complete. You will practice kit assembly, buddy check, surface inflation of your BCD, shallow water entry, breathing underwater, regulator clearing, regulator recovery, mask clearing, buoyancy control, fin pivots and equalisation of your ears, breathing from an Alternate air source. You will put into practice some of the signals youve learnt plus correct ascent procedures and shallow water exits. You will also get the chance to practice deep water entry, No mask breathing and swimming, disconnecting the low pressure inflator hose, inflating your BCD orally. You will practice air depletion exercises and various types of safe ascent procedures, tired diver tow, cramp removal techniques, weight removal at the surface and a deep water exit.

The remaining water skills include weight belt removal and replacement both underwater and on the surface, scuba unit removal and replacement both on the surface and underwater, CESA, and various flexible dive skills.

During the pool session you will also perform your swim tests, (200 meter swim and 10 minute float).

Open Water diving

Upon arrival at the dive site you will have a site safety briefing to familiarise you with that specific site and any potential hazards appertaining to it. Prior to each dive over these two days a dive briefing will take place explaining exactly who is doing what, where and when and the emergency procedures that are in place.

Dive 1

This is a straight forward orientation dive, to help you get accustomed to open water diving and its procedures, plus a general look at the specific dive site. Your instructor will supervise you and lead the dive at all times. Duration is normally about 30-40 minutes dependent upon conditions. Upon completion of this dive you will exit the water, kit-down and have a de-briefing during your surface interval...

Dives 2, 3 & 4

During these dives you are required to demonstrate that you are a proficient and safe diver. You will enter the water and then proceed to a specified training area where you will be asked to demonstrate certain skills that you learnt during the confined water section. The particular requirements for each dive will be given in the dive briefing before each dive. Upon completion of the skillset, each dive will end with an underwater tour, lead by your dive instructor. Duration is normally about 40-50 minutes dependent upon conditions. Upon completion of each dive you will exit the water, kit-down, de-brief and complete your dive log books.