open water (beginners course)

The PADI Open Water Course is open to all people from the ages of 10 and up. The certification is recognised around the world and you don’t need to be super fit to qualify! At the end of the course you will be qualified to dive with a buddy to a max depth of 18m.
 
Please also note that at Diving Leisure London we now teach the NEW version of the Open Water Course utilising computers for dive planning rather than the old fashioned tables. This will mean your education is much more relevant and up to date with modern diving practices as well as being far simpler!
 
 
PRE-REQUISITES
 
Age 10 and up.
 
COURSE MATERIALS:
 
DVD
Manual containing 5 knowledge reviews that you’ll complete before the course begins
Dive computer manual
Logbook
 
WEEKEND ONE (REFERRAL):
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
 
All course materials
A towel
Swimming costume
 
SATURDAY
 
Classroom Session: 8.30 -12.00
 
You’ll start at the shop in the morning where you’ll go through the first set of knowledge reviews with your instructor. The sessions are informal and based around short presentations designed to highlight the key safety concepts of each section. At the end of each section you’ll do a short multiple choice quiz.
 
Pool Session: 13.00 - 17.30
 
The pool sessions take place at a spacious pool in a college in Southfields about 15 mins from the shop. We have the pool to ourselves and the sessions are designed to slowly work you through the skills, building your confidence as you  progress. You’ll also need to complete a short swim, it’s not essential that you’re a strong swimmer, you just need to be able to swim!
 
SUNDAY
 
Classroom Session: 8.30 -12.00
 
Starting at the shop again you’ll go through the last few knowledge reviews including the dive computer manual and complete your final quiz, again all multiple choice, that simply goes over everything you’ve already learned.
 
Pool Session: 13.00 - 17.30
 
The Sunday pool sessions continue to build your skills until you’re ready to head to open water.
 
WEEKEND TWO (OPEN WATER QUALIFYING DIVES):
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
 
All course materials
Warm clothes to wear between dives (even in summer)
Sun screen (if appropriate)
Money for entry (dependent on location about £8-15 per day)
 
SATURDAY
 
Open waters dives 1 and 2: 8.30 - 17.30
We usually meet at the shop to get geared up and then head down to the dive site. If you don’t have transport we can usually arrange this for you.
Over the course of the day you’ll complete 2 dives at a relaxed and enjoyable pace. The purpose of each dive is to go through the skills you perfected in the pool and ensure that you’re comfortable in open water with them.
 
SUNDAY
 
Open waters dives 3 and 4: 8.30 - 17.30
The Sunday progresses in the same way as Saturday with the last 2 qualifying dives. You’ll continue to develop your skills and at the end of the day we head back to the shop and have a debrief usually down the local pub!
 
COSTS:
 
Referral Course (Weekend One): £249
The referral course means you can complete all the theory and coursework of the Open Water course before going abroad and completing your dives with any PADI dive centre.
 
Full Course: £399
These prices are inclusive of all course materials, equipment use and certification. The only extra is dive site entrance on the final weekend (see above).
 
THE NEXT STEP
 
After you’ve completed the Open Water Course you can progress directly to the Advanced Open Water Course which will qualify you to 30m and give you plenty more diving experience under the supervision of an instructor.