PADI® Open Water Diver - OWD

PADI® Open Water Diver course is the classic beginner course for new divers.
After completing and passing the course, you are authorized to dive worldwide with your buddy.

If you've always wondered what's under the surface of the water, now is the time to find out.
Start the journey of a lifetime with the PADI® Open Water Diver course.

What can you expect?

In the PADI® Open Water Diver course I teach you the basics of scuba diving.
You start in a protected environment such as the natural swimming pool in Riehen and when you are ready, we switch to one of the beautiful Swiss lakes.
During this time you will develop your skills and abilities in scuba diving under water with me.
You can work through the eLearning yourself before or during the course. It not only gives you more background knowledge, but also allows you to design your course flexibly.
After completing the eLearning and the 4th sea dive, you are a certified PADI® Open Water Diver and can start your next underwater adventure right away.

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  • Minimum age 10 years
    • Restriction for 10 - 15 year old children - see Junior Open Water Diver
  • Diver medical check or, if the check requires it, a diving fitness certificate from the diving doctor
  • Adequate physical fitness, as you will be completing the following, among other things:
    • Float on the surface without swimming aids for 10 minutes or tread water
    • Swim 200 meters without swimming aids or 300 meters with mask, snorkel and fins
  • feel comfortable in the water
  • Your standard equipment includes mask, fins, booties & snorkel for technical diving. You can obtain this from the ShipShop.
  • The rest of the equipment is included in the course and can be purchased from the ShipShop

    • Divers under the age of 15 can obtain certification as a "Junior" diver.
    With the exception of the dive depths, all course requirements also apply to "junior" divers.

    After their certification, 10- and 11-year-olds are required to limited, with one parent, legal guardian or a PADI® professional to a maximum depth of 12 meters to dive.

    12- to 14-year-olds must dive with a certified adult and are limited to a maximum depth of 18 meters.

    As soon as the Junior Open Water Diver is 15 years old, a replacement certificate can be ordered, which raises the depth limit to 18m.

  • PADI® Open Water eLearning Kit
  • Mask, fins, booties & snorkel (can be purchased from the ShipShop as shown in the example above)
  • Time for learning and dives
  • How to get there for diving
  • Diving fitness certificate medical check or the diving fitness certificate from the doctor)

    • Regular course options:

  • 500.00 CHF Basic course theory & pool incl. PADI® eLearning materials, rental equipment. Then you do the rest during your vacation or somewhere else. (bank transfer)
  • 400.00 CHF Open water modules 1-5 incl. PADI® certification and rental equipment
  • 850.00 CHF Complete incl. PADI® eLearning materials, certification and rental equipment

    • Included in the course price:
  • PADI® Open Water eLearning Kit
  • PADI® certification
  • The rental equipment and air which is obtained via the ShipShop
  • Personal support
  • Small groups
  • Enough time from our side
  • Have fun


    • Not included in the course price:
  • Mask, fins, booties & snorkel (can be purchased from the ShipShop as shown in the example above)
  • Travel costs

    • Optional:
  • Possibly 1-2 bottle filling(s) at the lake if we spend a whole weekend at the lake
  • Catering after diving
  • Eating, drinking in the restaurant
  • Overnight stay by the lake

  • Personal support
  • Access your PADI® Open Water Diver eLearning Kit at any time
  • Support with eLearning problems
  • Support with diving problems
  • Diving equipment on loan (without mask, snorkel & fins)
  • Entry to the natural swimming pool/pool/indoor pool/outdoor pool for diving
  • PADI® certification "Open Water Diver" or PADI® certification "Junior Open Water Diver"
  • A voucher for your next diving course with us (if you have booked through us).

    • After booking & paying for the course, you will normally receive your PADI® eLearning code within 24 hours and can start right away.

  • Self-study with the Open Water Diver eLearning Kit
    • PADI® eLearning: 5-10 hours
  • Trying on rental equipment in the ShipShop
    • Allow 1-2 hours to try on the equipment
    • The equipment can be collected and returned 1-2 days before and after the course day.
  • 5 swimming pool modules in the Riehen natural swimming pool, pool or outdoor pool.
    • Normally 2-3 appointments
    • Plus 1 reserve date
  • Quick Review, questions to check what has been learned from the eLearning is done after completing the eLearning and before the open water dive 3+4
  • 4 open water dives, preferably in Lake Thun
    • Optional: First open water dive with your buddy as a certified diver after the 4th open water dive.
    • 2x 1 full day (whole weekend or individually) for the 4 open water dives

    Regular course:
    In the regular course you take part in the PADI® course together with a group. We will look for dates together when we can meet.

    Private course:
    There are two or more of you and you want to be on your own. Then a private course with us is just the thing for you. You are together as a group and indicate when the dates suit you and when we meet.

    VIP course:
    Are you alone and want to be able to schedule your appointments flexibly? The VIP course is just right for you.

    Education:
    PADI® Advanced Open Water Diver - AOWD

    Special courses:
    PADI® Underwater Navigation
    PADI® buoyancy control in perfection
    PADI® Dry Suit Diving
    PADI® Altitude Diving
    PADI® Nitrox Diving

    The PADI Open Water Diver course teaches you what you need to know to explore the underwater world through scuba diving. For most, this is a worthwhile challenge. The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three parts:
    - Development of knowledge
    - Dives in confined water (a delimited body of water)
    - Open water dives.
    The "Developing your knowledge" section explains the principles, concepts and terms you need to know for your safety and to enjoy diving. During the dives in Confined Water you learn and practise diving skills in a swimming pool or in a body of water with conditions similar to a swimming pool. You undertake one or more mini dives in which you go through the same steps as for open water dives. Finally, you practise, use and demonstrate what you have learned during the four open water dives at a local dive site. A PADI Open Water diving certificate shows that you have fulfilled the course requirements. Dive centers and resorts require proof of certification before they will rent you diving equipment, fill your tanks or confirm your registration for a dive trip. As a PADI Open Water Diver you will be trained to dive to a maximum of 18 meters/60 feet and in conditions at least as good as those in which you were trained. You are just at the beginning of a life with countless diving experiences.

    To enroll in a PADI Discover Scuba Diving program, you must be at least 10 years old. You don't need any previous diving experience, but you must be in good health.

    Source: PADI.com

    The PADI Open Diver course consists of three important parts:

    - Knowledge development (online, self-study or in the classroom) to understand the basic principles of diving
    - Dives in confined water (i.e. in a swimming pool or in a confined and protected area in open water) to learn basic diving skills
    - Dives in open water (for example in a lake) to apply your skills and explore the underwater world

    Short on time? Then the PADI Scuba Diver course might be the right thing for you. Here we reduce the chapters in eLearning, the time in the pool and in the open water.

    Source: PADI.com

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