PADI Scuba Diver Course

Short on time and long on the urge to become a certified diver? The PADI Scuba Diver certification might just be for you. This course requires less time than the PADI Open Water Diver course, covering only the first three of five sections of knowledge development, the first three of five pool sessions, and the first two of four open water training dives, resulting in a limited certification. Particularly if you expect to go scuba diving primarily in the company of a dive guide or if you have limited time to devote to scuba certification, consider becoming a PADI Scuba Diver.

This certification allows for ample dive experience and is a good warm-up for the Open Water Diver course, if that’s your ultimate goal. PADI Scuba Divers are qualified to:

• Dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Divemaster, Assistant Instructor or Instructor to a maximum depth of 12 metres / 40 feet
• Obtain air fills, rent or purchase scuba equipment and participate in other diving activities as long as they have the required supervision
• Continue their dive training and complete PADI Open Water Diver certification and other courses such as Project AWARE and equipment specialty courses

The Fun Part

The Scuba Diver certification opens the door on the underwater world for anyone who’s thought that a course would take too long or be too difficult.

• Upgrade to Open Water Diver whenever you want! With less time than the Scuba Diver course takes, you can make the jump to Open Water Diver certification and start scuba diving independently whenever time allows or you’re up for more

What You Learn

All the basics of scuba diving through knowledge development, a set of scuba skills in the pool that you’ll use again during open water dives, and an appreciation for the underwater world that will keep you coming back for more bottom time every chance you get!

During the course you’ll cover material and practice skills related to topics such as:

• Buoyancy skills including comfortable ascents and descents, and breathing underwater.
• Staying warm underwater, streamlining your swimming skills and buddy diving techniques.
• Diving environments and aquatic life you’re likely to encounter.
• Preventing common problems underwater.
• An introduction to boat diving. 

The Scuba Gear You Use

You’ll use all the basic scuba gear and some of it may be included with your course. You may want to invest in your own mask, snorkel and fins since these personal items are a lot more fun to use when they fit properly. A buoyancy compensating jacket that holds your scuba tank, a scuba regulator that delivers air, a weight system and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply will also be used. Depending on the scuba diving environment, you might also wear a scuba wetsuit .

Ask the dive shop where you plan to take your Scuba Diver course about the scuba equipment you’ll use.

The Learning Materials You Need

PADI offers a variety of home-study materials for the Scuba Diver. While eLearning is the most convenient option, you may also choose a book and video on DVD package or a multimedia DVD-ROM.

PADI’s Scuba Diver materials provide a comprehensive overview of basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you’ll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Then you’ll jump in the pool (or pool-like environment) to practice these skills with your instructor. Once you’re a certified diver, use the course materials as a reference guide for future diving adventures. 

The Prerequisites for This Course

To take this course, you must be:

• 15 years old (or 10 years old for Junior Scuba Diver certification)

Your Next Adventure

You may want to step up to Open Water Diver certification at your first opportunity but as a PADI Scuba Diver you also qualify to take:

Equipment Specialist and Project AWARE Specialist certification courses.