PADI / SSI / NAUI / SDI
Open Water Diver
The core entry certification, letting you dive independently with a buddy.
- Free reference
- No signup
- Find an operator to get there
Open Water Diver is the foundational scuba certification and the one most divers hold. It combines knowledge development (online or classroom), confined-water skills (pool), and four open-water training dives. On completion you are certified to dive with a buddy, without professional supervision, to a recommended maximum depth of 18 metres / 60 feet.
This is the card that unlocks the world: it is recognized by dive operators globally and is the prerequisite for every level above it. Most students finish in three to four days.
What you'll learn
- Assemble and care for scuba equipment
- Buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, and buddy procedures
- Dive planning basics and safe ascents
Find an operator who teaches Open Water Diver
Browse dive operators and connect with the people who can get you to this level.
Common questions
- How deep can an Open Water Diver go?
- The recommended maximum is 18 metres / 60 feet. Going deeper is covered by Advanced Open Water.
- Does my certification expire?
- No, scuba certifications do not expire. After a long break, a refresher (e.g. PADI ReActivate / SSI Scuba Skills Update) is recommended.
