About the Course
The PADI Scuba Diver course is a subset of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you're short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be right for you. Particularly if you expect to go scuba diving primarily with a dive guide. This course is an intermediate step for earning an Open Water Diver certification, if that's your ultimate goal.
PADI Scuba Divers are qualified to:
Dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 metres
Obtain air fills, rent or purchase scuba equipment and participate in dive activities as long as properly supervised.
Continue dive training by completing the PADI Open Water Diver certification and taking certain specialty diver courses.
Why take this course
Make the most of a short holiday / this course is great if your tight on time and unable to do the full PADI Open Water Course.
Make dives under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional
Want to be able to dive to 12m
What you'll learn
You learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device and a tank.
The PADI Scuba Diver course consists of three main phases:
Knowledge Development (eLearning, independent study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving - just the first three of five sections of the Open Water Diver course.
Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills - just the first three of five dives of the Open Water Diver course
Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore - just two of four dives of the Open Water Diver course.
Course Prerequisites
You must be at least 15 years old. Due to our location and sites used we cannot currently enrol anyone under this age onto most of our courses. Please speak to us about alternative options for younger divers.
You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with scuba diving is required, but you can try it first through the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.
Equipment & Extra Cost
We'll provide all the basic scuba gear you'll use including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, dive gauges, weights, tank and drysuit (depending upon the time of year).
We recommend purchasing your own mask, snorkel and fins as this not only set's you up for your next adventure but also gives you peace of mind when if comes to hygiene too. Whilst we disinfect all our gear we really do encourage you to own your own core kit.
We offer discount on TUSA, Waterproof, TovaTec and Beaver Sports gear and equipment. We can have this ready for you ahead of your course. Chat to us before hand to discover what we have in stock or to order in your preferred colour!
After the course...
Your next step is to complete the remaining parts of the PADI Open Water Course and become a fully certified diver. You'll be able to dive with a certified buddy and to 18m.
The PADI Open Water course really is your gateway ticket to diving anywhere in the world and this should be your next focus.
Medical Requirements
Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Certain health conditions, medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a doctor before diving.
Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a doctor’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course. You can find this on the About page of our website under 'key info'. Only medical professionals can give clearance to dive. In the case of the UK this is a specialist area and you may need to speak to a HSE Approved Medical Examiners of Divers (AMEDs)
If you (or your doctor) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN) or a HSE AMED.