PADI Open Water Diver Course
Group sizes
A typical Open Water course group in English by Pro-Diver Development is 2-4 participants.
Our maximum numbers per instructor are
pool - maximum 6
open water - maximum 4
If there are more enrolled, we'll split the group or add instructors.
More information on PADI website:
Sign Up:
If you chose Pro-Diver Development Ltd. (S-19292) as your affiliated dive center, we are happy to assist you with diving concepts and answer questions about the study materials. We cannot unfortunately help you with technical issues.
Quick Links:
Where?
The classroom sessions are held in our classroom in Sheung Wan.
Our pool sessions are run at Chi Fu Fa Yuen swimming pool in Pok Fu Lam. It is a heated indoor pool, and in many ways perfect for the Open Water course. During the summer months, courses may use outdoor pools at other locations.
Open water dives are done either from a boat or shore in or around Sai Kung area in eastern side of Hong Kong. If you are going on a boat, the boats leave from the old pier in Sai Kung town.
You can see the training locations in the Maps & Directions section. All dive equipment is provided for you to use.
Who can take the Open Water course?
To become an Open Water Diver, you’ll need to be
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reasonably fit (normal health)
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able to swim 200m without stopping (no time limit, any style or combination of styles) and float or tread water for 10 minutes
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minimum 10 years old. If you are between 10-14 years old, after successful completion of the course you’ll earn PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification.
Before the start of the course you’ll fill a Medical Questionnaire in order to evaluate that you fill the health requirements for diving. You may also be required to have a check-up by a physician.
PADI Open Water Course
in nutshell
What's in the course?
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Full self-study options, online or offline, or combination of self-study plus two 3 hour review sessions
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6-8 hours of pool work
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4 dives in 2 days (2 dives per day) in open water (sea)
How long?
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1-3 weekday evenings plus three weekend days - other options possible
Who?
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Minimum 10 years of age
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Reasonable (normal) health
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Able to swim 200m and float/tread water for 10 minutes
Where?
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Classroom sessions at Pro-Diver in Sheung Wan (or with PADI eLearning/Touch online programs no classroom sessions needed)
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Pool sessions at Chi Fu, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong island
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Open water dives in Sai Kung
How much?
Group courses HKD4,500 per person or with online options AUD210 + HKD3,900
Private course HKD7,900 per person or with online options AUD210 + HKD6,900
The PADI Open Water Diver course teaches you to scuba dive. It is an easy way to learn scuba diving and as such the most popular scuba course in the world.
With the PADI Open Water Diver certification you can rent scuba equipment and join dive trips anywhere in the world.
Confined Water Dives (pool)
You'll learn the basic scuba skills in a swimming pool. The pool practice takes about 6-8 hours of pool time, and is usually done in two three-hour sessions. One of the pool sessions is typically weekday evening, the other on Saturday or Sunday. Weekday sessions can be arranged for tailor-made schedules.
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of:
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Knowledge Development - to understand the basic principles
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Confined Water Dives (pool) - to learn basic scuba skills
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Open Water Dives - four dives to use your skills and explore!
How long does it take to get certified?
There is about 30 hours of course work involved. The course is flexible, and can be tailored to your schedule and needs.
Group courses typically take 2-3 evenings and three weekend days spanning over a period of little over a week to two weeks. If you are available weekdays day-time, with private courses and self study options you may be able to get certified in as little as 3-4 days.
Short on time? You can complete part of the full Open Water course first with Referral or Scuba Diver Course options. Both are good options if you don't have the time to finish the full Open Water course before a holiday but want to go diving at your destination.
More information about options to get certified you can find on our New to Scuba Diving page.
Knowledge Development
In order to dive safely, you'll need to understand basic principles of scuba diving. It is not difficult, but it is important. There are two main options to do this:
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Standard - a combination of self-study using course manual and DVDs, and attending instructor led review sessions.
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Full self-study with PADI eLearning or PADI Touch programs allow you to complete the whole academic portion of the course - including quizzes and the final exam - at home and at your own pace.
In Standard Course option you study the theory as a combination of self-study and instructor led review sessions. There are five chapters to read at home and some questions to find answers to, and five corresponding video segments to watch (well, six, if you include the Introduction chapter).
In standard group courses, there are two (2) instructor led review sessions, about three (3) hours each. These are typically weekday evenings after work hours. Your instructor will go over your answers to the Knowledge Review questions elaborating as needed and you will complete short quizzes and the Final Exam.
If you are doing the course one-on-one, the review session for the whole course material takes about 2-4 hours depending on how well you've studied the material and can be done in one go.
You can also complete the theory fully independently at your leisure and own pace with PADI eLearning or PADI Touch programs without needing to attend classroom sessions.
PADI eLearning programs are suitable for desktop or laptop computer, PADI Touch programs are designed for tablets.
Open Water Dives
There are four (4) open water dives conducted in two (2) days, two (2) dives per day. Open water dives will cover skills development and familiarization with the marine environment. The open water dives are most commonly on Saturdays and/or Sundays.
You'll finish the Open Water course with your certification dives on a boat in Sai Kung.
During the course, you'll do four open water dives over two days of diving.
You learn the basic scuba diving skills safely in a swimming pool.
When do courses run?
Courses are arranged throughout the year. Group courses run with minimum of two (2) participants. The next scheduled course is on this page, more courses are on Schedules page.
PADI online programs allow you to complete the Open Water course theory at home - or anywhere that best suits you.
Next course:
PADI Open Water Diver Course
Pre-Course: eLearning
Saturday, Aug 10 - Pool
18:00 - 22:00
Pool dives 1-2
Chi Fu Fa Yuen Swimming pool, Pok Fu Lam
Sunday, Aug 11 - Pool
08:15 - 12:00
Pool dives 3-5
Chi Fu Fa Yuen Swimming pool, Pok Fu Lam
Saturday, Aug 17 - Boat
09:00 - 18:00
Open water dives 1 & 2
Sai Kung
Sunday, Aug 18 - Boat
09:00 - 18:00
Open water dives 3 & 4
Sai Kung
Enrollments latest by Wednesday, Aug 7. Places are available on first-come-first-served basis.
PADI Open Water Diver Course
Pre-Course: eLearning
Wednesday, Aug 14 - Pool
18:00 - 22:00
Pool dives 1-2
Chi Fu Fa Yuen Swimming pool, Pok Fu Lam
Friday, Aug 16 - Pool
18:00 - 22:00
Pool dives 3-5
Chi Fu Fa Yuen Swimming pool, Pok Fu Lam
Saturday, Aug 17 - Boat
09:00 - 18:00
Open water dives 1 & 2
Sai Kung
Sunday, Aug 18 - Boat
09:00 - 18:00
Open water dives 3 & 4
Sai Kung
Enrollments latest by Friday, Aug 9. Places are available on first-come-first-served basis.
Course Options
Standard Group Course:
HKD4,500 / person (2-4 participants)
Group Course with PADI eLearning/Touch:
HKD3,900* + AUD210 (for eLearning/Touch) / person
Private Course (one-on-one):
HKD7,900 / person
Private Course (one-on-one) with PADI eLearning/Touch:
HKD6,900* + AUD210 (for eLearning/Touch) / person
*) Valid if you selected Pro-Diver Development Ltd. (S-19292) as your affiliated dive shop when enrolling into PADI eLearning/Touch programs.
Course fees include professional instruction, PADI Open Water Diver manual, RDP (Recreational Dive Planner) table, log book, use of scuba equipment, tanks and weight belts during the course, pool and boat fees, four (4) open water dives and certification processing fee. Transportation to and from pool, pier/shore dive site is not included.
PADI eLearning and Touch programs are payable directly to PADI during the online enrollment process. The PADI eLearning/Touch prices shown as of January 1, 2019.
PADI eLearning/Touch students receive the student manual, eRDPML (electronic recreational dive planner - multilevel) and the logbook in digital format.
Course material & equipment
PADI Open Water Diver manual, RDP table (or eRDPML or dive computer), log book. Course fees include the required materials and use of scuba equipment you need.
What you need
Swim suit/trunks and towel for pool and open water dives. A passport photo for certification at the end of the course.
A new requirement from PADI for 2017: all student divers must have a timing device (watch or dive computer) for the open water dives. You can use your regular watch if it is water proof enough, buy a cheap one for the course and later diving, or rent a dive computer.
How to sign up
Please check the current course schedules. If the schedules do not work for you, courses may also be arranged by request subject to pool/boat/instructor availability. An Open Water Diver group course may be set up with minimum of two participants.
Please contact us through the contact page or by email or phone. Our office will direct you to one of our instructors, so you can talk directly, ask questions and arrange a course schedule. To sign up, you should come to our office to collect the study materials, fill in the paperwork and pay the course fee. It is best to set up a time with your instructor so he/she can take you through the paper work, course requirements, study materials, etc.
You can also start right now with PADI eLearning or Touch programs by clicking the PADI eLearning button above: select Pro-Diver Development (S-19292) as your affiliated dive shop to get the discounted eLearning price for the in-water sessions.
See Scuba Diving photos from Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia.
PADI Open Water course promotional video.
PADI eLearning Open Water Diver program guides you through the whole academic part of the PADI Open Water Diver course online at your own pace.
PADI Touch Open Water Diver program is designed for tablets.