Looking for new vistas and adventure?  Interested in discovering the uniqueness of the marine environment while enjoying a feeling of weightlessness? If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts. Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world through this course.

To enroll in a PADI Open Water Diver course (or Junior Open Water Diver course), you must be 10 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with scuba diving is required. 

Dive West® offers four versions of our PADI Open Water class: 

1. Group Open Water Diver Course              For ages 10 and up, adequate swimming skills.
2. Accelerated Open Water Diver Course    For ages 18 to 50, good swimming skills.
3. Referral to your Tropical Destination       Only class and pool weekend with Dive West.
4. Private lessons                                           Own a pool? Set your own schedule!

If you don't see a class that meets your schedule call the shop to ask about private lessons!

What the PADI Group Open Water Course Includes 

Purchase your PADI eLearning self-study material using the link below. Dive West® instruction includes, instructors, rental equipment, and pool time. Gear provided includes: buoyancy compensator (BCD), regulator, dive computer, gauges, tanks, and weights. When you have passed all completed training, you will receive your PADI Open Water certification ecard.

Not included in the price:

• Personal equipment; mask, fins, boots and snorkel.
• Park fees for the Open Water dive park.
• Wet Suit rental is $17.00 for the weekend.
• Additional air fills at your open water are not included.

What you need to purchase

Being comfortable and confident in the water with your gear is the goal. Poor fitting gear can lead to problems in the water. We believe every diver should own their own mask, fins, snorkel, and boots. Many options are available from different manufactures. 

These are personally fitted for your comfort at our shop and you receive a discount as a student of Dive West. Once scheduled for class please stop by the shop as soon as possible so we can take care of fitting your personal gear properly. Snorkel gear is not the same as scuba gear!

Do you want to finish your certification at your tropical destination?

This is the perfect option in the winter when our local lakes are cold. We call this a "PADI Open Water Referral". Dive West® will help you with your PADI elearning and class and pool and send you with your training record to complete your open water dive training in warmer waters. If this is your preferred option only complete Section 1 - elearning, and Section 2 - class and pool. Also get in touch with the resort or dive shop at your destination to schedule your PADI Open Water certification dives.

Ready to get started with your Group PADI Open Water class?

Section 1: eLearning $230.00 from PADI

Your journey starts with PADI’s online self study material. It takes 8 to 13 hours to complete. We recommend scheduling your class and pool and open water the same time you register for your eLearning. Classes fill quickly in the summer. Complete the course at your own leisure, but before the scheduled Class and Pool dates. Click on the link below to sign up and register for your PADI elearning.

When registered with PADI come back to this page and schedule pool and open water.

Click to Start PADI Open Water Elearning

Section 2: Schedule Group Class and Pool $230.00 from Dive West®

Do not use this for Accelerated Classes or Private Clases

Wednesday at Dive West® you will meet your instructor, do a quick review of the elearning, assemble and disassemble your scuba gear and do mask skills and logistics for the class. Then over a Saturday and Sunday in our local pool you will learn the skills you need to be a safe scuba diver.

Wednesday at Dive West from 6pm – 8:30pm / Saturday and Sunday at our pool 8am – 3pm.

IMPORTANT: Once signed up you will recieve an automatic email with the Dive West course agreement.  In your welcome letter is a link to the PADI medical form. It MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE YOU GET IN THE WATER (the email can take up to 48 hours to send). If you have any questions or did not recieve the following emails please give us a call at (214) 750-6900!

Click Here to Schedule Your Class and Pool Weekend

Section 3: Open Water Dives $125.00

The second weekend you will take the skills you learned at the pool and apply them in an open water environment at one of our local lakes. Dive West® provides the same equipment for Pool and Open water. 

Click Here To Schedule Open Water Dives