What is an Open Water Diving Course?

This diving course is the basic level scuba diving certification course taught by all certification agencies. There are small differences in the course content between the certifying bodies, but they all cover the same basic knowledge areas and skills that you will need to become a basic certified scuba diver.

Who can enroll?

Junior Open Water Course:
**Children as young as 12 years old can enroll in the Junior Open Water course. (Junior OW certified divers are automtacially upgraded at age 15 without any additional coursework).

Basic Open Water Course: 

**Individuals as young as 15 years of age and older may enroll in the Open Water course. 

When you become certified as an "Open Water" diver you will be able to:

Dive up to 60 feet/18 meters, whenever you are accompanied by a fellow diver of a higher certification level of at least advanced adventurer (the other diver must be 18 or 21 for Junior Open Water divers). You don´t have to be accompanied by a Divemaster or Instructor, although it is recommended.

You will become eligible to attend the Advanced Adventurer course and above along with eligible to attend many other great specialty courses like Deep Diving, Wreck Ship Diving to name a few.

How long does this course take?
Due to Israeli Diving Authority regulations, the diving course is usually taught over 5 consecutive days in Eilat.

What is expected of the open water diver student?

1. Knowledge Development

You will be provided a text book, watch instructional videos and can study independently in your own time, with the assistance of your instructor, or online with guided e-learning.

2. Skills Development 

You will learn the following:

a. basics of diving techniques,

b. how diving affects the body,

c. diving safety,

d. equipment selection and maintenance,

e.dive planning,

You will then preview the skills you´ll learn in the water. (There is a written and skills test at the end of the course but if you´ve studied your material and practiced the skills, you should have no problems passing).

Skills Practice and Application: 

1. CONFINED WATER TRAINING:

Your confined water training will be conducted in a swimming pool or a "swimming pool-like" environment such as a calm, shallow beach area. You will begin in water shallow enough to stand up in, as you learn all the basic skills that you will need to confidently, competently and safely to enjoy scuba diving. As you gain confidence and become more comfortable with your new skills, you will gradually move into deeper water (up to 60 feet/18 meters) to learn and practice more advanced diving and equipment skills along with safety drills. 

OPEN WATER TRAINING: 

Now for what you have been learning and practicing for-Open Water Training!

This is what it is all about-open water diving. Over four or more dives you will practice all the skills you´ve already mastered in confined water and you will now move out into the open water, which means the open ocean or another large body of water that is used for diving. You will practice the skills with your instructor until you are completely confident and can perform them with ease in a real diving situation.

Of course, all while you also get to see everything that the underwater world has to offer and hopefully develop a life-long love for diving.

Do I have to renew my certification?

The Open Water certification is forever and never needs to be renewed. However, it is recommended that if you haven´t dived for a while (usually a year or more) or feel the need to brush up your skills to do a Scuba Review. This review is a short refresher course with a professional that can be integrated into your first regular dive.

**All diving course students must be of good health and have a signed health statement on file signed by the student or the parent/guardian.