Your Complete Guide to Obtaining a Scuba Diving Certification

If you’re considering learning scuba diving but unsure where to start, this article will provide you with all the information you need to know about obtaining a scuba diving certification. Let’s dive in!

What is Scuba Diving?

Scuba diving is a way to explore the underwater world without relying on surface air supply. By wearing a tank on your back, you can freely navigate underwater. The air inside the tank is identical to the air we breathe on the surface, consisting of 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen, except that it is compressed within the tank. This allows you to breathe normally underwater, just like on land.。

Why do I need a scuba diving certification?

• Even if you’re a skilled swimmer, learning the proper techniques of scuba diving is crucial. You need to learn and practice specific safety procedures under the guidance of instructors. A scuba diving certification course teaches divers essential safety knowledge and skills, including equipment use, emergency response, and buoyancy control. Mastering these skills helps divers effectively handle potential issues during dives and reduces the occurrence of diving accidents. It’s a responsibility for your own safety.
• Furthermore, dive shops and dive operators require divers to hold a scuba diving certification to participate in dives. Without a certification, you won’t be able to rent equipment, get tank refills, or join diving excursions. This requirement ensures that divers possess the necessary skills and experience to minimize the risks of diving accidents. Additionally, some diving insurances also mandate having a valid scuba diving certification for coverage.
• Scuba diving certification courses also educate divers on protecting the underwater environment and following best diving practices. This includes not touching or damaging marine life and coral reefs, adhering to diving site regulations and restrictions, among others. A scuba diving certification helps cultivate divers’ awareness of environmental conservation and promotes sustainable diving tourism.

As a beginner with no prior diving experience, what course should I take?

The PADI scuba diving certification consists of 9 levels in total, with Open Water (OW) being the entry-level diving certification and a prerequisite for further diving qualifications. Therefore, your diving journey will begin with obtaining the OW certification.

• OPEN WATER DIVER

Commonly referred to as OW, the Open Water Diver course is the most fundamental scuba diving course where students can learn diving skills and safety knowledge for diving with a buddy. Upon completion of this course, you will receive the OW certification, which is globally recognized and valid for a lifetime. OW certification allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters.

• ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER

Commonly referred to as AOW, the Advanced Open Water Diver course offers students specialized training in various diving skills such as deep diving, wreck diving, underwater navigation, and night diving, among others. Participants must hold the Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent qualification to enroll. With an AOW certification, divers can descend to a maximum depth of 30 meters.

• EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE

Emergency First Response is a standalone course in emergency rescue and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It focuses primarily on medical training and does not involve any diving components, so participants do not need to have any diving qualifications to enroll.

• RESCUE DIVER

The Rescue Diver course is designed to teach divers the importance of focusing on another diver during underwater situations. Participants in this course will learn how to prevent and handle potential dangers and emergencies in the water.

• SPECIALTY COURSES

The Specialty Diver course is a short-term specialized training program that typically lasts 1-2 days. It involves 2-4 specialized dives depending on the difficulty level of the chosen specialty. The eligibility requirements for participation vary depending on the specific specialty chosen.

• MASTER SCUBA DIVER

When a diver completes the five specialty courses offered by PADI and holds the Rescue Diver qualification, they are eligible to apply for the Master Scuba Diver certification. The Master Scuba Diver is the highest honor for recreational divers.

• DIVEMASTER

Divemaster is the first step towards becoming a professional diver. Divers holding a Divemaster certification can engage in training work as dive guides or assist in dive instruction.

• ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

The Assistant Instructor course provides students with a deeper understanding of the professional knowledge and skills required for dive instruction. Participants in this course must hold a Divemaster qualification.

• INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE IDC

The Instructor Development Course provides the skills and professional knowledge required for dive instruction. The course consists of a minimum of 18 sessions, covering theoretical instruction as well as practical diving skills. Students who successfully complete the Instructor Training Course can then participate in the Instructor Examination (IE). Upon passed the Instructor Examination, students are eligible to work as dive instructors.

What conditions do I need to meet before taking the OW course?

• Be at least 10 years old or above (Children below 10 years old can participate in programs like “Bubble Maker”).
• Be able to swim continuously for 200 meters or snorkel for 300 meters wearing a mask, snorkel, and fins.
• Be able to float for 10 minutes.
• Good physical health: Before taking the course, you will need to fill out a medical questionnaire. If you have concerns about any health issues that may affect diving, it is recommended to consult a doctor before diving.

What will I learn in the OW course?

The PADI Open Water Diver course includes theoretical knowledge learning, confined water training (in a pool), and open water dives (in the ocean). The entire course spans one evening and two weekends, totaling four and a half days. The open water training consists of shore dives and boat dives, where you will explore the vibrant underwater world in Port Phillip Bay.

Step 1 – Theoretical Knowledge development

This portion of the course requires you to complete the theoretical knowledge portion online at your own pace, followed by in-person exams and explanations in the classroom.

The knowledge section of the course will teach you the basic principles and safety rules of diving.

Step 2 – Confined Water Training

After completing the knowledge portion of the course, you will proceed to the pool for confined water skill training. You will have two days dedicated to training in a heated pool, with eight hours of training each day. If you require additional practice, there is no extra cost. During this phase, you will learn and practice fundamental diving skills. For example, you will learn how to properly wear and use diving equipment, how to clear water from your mask, buoyancy control, entering and exiting the water correctly, and basic safety procedures. Once you become proficient in these skills and can demonstrate them to your instructor, you will be ready for open water dives.

Step 3 – Open Water Diving

Having completed the theory sessions and confined water training, you are now ready to apply your knowledge and skills to open water diving. The open water training consists of two shore dives and two boat dives:

Shore Dives – We guarantee a minimum of two dives, and if you require additional training, there is no extra cost!

Boat Dives – We provide a minimum of two dives, and if you wish to do more boat dives, there is an additional charge of AUD 75 per dive.

Why Choose Ocean Divers to Begin Your Diving Journey?

Ocean Divers is a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Centre and a Scubapro Platinum Dealer.
Established since 1972, Ocean Divers is the longest operating dive store in Melbourne.

We train our divers through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) which is the largest recreational scuba teaching organisation in the world. The Five Star rating is the highest recognition for training, service and professionalism available. PADI is recognised in over 80 countries and teach in excess of 75% of the world’s scuba divers.

At Ocean Divers we offer a complete range of rental and sales of equipment, dive training from snorkeling through to Instructor level SCUBA courses including specialties, travel both interstate and overseas, and local boat and shore dives.

We specialise in SCUBAPRO, HALCYON & SANTI products.

Our store offer a great range of snorkeling, free diving and spearfishing equipment, as well as everything you need to scuba dive at every level, recreational to technical diving.

We also offer equipment hire, air fills, Nitrox fills with banked 32%, and on-site repairs and servicing including tank testing, as we are approved by Quality Assurance Services Australia.

We also provide courses through the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA) & Global Underwater Explorers (GUE).

At Ocean Divers we pride ourselves on the service we offer, whether it be to you as a student, a club member or an off the street customer. So please, contact us with any queries or questions you may have and we will endeavour to answer them for you.

Joining Ocean Divers means becoming part of a vibrant diving community. You will have the opportunity to connect with fellow divers, participate in dive trips, and engage in social events. Sharing your diving experiences with like-minded individuals can enhance your journey and create lasting friendships.

What does Ocean Divers’ diving course include?

• The use of all SCUBA gear, scuba unit, a quality 7mm wetsuit & hood/hood attached vest, weight system & fins.
• PADI Digital Certification Card and Registration.
• Open Water Student Kit – yours to keep! Includes PADI Open Water Manual, dive log book and the use of a DVD during the course.
• All air fills at Ocean Divers.
• Continuous training if needed at beginner level (NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING).
• FREE Ocean Divers Club membership for a year! Which gives you discounted hire charges, cheaper air fills, free shore dives, newsletters by email, 10% discount store wide on purchases, club meetings, social outings and travel specials and a great way to meet divers and stay active.

What is the schedule like for the OW course?

The Standard Course is conducted over one evening and two consecutive weekends (weather permitting).

Thursday – 6.00pm-8.30pm – Orientation session, gear fitting, paperwork and classroom.

Saturday – 9.00am-6pm – Classroom and pool dives.

Sunday – 9.00am-6pm – Classroom and pool dives.

Following weekend:

Saturday – all day commitment – Two shore/pier dives, either locally at Brighton or down the peninsula at Rye Pier – weather determines dive site location.

Sunday – all day commitment – Two boat dives from Portsea.

If you can’t fit into the standard course schedule please contact us as we can be flexible and may be able to work out alternate structure to accommodate.

After obtaining your diving certification, what are the next steps available to you?

• Fun dives: Once you obtain your Open Water Diver certification, the whole world becomes your stage! You can go on fun dives with your dive buddy (maximum depth of 59 feet/18 meters) without the need for instructor supervision and explore underwater landscapes in various locations. It is recommended to keep a dive log to record your diving experiences. Logging dives not only allows you to track what you saw, how deep you went, and how many dives you’ve done, but also helps you remember important details. It also serves as proof of your diving experience if needed. Some dive centers may require a certain number of logged dives for activities such as wreck diving or advanced dives. It’s important not to dive in locations that you’re not ready for.

• Advanced courses: If you enjoy learning, there are plenty of options ahead. The next step could be the Advanced Open Water (AOW) course. This course is very exciting and includes five “adventure” dives. You will conduct a deep dive adventure, going down to 98 feet/30 meters, and a navigation adventure dive to learn essential underwater navigation skills. For the remaining three adventure dives, you have the freedom to choose! Depending on the resources available at your dive center, there are options such as wreck adventure diving, drift adventure diving, and underwater photography adventure diving. Inquire Ocean Divers about your choices! After completing the AOW course, you can further your skills by taking the Rescue Diver course, which teaches valuable and essential rescue techniques when needed.

• Specialty courses: Specialty courses are short-term programs that allow you to explore specific areas of interest in diving. There are numerous specialty courses to choose from, including wreck specialty, enriched air specialty, deep diving specialty (allowing dives up to 40 meters), buoyancy control specialty, and many more.

• Becoming a professional: As you complete the Open Water course, you may look at your instructor and think, “Wow, they are living the dream.” Becoming a dive professional enables you to travel the world, live in some of the most beautiful places, and earn income. You can guide students through their first underwater experiences and witness their confidence grow. If you think this could be the right career path for you, you’ll need to start by becoming a Divemaster. The role of a Divemaster primarily involves guiding dives and assisting with teaching courses. Eventually, you can become an instructor and teach diving courses.

• Technical diving: Technical diving is not recreational diving. It involves various forms of using mixed gases for breathing underwater and carrying additional cylinders during dives. This allows divers to stay underwater for extended periods and reach greater depths. Technical diving requires extensive pre-dive planning.