So you want to learn to scuba dive. Congratulations! This is an excellent decision — not as good as going to therapy, but at least on par with getting a dog. Diving is pure magic, a word I almost never use because it causes that cringey face you’re doing right now, but anyone who’s ever found themselves suspended, weightless, in the middle of a gazillion fish, will get it.
To get properly certified you’ll want to go through PADI, which stands for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, but nobody calls it that and I actually had to look it up. In most places you can get scuba certified as young as 10. To get started, you don’t need to be anywhere near the ocean, or near any body of water in particular — all you need is a free weekend and a few hundred bucks. Here’s what you need to know.
So you want to explore the underwater world and see the amazing creatures that live beneath the waves? Getting your diving certification is the first step to unlocking a lifetime of underwater adventure and supporting healthy oceans
In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner to get your diving certification
What is a Diving Certification and Why Get Certified?
A diving certification proves you have the appropriate skills and knowledge to dive safely. The most popular and recognized certification worldwide is the PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver certification.
Here are some key reasons to get your diving certification
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You can dive anywhere in the world up to 18 meters deep with a buddy, without supervision.
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You can rent scuba gear and get air fills at dive shops.
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You can book chartered dive trips and excursions.
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You become part of the global community of divers.
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You gain the skills and knowledge to dive safely while protecting fragile underwater ecosystems.
A diving certification opens up a new world that most people never get to see firsthand – the other 70% of our planet covered by water. It’s an incredible feeling to breathe underwater and be weightless, observing marine life in their natural habitat.
Plus, the skills you learn during your certification like staying calm under pressure and managing your breathing have benefits beyond diving. Getting certified is as much an inner journey as an outer one.
Choosing a Diving Certification Agency
There are several organizations that offer diving certifications, but PADI is by far the largest and most popular. Here’s a quick comparison:
PADI:
- 30+ million divers certified worldwide
- 129,000+ professional members
- 6,600+ dive shops and resorts globally
- Comprehensive training materials and standards
SSI:
- 2.5+ million divers certified
- 7,000+ dive professionals
- Materials and standards similar to PADI
NAUI:
- 100,000+ divers certified
- Materials and standards similar to PADI
I recommend PADI because their certification is globally recognized and will be accepted anywhere you dive. The extensive network of PADI dive shops and resources also makes it easy to continue your diving journey.
How to Get PADI Certified: Step-by-Step
The PADI Open Water Diver certification course is the most popular entry-level course to start diving. Here are the key steps:
1. Knowledge Development
First, you need to study diving theory, physics, equipment, and safety procedures. There are two ways to do this:
PADI eLearning: Complete digital modules and quizzes online at your own pace over 1-2 weeks. This option is more flexible and popular.
Instructor-led classroom learning: Spend time in a classroom learning from a PADI instructor. More structured but also more social.
You need to be at least 10 years old and know how to swim to start. There is some physics and medical knowledge involved, so being reasonably fit both mentally and physically is advised.
2. Confined Water Dives
Next, you’ll start to use scuba gear and practice skills in the controlled setting of a swimming pool with your instructor, or another body of water with good visibility and calm conditions.
You’ll learn critical skills like:
- Assembling and fitting scuba gear
- Regulating buoyancy
- Breathing underwater
- Clearing your mask
- Recovering a dislodged regulator
After mastering the basics here, you’re ready for the real deal.
3. Open Water Dives
This is when you start diving for real! You’ll complete four open water dives up to a maximum of 18 meters deep, accompanied by your PADI instructor.
You’ll use the skills from your confined water dives and get comfortable moving in 3-dimensional space underwater. You’ll also learn to plan dives using tables or dive computers.
After finishing these open water dives over one or two days, you officially become a certified diver – congrats!
How Long Does it Take to Get Certified?
A PADI Open Water Diver certification can be earned over the course of a few days to several weeks, depending on how you structure your training. Here are some options:
Quickest: Complete eLearning before your trip, then finish confined and open water dives over 2-4 consecutive days on vacation.
Flexible: Stretch out your eLearning over 1-2 weeks, then complete dives over weekends close to home.
Modular: Complete eLearning now, do confined water training locally, and finish open water dives on a future trip.
Many dive operators abroad offer quick 3-4 day certifications bundled with accommodation. While fast, cramming everything together can be exhausting and make retention tougher.
I recommend taking your time if possible. Diving opens up such a fascinating new world – there’s a lot to absorb!
How Much Does PADI Certification Cost?
The total cost for a PADI Open Water Diver certification is generally between $350-$500. This includes:
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PADI eLearning course: $185 online
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Confined + Open Water training: $150-$350 depending on location/instructor
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Required scuba gear rental: $50-100 for BCD, regulator, tank, weights
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Additional costs: dive tables, log book, certification fees
Many dive shops offer bundled packages with certification, accommodation, and a set number of dives. This can offer good value, but limits when and where you can dive.
Shop around as prices vary. And remember the certification is good for life, so view it as an investment!
What Scuba Gear Do You Need?
You’ll need to purchase a few basic personal dive items:
Mask + Snorkel: Well-fitted mask that seals comfortably with prescription lenses if needed.
Fins: Comfortable open heel fins.
Booties + Gloves: If diving in colder water.
Wetsuit/Drysuit: If water requires exposure protection.
BCD (buoyancy control device): Inflates and deflates to control buoyancy. Often rented.
Regulator + Tank: Provides air underwater. Standard rentals.
Dive Computer/Tables: Tracks depth/time and calculates safe ascent.
If money is tight, buy just mask, snorkel, and fins, and rent the rest until you gain experience. Some shops offer gear bundles.
Buy your own regulator, BCD, wetsuit, and computer down the track as you dive more. And remember to inspect and maintain your gear properly.
Booking Your Scuba Vacation
Once certified, a whole underwater world opens up to you! You can book scuba trips locally or at exotic dive destinations abroad.
Here are some tips for booking your first scuba vacation:
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Pick a beginner-friendly location with mild conditions and plentiful marine life. Warm tropical areas are great for starting out.
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Look for PADI dive resorts or centers with solid reputations and PADI-qualified instructors. Read reviews.
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Choose itineraries with smaller groups and dive profiles suitable for your experience level.
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Ask about group discounts if travelling with diving buddies.
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Consider a liveaboard dive boat for accessing remote spots offshore.
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Arrange certification card verification and dive insurance if travelling overseas.
Use PADI resources like [https://www.padi.com/dive-resorts] to search certified dive operators all over the world. You’ll be finning with sea turtles in no time!
Maintaining Your PADI Certification
To stay active as a PADI diver, you should:
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Dive at least once a year or complete a PADI Scuba Review program. This refreshes your skills.
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Update your logbook with every dive to track experience.
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Consider continuing education through PADI specialties like night diving or drift diving to expand your skills.
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Renew dive insurance annually in case of medical issues/evacuation needs.
If it’s been over a year since your last dive, complete a PADI Scuba Review or Reactivate program to refresh everything before jumping back in. Safety first.
You should also stay fit and healthy. Diving is a physical activity and requires you to be in reasonable shape.
And most importantly – protect fragile underwater ecosystems through responsible diving practices. Be a role model!
Diving Certification: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Am I too old to get my diving certification?
A: Not at all! As long as you’re reasonably fit and healthy, you can become certified and dive at any age. PADI has certified divers in their 80s and 90s!
Q: Can I get certified if I don’t know how to swim well?
A: Basic swimming ability is required, but you don’t need to be an athlete. Consult your dive shop if concerned.
**Q: What
What gear do I buy and what gear do I rent?
If you’re bothering to get certified I assume it’s because you intend to dive more than once, so believe me, it’s worth buying your own properly fitting mask and snorkel. Fins are good too, but that’s pretty much it. Vests and tanks you’ll always rent on-site, and it’s overkill to buy your own wetsuit since you’ll need different ones for different locations (bc water temperature). Don’t spring for those mask defogging drops, either — spit works fine.
But is it still OK to dive without getting fully certified… sometimes?
“If you go to some shallow coral reef, with 20 or 30 feet of water where it’s warm and tropical, it’s easy to just take a resort course in the pool where they just tell you not to hold your breath,” Skerry says. “And 99 times out of 100 — much more than that probably — you’re going to be fine. But something could go wrong; you could get claustrophobic, a barracuda could swim by and you panic and spit out your regulator. At the end of the day, those resort courses probably work fine, but if you’re going to dive on any sort of regular basis, you should definitely get certified.”
