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Open Water Dive Certification
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Overview
Ages 10+ • Includes Pool session + 4 Open Water Training Dives
Become an Certified Open Water diver!
This is where it all begins! This course is the standard starting point for your diving adventures! With an Open Water dive certification, you will be able To:
* Dive anywhere in the world to a depth of 60 feet.
* Obtain air fills.
* Rent dive equipment.
* Dive on your own with a buddy (who can be another Open Water Diver and does NOT have to be a diving professional)
* Book boat dives.
* Take additional specialty classes
* Progress to the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver level.
Course prerequisites
* 10 yrs + (Divers certified between the ages of 10-14 earn a Junior Diver certification. Junior Open Water Divers automatically become Open Water Divers at age 15)
* Able to swim and float
* Medically fit for diving (Must pass the health questionnaire or submit the questionnaire plus a form signed by a doctor)
Time commitment
* PADI ELearning: 5-10 hours
* Course: In as little as 2-4 days
Course Requirements
* Learn fundamental concepts about scuba through PADI eLearning (Don’t want to do homework on vacation? The PADI E-learning system allows you to complete your eLearning before arriving!)
* You will need to complete a brief quiz upon arrival to confirm your understanding of the academic material.
* Complete five confined water (pool) skill practice sessions. (usually completed in a half day 7AM - noon)
* Complete four open water (ocean) dives. (over two half-days, usually done in the afternoon - 1pm - 4:30pm)
* Complete a 10-minute swim/float demonstrating comfort in water too deep to stand
* Complete a 200 meter/yard continuous surface swim or a 300 meter/yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel.
This course includes confined water training, and 4 open water training dives to complete your certification. (total of 3 half days). **Note: E-learning materials are not included in the certification price listed. eLearning can be purchased directly through PADI
What's included
- Dive Gear
- Shorty wetsuit
- Course required items
- bottled water and light snacks
- log book
- Souvenir Sun protection performance shirt (UPF 50+)
What's not Included:
- Open Water eLearning/PADI registration
- Transportation to meeting area
- Gratuity
- Fees for added time Additional Pool time or dive trips needed to pass skills will incur additional fees
- Minimum 3 divers to run any boat trip.
In the unlikely event we do not have a minimum of 3 divers, we will inform you ASAP, offer to reschedule or complete your certification as a shore dive. - Other students may be combined into the same class.
- Private classes available for additional fee
-- Pool - One on one +$500
-- Pool - Your group of two w/ private instructor +$400
-- Pool - Your group of three w/ private instructor +$300
-- Private boat for open water portions +1500/day
Contact us directly to check availability of private options
Booking Instructions
When booking your course, please select the first date you plan to dive and enter the dates of your stay in St. Thomas. We develop a course diving plan to provide the ideal guide to diver ratio to guarantee the best dive experience. We will confirm this with you after you make your reservation.
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
Street: Aqua Marine Dive CENTER at SAGA HAVEN MARINA
City: St Thomas
Country: VI
Postal Code: 00802
Province: VI
Additional Info
Dive Student Required Documentation
In order to prepare for your upcoming certification course, please complete the following documents as soon as possible:
- If you haven't already, purchase and complete your [open water online course] (https://www.padi.com/courses/open-water-diver?irra=21917)
- Diver Medical Questionnaire - If you didn't do these online please complete and bring a printed copy to your first course session. Note, Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving, so please review carefully well in advance of your course.
Open Water Certification consists of 4 parts in order...
1. Completing the e-learning. All sections 1 - 5 and final exam to be completed before pool session. You will take a quick quiz on the first day of your course to test your understanding of the eLearning. (Last minute cancellation/delay of pool session due to incomplete eLearning will incur additional fees for reschedule)
2. Confined water skills - practice "mini dives" in the pool to help you build confidence in your new abilities before making four dives in open water. Usually a morning in the pool starting at 7am to noon. Additional charges apply if extended training time is needed or requested
3. Open water dives 1 & 2 - half day either morning 8:30-12 or afternoon 1- 4:30
4. Open water dives 3 & 4- half day either morning 8:30-12 or afternoon 1- 4:30
Where to meet:
(please check in 30 minutes ahead of activity time. If you are running late, please text or call (340) 642-8701)
* Pool day - meet at Aqua Marine Dive SHOP at Limetree Beach Resort
* Open water dives - Meet 30 minutes ahead of start time @ Aqua Marine Dive CENTER at Saga Haven Marina
We do NOT provide transportation The best way to get to Saga Haven marina is by taxi because of the limited parking space, but there is some limited complimentary parking available under the red beams in the area labeled "tenant parking"
Suggested Items to Bring
- Medical release (signed by physician if answers to your questionnaire required it.)
- swimwear
- reef safe sun protection (no sprays) and/or SPF sun shirts / rashguards
- towels, hat, sunglasses
- Dry bag
- Mask, Snorkel, Fins (Optional - we highly encourage you to invest in these items to ensure you have consistent, well fitting, comfortable items for class and future dive adventures)
- FILLED reusable water bottle to help to reduce single-use plastic waste.
- Motion sickness meds, ginger chews, or other form of sea sickness prevention.
- Gratuity for Instructor / Crew (Our crew works hard to make sure you are safe and happy, so if they do a great job, let them know! Customary gratuity for good service on the island is 20%.)
Important Policies:
- **No open flames (cigarettes, cigars, etc) on the boat.
- ** No glass bottles/cups/etc on the boat
- **All students under 15 must be accompanied by a guardian during the course
- **The drinking age is 18 in USVI, but we do require you limit alcoholic beverages to only AFTER you are done diving. Once a diver decides to drink, it means he is done diving for the day.
- **For safety reasons, Student Divers and their instructors (this includes discover scuba participants) may not use cameras/go pro's during any lesson, checkout dive, or discover dive.
Thank you!
Thank you again for choosing Aqua Marine! Please don't hesitate to contact us at (340) 642-8701 or info@diveaquamarine if you have any further questions. We look forward to blowing bubbles with you soon!
Cancellation Policy
- Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 72 hours notice of cancellation.
- Customers will receive a 50% refund with 48 hours notice of cancellation.
- Customers will not receive a refund with less than 48 hours notice of cancellation.
- No-shows are not eligible for any refund.
- We go out rain or shine, but if we cancel due to dangerous weather or other unforeseen circumstances, we will either reschedule or refund for that day.
- Please contact us by email or call to cancel or inquire about a cancellation.
