'Get your PADI' and become a diver
from £649 per person
Dive independently to 18 metres with a buddy
Explore our amazing underwater world
To take this course you must be aged 10 or over. For chldren aged 10-12 we recommend first booking a PADI Discover Scuba.
Add Dry Suit Training - save £99!
Want to dive all year round in UK waters? Add our Dry Suit speciality to your Open Water course and save £99 compared to taking it separately.
Price includes:
all tuition, equipment rental and PADI Open Water Diver eLearning via your phone, tablet or computer
Course length:
Three full days
Make sure you bring:
Swimwear, a t-shirt or rash guard to wear in the pool and a towel
Course Structure
Your Open Water course includes:
PADI eLearning package
5 pool training dives
4 open water qualifying dives
Elearning
Over five chapters you'll learn everything you need to know to stay safe and comfortable underwater.
After booking, our team will contact you to arrange your eLearning and to make sure you have our contact details for support should you have any questions as you work through the programme.
The elearning typically takes 7-10 hours of study time. You need to complete this before you join us for your pool training.
Pool Training
During your pool training, you'll complete five pool dives and learn:
- The skills you need to know to become a diver
- How to set up your equipment and care for it after a dive
- How to use a dive computer to monitor and manage your dives
You will also complete a short swim/float test (see the FAQ below for details).
After booking, our team will contact you to arrange your eLearning and pool training .
We have lots of available dates as these are conducted in our in-house pool, usually one-to-one with your instructor.
Qualifying Dives
You'll complete four qualifying dives with your instructor and our team. Your underwater adventure is underway!
When you arrive each day our team will give you a briefing, you'll assemble your gear and complete your dives. During your dives you will use many of the skills you learned in the pool.
After your dives, you'll add these to the logbook on your PADI app, your instructor will then review and approve these prior to completing your certification.
Equipment and gear
All equipment rental is included in your course price. For your comfort, we recommend purchasing your own snorkelling gear (mask, snorkel, boots and fins).
You don't need to buy these in advance, your instructor will show you our wide range during your pool dives and provide details of our competitive student discounts when you buy a snorkelling pack during your course.
Dry Suit add-on
Stay warm and comfortable in British waters year-round!
Our Dry Suit speciality includes:
• a small amount of additional eLearning
• An additional pool dive
• An additional open water dive (five dives rather than four!)
You'll qualify to use a dry suit that keeps you warm and toasty, making UK diving enjoyable in any season.
Ready to get started?
Not at all! Our PADI Discover Scuba and Bubblemaker experiences are specifically designed for complete beginners. In our safe, controlled environment, our expert instructors provide personal guidance to help you feel completely comfortable underwater. Training that's all about you, not us - we'll go at your pace and ensure you're confident every step of the way.
Many students choose this "try before you dive" approach before progressing to the Open Water Diver course. But if you're ready to dive straight in, that's absolutely fine too - the Open Water Diver course is also designed for complete beginners.
Book your Discover Scuba experience and save £50 on Open Water Diver if you sign up the same day!
Children can start their underwater adventure at just 8 years old with our PADI Bubblemaker experience or join our PADI Seal Team club. As a PADI Approved Youth Training Centre with DBS-checked staff and a dedicated safeguarding lead, we create a child-centered experience that's all about building confidence and having fun.
From age 10, children can complete the PADI Open Water Diver course. We recommend 10-11 year olds start with Discover Scuba or Seal Team first - it's a great way to build confidence before taking the next step.
Most people can learn to scuba dive safely. Every student completes a medical questionnaire, and if necessary, we'll guide you through getting doctor's approval. Safety first, always - we want to ensure diving is right for you.
You can complete the medical questionnaire before booking your course.
Like any new adventure, there's an initial investment for training and equipment. The good news? You don't need to buy everything at once!
With Dive Academy membership (£20/month), you get:
- Free equipment rental on courses
- Half-price equipment rental on organized dives
- 10% discount on gear in-store
- Access to our diving club with shore dives and social events
This lets you spread costs while still enjoying regular diving as you build your kit collection.
Absolutely no problem! We offer prescription mask options so you won't miss any of the amazing underwater sights. Our team will help you choose the right mask and arrange prescription lenses - because we only sell gear we trust.
The UK offers some incredible diving! Here in the South West, we're spoiled with fantastic local sites featuring amazing wildlife and historic wrecks right on our doorstep. From colourful marine life to fascinating shipwrecks, there's so much to explore without traveling far.
You don't need to be an Olympic swimmer, but you do need to be comfortable in water. The requirements are:
- Swim 200m continuously (any stroke, no time limit)
- Float or tread water for 10 minutes
If you can do this, you're ready to start your diving journey with us!