PADI Open Water Certification

This PADI Open Water Certification course from Hawaii Dive Center takes participants through the full process of becoming a certified scuba diver, starting at Magic Island in Honolulu. The program moves through three phases: a knowledge development section covering scuba fundamentals such as how pressure affects the body and how to plan a dive safely, a confined water session where students practice setting up gear, clearing a mask and hovering, and finally open water checkout dives in the ocean.

Both e-learning and instructor-led options are available for the knowledge development phase. Rental gear including an exposure suit, BCD and regulator is provided, but students are asked to bring their own mask, snorkel and fins, since a properly fitting mask supports better learning and comfort.

Once all skills are demonstrated successfully in the ocean, participants receive their certification card. The course is open to children and adults, with a small student-to-instructor ratio throughout.