PADI Basic Open Water Course
The PADI Basic Open Water course is designed for those who have always wanted to get scuba certified, and experience an entirely new world! This course consists of three sections: a classroom ( or eLearning ) , knowledge development section, a confined water, skills practice section, and the open water checkout dives. Completion of this course will allow you to rent diving equipment, go diving with a buddy, sign up for boat and resort dives, and gives you the ability to explore the underwater world- worldwide!
Costs:
$630.00 (full course with classroom, pool, and checkout dives)
$480.00 (referral course with classroom and pool only, checkout dives in another location, typically warm water)
Includes: Included in the cost of the course is all classroom time and materials, all pool time and equipment, as well as all rental equipment for the open water checkout dives. Also included are all certification fees
Additional Costs:
Confined Water (Pool Session Step 2) : Students must purchase their own mask and snorkel. Fins can be rented for $10; Wetsuit can be rented for $30 (not required but recommended). BCD and regulator are provided.
Open Water Dives (Step 3) : Students must purchase their own mask, fins, snorkels, and boots for the open water weekend. BCD, Regulator and Wetsuit are proided. Students are also responsible for the costs for the open water weekend, including but not limited to: gas, food, and accommodation. Students must also get their two tanks filled Saturday night, for dives on Sunday.
Please do not purchase anything until after the Gear Classroom (Step 1) to ensure you get the appropriate equipment. We offer packages at a discounted rate for current students in the open water class.
Requirements:
Must be 12 years or older
Must be comfortable in water
Must be able to continuously swim 200 yards
Must be able to tread water for 10 minutes
Location: Classroom session is completed at home by eLearning or in a class group setting in the Portland metro area. The pool sessions will be held at a local pool in the Portland metro area. and the open water weekend checkout dives are located in the Hood Canal or Puget Sound in Washington.
To Sign up: Please call, text, or email to sign up! Classes must have four students enrolled to proceed, and there must be at least four students for an instructor to hold an open water weekend.
If you are interested in a private course that can be arranged please contact for more details.
Available Classes
With all open water classes, you will need to choose one classroom session to be fitted for pool gear and learn equipment preparation, one complete pool session schedule, and one open water weekend choice. After choosing your options and scheduling you will be sent eLearning materials to complete prior to your first pool session.
Step 1:
Class Room / Gear Preparation Options:
choose one of these options (this option must be before your first pool session):
Thursday November 13th: 2025: 5:30pm
Wednesday November 19th: 2025: 5:30pm
April 28th 2025: 5:30pm
Friday January 9th 2026: 5:30pm
Tuesday January 20th 2026: 5:30pm
Saturday January 31st 2026: 9:00am
Tuesday March 10th 2026: 5:30pm
Thursday March 12th 2026: 5:30pm
Tuesday March 24th 2026: 5:30pm
Tuesday April 7th 2026: 5:30pm
Tuesday May 26th 2026: 5:30pm
Thursday May 28th 2026: 5:30pm
Step 2:
Pool Session Options:
choose one of these options, you must do all the dates in each option if there are multiple dates.
November 30th 2025: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day This class is for referral only students going somewhere for vacation in December and doing check out dives on vacation.)
January 11th 2026: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day
January 21st and February 4th 2026 : 7pm-11pm Wednesday Evenings
February 1st 2026: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day
March 11th and 18th 2026 : 7pm-11pm Wednesday Evenings
March 15th 2026: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day
March 29th 2026: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day
April 14th and 15th 2026 : 7pm-11pm Tuesday and Wednesday Evening
May 27th and June 3rd 2026 : 7pm-11pm Wednesday Evenings
May 31st 2026: 8am-5pm Sunday All Day
Step 3:
Open Water Options:
Choose one of these options (this is a Saturday and Sunday both days required):
Open Water Weekends are done either in the Puget Sound or Hood Cannel. If you are doing a referral class and open water with someone else at another location you do not need to choose a date.
February 7th and 8th 2026
March 21st and 22nd 2026
April 18th and 19th 2026
June 6 and 7th 2026