Be Adventurous, Be Amazed, Be a Diver
PADI Open Water (Beginner) Scuba Classes
Wow! You're thinking about taking scuba lessons!
We offer a safe, thorough, and enjoyable SCUBA training program.Â
Since 2004, Carolina Dive Center has been teaching the Triangle to scuba dive.
PADI certifications are the most respected and recognized scuba diving credentials globally.
Wherever you dive, your PADI certification card will be honored. In fact, on most diving adventures, you'll be among other PADI Divers who, like you, chose to train with the world’s largest and most esteemed scuba diving organization.
What is Included in Your Open Water Certification Class.
YOU BEGIN BY REGISTERING ONLINE FOR YOUR PADI OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION TRAINING.
Open Water Certification tuition is $575. You have the option to pay the tuition in full, or, Make a $175 deposit to get started and defer the remainder of tuition — $400 until you want to start your In Water Training.
Here are the steps in your Open Water Certification.
Part I: Getting Started
Register Below For Your Scuba Lessons
You will soon receive electronic Medical and Liability waivers to complete via email within 24 hours of your registration.
Please complete these electronic waivers as soon as possible.
Afterward, you'll receive an invitation to create your PADI Account and begin your academics through eLearning.
You can complete your academic training at home or anywhere with internet access—why not have some fun while you’re at it?
Your academic coursework will cover Scuba Equipment, Underwater Environments, and the Science of scuba diving, taking approximately 15 to 18 hours to finish.
This academic training will prepare you for the next step: In-Water Training, which we refer to as PART II of your training.
Part II: Your in Water Training
Think of your in water training as the next step in your diving adventure.
Your In Water Training Includes:
Orientation — During the orientation, we'll go over all the details of your scuba lessons, introduce you to the other students, and review key scuba concepts. These orientations are held via Webinar.
Gear Familiarization Classroom Session — Here, you'll get to know and be fitted with the scuba equipment you'll use during your training. You'll learn how to assemble and disassemble all the gear you'll be working with.
Confined Water/Pool Dives — This is where you’ll learn the basics of diving. In these sessions, you’ll practice using scuba equipment and master essential underwater skills in a controlled environment.
Open Water Checkout Dives -
You will complete four required checkout dives over two days. During these dives, you’ll apply the scuba skills you practiced in the pool to an open water setting. You have three options for your checkout dives:
Option 1: Two days of checkout dives at Fantasy Lake Scuba Park.
Option 2: Complete Checkout Dives on our Florida Springs Trips.
Option 3: Referral to any PADI Dive Shop so you can complete your checkout dives on vacation. Please note that the Dive Shop you are going to will have an additional fee for checkout dives.
Open Water Registration Options
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SELECT YOUR SCUBA CLASS OPTION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- - PADI eLearning academics/knowledge development sessions:
- SCUBA Orientation Class.
- Scuba Gear Familiarization Class.
- 2 Confined Water/Pool Training Sessions.
- 2 days of open water check-out dives (the final step to earning the Open Water scuba certification).
- Use of All SCUBA equipment for your Open Water course.
- Certification processing, including your Open Water Certification eCard.
- Â NC Sales Tax
- Student discounts on the purchase of masks, fins, snorkel, and boots.
- Lots of fun and a chance to meet new friends and fellow divers.
Tuition is $575, with the option of making an initial $175 deposit to get started.
Each student is required to have their own personal gear (mask, fins, and snorkel), and it’s essential that this gear fits you properly.
When you purchase your mask, fins, and snorkel at Carolina Dive Center, you'll receive a special student discount.
Personal items like your mask, fins, snorkel, and boots must be properly fitted to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Imagine being 40 feet underwater with water leaking into your mask or struggling with foot cramps because your fins don't fit right.
Every person’s face is different, which means your scuba mask must be chosen to match your unique features. Fins also come in a variety of sizes, stiffness, and weights and need to be fitted to you as well.
We give you a student discount on your Mask/Fins.Snorkel set.
Avoid buying your mask or fins online. Instead, let our experienced staff provide a custom fitting to ensure you're fully prepared for your first scuba lesson. The fitting process takes about 45 minutes, so we recommend visiting a few days before your class begins. If your gear doesn’t perform well in the pool, we’ll exchange it until we find the perfect fit for you. Unfortunately, you won’t have this option with online purchases. What will you do if your mask leaks, your fins cause discomfort, or they aren’t right during your first pool session, and you need new gear for the second one?
We offer PADI Open Water Scuba Certification courses throughout the year. Classes are typically held on Saturdays and Sundays, and you will need to reserve two weekends to complete your certification. Here’s an example of a typical Open Water Class Schedule:
Open Water Academics: You’ll complete your academics through eLearning, which usually takes between 12 to 18 hours.
Scuba Orientation: We conduct your Scuba Orientation via webinar.
Weekend #1
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Scuba Gear Assembly Training at Carolina Dive Center
- Pool Training Session 1
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
- Pool Training Session 2
Weekend #2
- Checkout Dives: Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
For more details or to discuss class schedules, call us at (919) 341-2787.
You must be able to swim to participate.
A swimming test is required, and the following criteria must be met:
- Swim 200 yards continuously on the surface, or 300 yards with a mask, fins, and snorkel.
- Float or swim for 10 minutes without any flotation devices.
If you're worried about passing the test, consider practicing or taking swimming lessons before enrolling in Scuba Lessons.
Open Water Certification can be earned by youth 10 years or older. There is no upper age restriction for adults.
Students who are 10 or 11 years old require somespecial considerations. For this reason, they must be enrolled in a Customized class.
Call us at (919) 341-2787 for more information regarding certification of 10 or 11 year olds.
All students must complete a Medical Waiver before they can begin Part I of your Scuba Lessons.
There are certain Medical conditions that require a physician to confirm you can participate in scuba lessons.
In the rare case you cannot pass the Medical Waiver, we will promptly refund your tuition.
For an example of the Medical Waiver, you will need to complete. Click Here
With over 7,000 students certified, Carolina Dive Center is the trusted choice for scuba lessons in the Triangle.
For more than 20 years, we've been dedicated to building personal relationships with our students and supporting them on every dive adventure.
As a Veteran-owned local business, we take pride in offering a friendly, professional atmosphere where you’ll feel at home.
When you choose us, you’re not just taking a class; you're learning through the PADI System, the most reputable and effective diving education program worldwide. PADI courses are designed to make learning engaging, enjoyable, and truly rewarding. Our experienced PADI instructors are committed to your success, providing expert guidance and ensuring you master essential skills and safety concepts. With the highest standards in the industry and a proactive quality management system, we ensure that every dive is both safe and enjoyable.
We also enroll you in the Divers Alert Network Student Membership Program which provides access to dive medical professionals, online safety information, and up to US$25,000 in Student Dive Accident Insurance to help protect you against the costs of a covered diving accident occurring during entry-level training.
Choose Carolina Dive Center for a diving experience you can trust!
YOU CAN ALSO CALL US AT (919) 341-2787 To Register For SCUBA Class or email us for more information at [email protected]