Costs & Certification
How Long Does It Take to Get Certified?
The realistic timeline for an Open Water course — and how to make it faster or more relaxed.
An Open Water certification usually takes 3 to 4 days. You can shorten the in-water portion by completing the theory online beforehand, or spread the course over several weekends if you prefer a relaxed pace.
- Typical course
- 3–4 days
- Theory online
- Saves ~1 day
- Weekend option
- 2–3 weekends
- Try-dive
- A few hours
The typical 3–4 day timeline
Most Open Water courses are structured something like this:
| Day | What you do |
|---|---|
| Before you arrive | Online theory + knowledge reviews (optional but recommended) |
| Day 1 | Theory wrap-up, equipment, first confined-water (pool) skills |
| Day 2 | Remaining pool skills + first open-water dives |
| Day 3 | Open-water training dives + skill assessments |
| Day 4 | Final dives, sign-off, certification |
How to make it faster
Doing your theory online before you travel can cut a full day, letting you certify in roughly 3 days. Some centres offer accelerated courses, but don't rush — comfort and confidence matter more than speed.
How to make it more relaxed
Prefer to take it slow? Many dive centres run referral or part-time courses, letting you complete theory and pool sessions at home and the open-water dives on holiday, or spread everything across a few weekends.
A Discover Scuba / try-dive isn't a certification — it's a single guided experience that takes just a few hours and requires no prior training. It's the perfect way to test the water before committing to the full course.
Learn the scuba basics — free
Speed up your course by learning the theory first. Diving Standard's free lessons cover everything you'll be tested on — at your own pace.
Get the Diving Standard appFrequently asked questions
Can I get scuba certified in 2 days?
Sometimes, if you complete all the theory online beforehand and conditions allow. But 3–4 days is more realistic and gives you time to build genuine comfort and confidence.
Can I split the course over multiple trips?
Yes. A referral lets you do theory and pool sessions at home, then finish your open-water dives elsewhere — useful if you want to certify on holiday.
How long is a try-dive?
A Discover Scuba experience usually takes 2–4 hours including a briefing, basic skills and a guided shallow dive. No certification or prior experience needed.