Costs & Certification
How to Get Scuba Certified
From choosing where to train to holding your certification card — the simple path every new diver follows.
To get scuba certified, choose where you want to train, find a good local instructor, then complete three parts: theory, confined-water (pool) skills, and open-water dives. Most people earn an Open Water certification in 3–4 days.
- Time needed
- 3–4 days
- Minimum age
- 10–12 (junior)
- Three parts
- Theory · Pool · Open water
- Result
- Dive worldwide to 18 m
Step 1 — Decide where you want to certify
Think about where you'd love to learn: warm, clear tropical water is the most beginner-friendly and often the cheapest. You can certify on holiday or at a local dive centre at home. Both produce the same worldwide certification.
Step 2 — Find a good instructor and talk to them
This is the most important decision you'll make. Look up local dive centres, read recent reviews, and message or call the instructor before booking. Ask about class size, schedule, and what's included. A great instructor makes diving feel calm and natural — a rushed one can put you off for life.
Don't know where to start looking? The Diving Standard app helps you find dive centres and instructors, see profiles and reviews, and get certified — so you can connect with the right people near you (or at your dream destination) instead of guessing from a search engine.
Step 3 — Complete the course
- Knowledge development (theory): Learn how pressure, buoyancy, equalization and gas affect you underwater. Most agencies let you do this online before you arrive, saving in-water time.
- Confined water (pool): Practise core skills in a pool or shallow, calm water: clearing your mask, recovering your regulator, buoyancy control, and sharing air with a buddy.
- Open-water dives: Apply your skills on four real dives in the sea or a lake, supervised by your instructor. This is where it all clicks.
Step 4 — Get your certification card
Once you've met the standards, your instructor signs you off and the agency issues your digital (and optional physical) certification card. It never expires, and it's recognised at dive centres worldwide. If you've been out of the water a while, a short refresher is recommended.
Prerequisites: You must be comfortable in water and able to swim and float. You'll also complete a short medical questionnaire — some conditions require a doctor's sign-off before you can dive.
Find dive centres, instructors & get certified
Use the Diving Standard app to find dive centres and instructors near you, compare profiles and reviews, and get certified — plus learn the scuba basics free before day one.
Get the Diving Standard appFrequently asked questions
How do I choose a good dive instructor?
Read recent reviews, ask about student-to-instructor ratios (smaller is better), and message them before booking. A patient instructor who answers your questions clearly is worth more than any discount.
Can I do the theory before I arrive?
Yes. Most agencies offer online theory (e.g. PADI eLearning, SSI Online) you can complete at home, so your days at the dive centre are spent in the water.
Does a scuba certification expire?
No, your certification is for life. But if you haven't dived in 6–12 months, a refresher course is strongly recommended to revisit key skills safely.