The article gives a detailed description about the course «Open Water Diver», steps of trainings and the main skills which you’ll get from the course.

Diving Course “Open Water Diver” – what is it?

The most frequent question which is being asked by most of people who want to learn diving «Will we get an international certificate?» And hear the answer: «Of course, yes».

There is a nuance. On the one hand, a certificate – it is as a «right» to use an aqualung like the license which allow you to drive a car. On the other hand, an international convention adopted a provision that such  «diver license» does not exist. As a result, since there are about 15 different training systems for diving, each course has its own rating. Therefore for those who want to learn to swim under water raises a question: «what kind of course, and which system is better to take?» The choice is very wide.

In this article we’ll try to give  information about «Open Water Diver» – the initial diving course in PADI,  as PADI holds 75% of the world market in diving industry, about 20 million issued certificates, almost 100 thousand instructors and approximately 50 thousand dive centers. PADI system differs from all other systems with very rigid centralization and standardization. This means that there is «a single law» which is true for all PADI instructors worldwide. They prepare and train according to the same method and teach using same program, same signals, tables and procedures. Therefore it is very easy to start a course in one country , to take the exams – in another and  dive in the third one. They are absolutely the same.

So diving course «Open Water diver» is a program that consists of three parts.

Part one – theoretical course. It consists of 5 sections (modules): the equipment for diving, adaptation to the underwater world, sense of communication, environment, planning dives, possible problems and methods of their removal, health and diving, the study of decompression tables, safety regulations.
In any case, after each of the modules you need to pass a mini-test, comprising 10 questions, and at the end of the entire theoretical part take the final exam, which consists of 50 questions. For each question is proposed 4 answer choices from which you must select the right one. PADI exams are considered  passed if 75% of the questions are answered right.

The second part is already Confined Dive. In the understanding of PADI it is not only swimming in the pool, but also in the fenced portion of the open lake, which is on the purity and transparency of water depth, etc. can be equated to the pool. The instructor will work out with you each exercise until you’ll learn to perform it correctly. The main thing is that a student can repeat any of the exercise simple and safe.

In a confined dive module number 1 is studied is the preparation and setup of equipment. Scuba – three subjects that are connected together: the cylinder, buoyancy compensator (BCD) and the regulator. In fact, scuba – it «constructor», all of which can be changed to allow «fit» of any figure, taking into account the physical abilities of the student.

By the end of the first module the student should be capable of the following:

  • wear a mask, fins, tube and scuba with and without the help of the partner;
  • normal breathing through the regulator (not holding breath);
  • Clean the regulator under water in two ways;
  • swim under water, in full equipment, controlling the depth and direction of movement.

By the end of the second module the student should be able to:

  • right Deep water entry (seated position);
  • snorkel breathing and clearing;
  • able to pick up cargo weight during each dive;
  • Weight removal at surface be able to take the cargo on the surface.

By the end of the third module, students must learn to:

  • set «zero buoyancy», based on the bottom tip of flipper;
  • demonstrate a method to combat cramps;
  • be able to breathe through the supposedly «defective» regulator;
  • simulate-controlled «emergency ascent».

At the end of the fourth module of the student is required:

  • be familiar with hyperventilation and diving;
  • swim under water without a mask for at least 15 meters;
  • demonstrate skills hanging in water at least 30 seconds.

And at the end of the fifth module, students must be able to:

  • lift, wear, «fit» scuba and cargo on the water surface;
  • self-lift and put on scuba under water;
  • self-lift, dress and «fit» cargo under water.

In life there are different circumstances. It may happen that you, for whatever reason, have not been able to finish the entire course. In such cases, a procedure shall «refer». This is a special document which confirms the PADI instructor that the student has successfully completed and graduated from such and such a module in the theoretical part and in the «confined dive».

The third part – «OPEN WATER». In understanding PADI is a natural reservoir, the minimum depth in which should be 5 meters. For a complete diving course passage «Open Water» You must comply with 4 dive in a natural reservoir. The duration of one dive should be at least 20 minutes. For simplicity- imagine a car driving training. Swimming pool – it is quiet, easy, safe. This is the most «ground with sticks», in which you learn to start and stall. Can people track immediately after the release of one of «city»? I think not. «Open Water» – this is more a psychological test than training. Instructor in the «open water» anything you would not teach. His task to take you off on those skills that you had to get in the pool. You need to fulfill 4 dive credits, two a day. The instructor gives you the equipment and is diving together with you, take three or four exercises, then you watch the beautiful fish swimming.

After each dive, you must fill out a special «Journal of diving», the so-called «Log-book». The instructor is required to sign for each dive, and enter your personal number. After the end of the fourth dive, provided that you have completed all the exercises, the instructor is required to take a special form-envelope PADI – PIC ( «Positive Identification Card), which consists of 3 parts: the instructor’s part, a student’s Temporary Card. Instructor fills in “his” portion, a diver – “their” part, a temporary card to be filled on the spot. It is a complete analogue of the plastic card and is valid for 90 days. PIC, embedded with a photo of a student who is sent to the headquarters of PADI. There is a plastic original, which is sent by mail to the specified in the “student” of the PIC address.
Certificate of “Open Water diver” gives the right to dive anywhere in the world without an instructor with the partner that has the same qualifications or higher at a depth of 18 meters in a familiar spot for divers.

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