PADI Open Water Diver course in Dahab
PADI Open Water Diver is the world's most popular first scuba certification. In Dahab it takes about 3–4 days, and it qualifies you to dive with a buddy to 18 m anywhere in the world.
- Minimum age
- 10
- Duration
- 3–4 days (PADI: as little as 2–4 days, plus 5–10 hours of eLearning)
- Dives
- Confined-water skill sessions, then 4 open water dives over at least 2 days
- Max depth
- 18 m (12 m for ages 10–11)
- Prerequisite
- No previous certification. Able to swim, comfortable in the water and medically fit for diving (diver medical questionnaire).
- Certification lets you
- Dive with a buddy to 18 m without professional supervision, rent gear, get tank fills and book dives worldwide.
What the PADI Open Water Diver course is
PADI Open Water Diver is the entry-level scuba certification of PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the largest dive training organisation in the world. Once you hold it, you can dive with a buddy without an instructor, rent equipment, get your tanks filled and join dive trips anywhere.
The course has three parts. Knowledge development, usually done on PADI eLearning, covers pressure, equipment, dive planning and safety. Confined-water sessions are where you learn the skills in calm, shallow water. Then you make four open water dives on a real reef, repeating the skills and starting to actually explore.
PADI puts the eLearning at 5–10 hours and the whole course at as little as 2–4 days. In Dahab most people need 3–4 days, depending on how much theory is done before arrival and on the wind.
Who the course is for
Anyone aged 10 or over who wants to dive independently with a buddy, not only on a guided try dive. No experience is needed. If you already did a PADI Discover Scuba Diving dive, tell your instructor before you start, because it may be credited towards the course.
Divers aged 10–14 earn a Junior Open Water Diver certification. Ages 10–11 must dive with a PADI professional or a certified parent or guardian, to a maximum of 12 m. Ages 12–14 must dive with a certified adult, to a maximum of 18 m. The card upgrades to a full Open Water Diver certification at 15.
You need basic swimming comfort, not speed. During the course you swim 200 m without aids, or 300 m with mask, fins and snorkel, with no time limit, and float or tread water for 10 minutes.
Not sure yet? Try one dive first →
Day-by-day schedule in Dahab
Day 1: theory review and first skills. Your instructor goes over anything unclear from your eLearning, you set up your gear together, and the confined-water sessions start in the shallow, sheltered bay at Lighthouse, where you can stand up. You practise clearing your mask, recovering your regulator, sharing air and controlling your buoyancy.
Day 2: final skill sessions and open water dives 1 and 2, to a maximum of 12 m. The Lighthouse slope is ideal for this: an easy walk-in entry, little current, and corals, lionfish and morays from the first minute.
Day 3: open water dives 3 and 4, to a maximum of 18 m, often at Eel Garden with its field of garden eels, or at the Islands, a maze of coral heads in shallow water. The site is chosen around the wind and the tide on the day.
Day 4, if needed: a buffer for wind, a slower pace or the final exam. Nobody is rushed through a skill they are not comfortable with.
PADI eLearning and what you need
The theory is done on PADI eLearning, online or in the PADI App, at your own pace with reading, videos and quizzes. Doing it at home before your trip means more time in the water in Dahab. The eLearning covers the theory only; the in-water training is arranged with your instructor.
Instruction, the confined-water sessions, the four open water dives, tanks and weights are part of the training. What exactly is in your package, including eLearning, gear rental, transport and certification, is confirmed in writing when you book.
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sun cream and your own mask if you have one that fits well. A wetsuit is provided, usually 5 mm in winter and 3 mm in summer.
Medical questionnaire
Before any in-water training you complete the diver medical questionnaire, the form used by PADI and other agencies. If you answer no to every question, you can start. A yes to any question means a doctor must sign the physician evaluation form before you enter the water.
Chronic conditions, some medications and recent surgery are the usual reasons. PADI advises reading the form before you enrol, so check it at home and see your own doctor if needed. Divers under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign the training forms.
What you can do after the course
As a PADI Open Water Diver you can dive with a buddy to 18 m, in conditions similar to your training or better. In Dahab that opens most of the classic sites: Lighthouse, Eel Garden, the Islands, Three Pools, Golden Blocks and the shallow reef of the Blue Hole.
Your certification is for life. PADI recommends avoiding gaps of 6 months or more without diving, and a ReActivate refresher if you have been away for a while.
PADI or SSI in Dahab?
Both are good choices, and your instructor can teach either. PADI and SSI entry-level courses teach the same core skills to the international ISO 24801-2 standard, with the same 18 m limit and the same diver medical form. Dive centers worldwide accept both cards.
PADI is the largest agency and describes its Open Water card as the most widely recognised in the world, which some divers prefer if they plan to keep training with PADI. SSI delivers its learning materials and digital card through the MySSI app. Both agencies accept a qualifying entry-level certification from another agency for continuing education, so you are not locked in.
Compare: SSI Open Water Diver in Dahab →
Course price
The price depends on your dates, whether you already finished the eLearning and what gear you need. Send your dates on WhatsApp and you will get an exact price and a clear list of what it includes.
💬 Get the exact price for your dates
Why learn to dive in Dahab
Your training dives are shore dives in sheltered bays: you walk in from the beach instead of rolling off a rocking boat. The water is warm all year, about 21–29 °C, visibility is often 20–30 m, and the reef starts a few metres from the shore.
When you finish, the next step is PADI Advanced Open Water, which takes you to 30 m and into The Bells and the Canyon. You can start it the day after your Open Water course.
PADI Advanced course in Dahab →
Questions
How long does the PADI Open Water course take in Dahab?
Usually 3–4 days. PADI says as little as 2–4 days for the in-water part, plus 5–10 hours of eLearning you can finish before you arrive.
What is the minimum age for PADI Open Water Diver?
10 years. Ages 10–14 earn a Junior Open Water Diver card, and ages 10–11 are limited to 12 m.
How deep can I dive with a PADI Open Water certification?
To 18 m, with a buddy. Juniors aged 10–11 are limited to 12 m.
How many dives are in the PADI Open Water course?
Confined-water skill sessions in shallow water, then four open water dives, usually over at least two days.
Do I need to be a good swimmer for PADI certification?
No. You swim 200 m (or 300 m with mask, fins and snorkel) with no time limit, and float for 10 minutes.
Does a PADI certification expire?
No, it is for life. If you have not dived for 6 months or more, PADI recommends a ReActivate refresher.
Can I do the PADI eLearning before I travel to Dahab?
Yes. You can study online or in the PADI App whenever it suits you, then do the in-water training in Dahab.