What is PADI?
PADI is the international organization and stands for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. They offer various courses and certificates for all levels of diving and specialized skills. A certificate from PADI allows you to dive anywhere in the world for recreation. Their certificates are recognized worldwide and are held in high regard, they also never expire.
Why get certified?
Getting certified is great for anyone that wants to explore the sea and become part of a new worldwide community. This is a chance to dive as many times as you like and further your skills.
Types of certification
There are many types of PADI certificates. Here are some of the courses that they offer.
Discover Scuba Diving
This is a quick introduction to diving to get you started and is suitable for children 10 and above as well. This is the perfect course for someone who has never dived before and wants to see what all the fuss is about.
Open Water
This is PADI’s first official scuba diving course. This course takes approximately 3 days to complete and includes practical and theory with a qualified instructor. It will allow you to dive anywhere up to 18 meters.
Advanced Open Water
If you want to further your skills and maximize your depth or maybe learn to night dive then this course is for you. Advanced Open Water includes training for navigation and buoyancy as well as introducing you to some specialist dives such as wreck dives.
Specialty Courses
These courses are extra specialties for students that wish to focus on a special skill such as deep dives, night dives or enriched nitrox. The enriched air course teaches you about diving with less nitrogen; this is great because it lets you dive for longer.
Rescue Diver
This course is considered by most as the most demanding yet most rewarding PADI course. This course teaches you how to handle emergencies in the water. Many divers note that they receive a lot of knowledge on this course and feel way more confident in the water!
Dive Master
You must have completed at least 40 dives to start the Dive master course. This course is for individuals that wish to start a career in diving or plan to continue diving frequently. This can lead to a great work opportunity as well as traveling around the world.
Junior Programs
PADI also offers courses for kids that are similar to the adult courses. However children can only dive to 12 meters and must always be accompanied by a PADI instructor or a certified parent or guardian.
Dive instructor
It takes around 6 months to become a dive instructor. This course is intense and very rewarding. It is designed for people that want to work in the diving community and teach others.
Are you ready to jump in?
If getting PADI certified appeals to you then check out the link to all the PADI courses we offer at Blue Ocean. We have various packages with courses including accommodation too with enticing offers!