SiE Level 3 PADI Open Water Diver

The PADI Open Water Diver programme is designed to give participants the skills, confidence and competence to scuba dive independently (with their buddy) without the need for direct Instructor supervision. Within the SiE programme employed for Quinzone (Birmingham) we delivered a single OW programme at a dedicated pool venue, for the ten participants (8 young persons / 2 group leaders) that were selected from the initial DSD sessions.

The session requires the students to focus their attention to the self-study work prior to attending, but with this delivered in both manual and DVD format it makes it more engaging that simple book-work alone. As the groups mastery of the academics via self study was far from complete our Instructors then reviewed all details of this with the group within an informal classroom environment prior to progression through to the pool. With attention spans being relatively short the theory review periods were kept to a minimum (approx 20 – 25 mins max) and the overall programme extended accordingly. The in water skills were much less of a challenge and all participants progressed through these with relative ease, allowing the additionally added sessions to become more free-time than actual dedicated training focus.

After completion of the initial stages over an 8 week (normally 6 week) period, on a one-evening-a-week basis the group progressed to their final qualifying open water dives. These four qualifying dives are completed at a local Inland Dive Site, allowing them to put their ne found skills in to practise. This again is a great “leveller” and as the focus is on dive planning and working together really did seem to bring the whole Quinzone Group even closer together. On completion the participants would be awarded the PADI Open Water Diver certification, qualifying them to dive in open water without the need for Instructor supervision.

Note:- At this final stage there there is an option to simply complete two of the four open water dives, and on completion of these the participant is awarded the Scuba Diver certification, meaning that all of the participants are capable of earning recoginition / qualification at some level. The Scuba Diver certification would allow them to dive in open water, but under the supervision of an Instructor, and allow them to progress to full Open Water Diver level at a later date if they wished.

The programme is split between Self-Study (Manual/DVD); classroom review; pool and open water, and includes Equipment Assembly; Briefings; Safety and Emergency Skill Development; Self Sufficiency and Buddy Contract Skills; Equipment Care; Water Entry and Exit; and some limited Rescue Skills. The session is lead by our own fully qualified Instructors, working on a ratio of 2:1 (Team to Students), and all specialist equipment and open water drysuits are provided.

SiE Cost Per Participant (Max 10 Participants / Min 6 Participants) – Dedicated Pool Venue @ £269 per participant
(Crew Pack Training Manuals and Certification Fee are Included in this Price)
(Entrance Fees to Open Water Dive Site are not included – £15 per day x 2 days)