Open Water Diver Course

Get your open water diver course in Phuket in 2 / 3 Days with free online e-learning, start learning to dive now for free! 

Our Open Water Diver Course in Phuket is designed for complete beginners who want to become certified scuba divers in just 3 days. This internationally recognised Open Water Diver certification allows you to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 meters. With small groups, experienced instructors, and Phuket’s warm tropical waters, this is one of the best places in Thailand to learn to scuba dive.

How many days will it typically take to get certified?

Day 1 of your Open Water Diver course will be Pool Training, then Day 2 + 3 will consist of 4 open water training dives – theses dives can be conducted at a local reef near a beach or on a boat, ultimatley if you are short on time, the course can be condenced into 2 Days to save you 1 full day of your holiday.

What’s included & what to expect?

As customers, we give you flexible options  – you have the choice to buy the course you want, based on the time you have available, and the price you want to pay. – We don’t force you to do longer days and 6 tiresome dive trips to Phi Phi Island that return at 7.30 pm… We can teach you to dive in 4 training dives, shorter days with less wasted holiday time. 

Typically, our 2 or 3-day 4 dive course is spread out over 15 to 18 hrs with your Instructor to achieve open water diver certification & 4 open water training dives. All internationally branded Open Water Diver Courses are structured identically, no matter what brand of e learning you purchase for the dive course its the same course,e and the end product is the same globally recognised open water licence.

How to Save Time Getting Your Open Water Licence

If you want to take a 3 day 6 dive open water course it has some drawback, are longer days you will need stamina and endurance to dive at Phi Phi islands, you would spend a total of 27 hrs course time, excluding minivan transfers, and as most 3 dive boattrips return late from Phi Phi at 6.30 Pm thats an extra 10.5 hrs on a boat for 3 x 50 Minuite dives as your first dive will start at 11.20 am this can be turn out to be a 12 hr day on a boat with 65 -100 divers in Hi season.

Why choose Phuket for your open water diver course

It takes a short 1 hr flight from Bangkok International Airport to Phuket airport and a local taxi will take 50 minutes from the airport to Kata Beach. It would take you a full day to travel to Koh Samui, Koh Tao or Koh Phi Phi island to learn to scuba dive, meaning that you could depart at 8 am from Bangkok and be in our dive pool by 11.00 am the same day, cutting down travelling time saves you valuable holiday time to do other activities.

Learning to Scuba Dive in Phuket – Pre- sign-up information:

• Fit to scuba dive, read this Medical Statement & Questionnaire for Open Water Diver Health Check.
• Remember, 18- 24 hours no flying after a scuba dive

• NOTE: Before deciding to scuba dive, it is recommended that you have some experience with swimming. Learning to swim before scuba diving will allow you to relax and enjoy your dives, feeling safe in knowing that you are comfortable in the water.
•  Any diver who cannot swim adds additional risk to their personal safety. You don’t need to be a strong swimmer, just comfortable in the water.
• Perform a Swim Test of 200m any style or 300m using a mask, snorkel and fins.
• Float in water too deep to stand for 10 minutes without any assistance or flotation aids.
• To register for either the Open Water Diver program, you must be 10 years old.
• There’s a medical form for any scuba diving activity: You need to read this and sign to confirm you have no medical conditions that can affect your safety. If you declare a medical condition on the form, you will not be able to dive without a signed clearance from a doctor. Read the medical form and consult a doctor if necessary prior to signing up.

What’s included in your Phuket Open Water Diver Course?

At Phuket Dive Tours, we offer the most efficient way to learn to dive. The Open Water Diver Course is a great modern globally recognised open water certification designed for young People, beginners who want safe, structured, and flexible scuba training. Here’s why it is the smart choice for your first scuba certification:

• Free Online Learning: Start studying right away with MySSI—access free digital course materials from any device, at your own pace.
• More Flexible, Less Stress: A training system emphasises comfort and confidence underwater, with no pressure to rush through skills before you’re ready.
• Globally Accepted Certification: Your Open Water card is recognised at thousands of dive shops and liveaboards worldwide
• Instant Digital Certification: upon course completion via the MySSI App—perfect for travel or spontaneous dive trips.
• High-Quality Training Centres: ensuring professional instructors, well-maintained gear, and safe training conditions.
• Most globally integrated dive Training agencies, with dive centres worldwide
• Private Training Pool facility, not a communal pool shared with every other dive centre on the island

Is it beginner-friendly?

We have completed thousands of first-time diving Courses. Phuket Dive Tours will teach you as a complete beginner up to your full Phuket Open Water Certification. We employ the best British, Australian, Swedish, and French Instructors to make your diving courses safe and fun in our purpose-built Training pool.

Best Diving School in Phuket with its own Private Training Pool

Free Open Water Diver Training  – video

Click here to start your free online digital e-learning course - no costs incurred

Check out our Scuba diving centre and training facility

At Phuket Dive Tours, we know that our customers want to have fun and Adventures while learning to scuba dive. We can tailor your scuba diving courses differently, as well as take you to great dive locations. Group sizes of students to Instructors are a maximum of 4 students to 1 instrucor but normally less off-peak season.

Why take the Open Water Diver Course in Kata Beach, Phuket

What makes us different from other dive centres in Phuket is our exclusive training facility – No other Phuket Scuba Certification or Phuket dive centre has invested more when it comes to providing you with a hassle-free, all in one Training course.  

Open water diver course structure

The Open Water Diver Course has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle and the spectacular sights of the underwater kingdom. We have many schedules available, all depending on customers’ choice and the time they have available. As our team of pro instructors is licensed to teach both course options, we can advise customers who may be a little doubtful about which course option would suit their course time frame, expectations & overall experience, and budget.

• No previous diving experience is needed for the Open Water Diver Course; however, any previous diving experience you may have, e.g. the Try scuba or Discover Scuba Diving programme, may be credited towards a portion of the full Open Water Diver Course certification.
• The 2 & 3-day  program is fully supervised by our dedicated and experienced qualified Instructors.
• The Max ratio is four students to one instructor.
• You must be at least 10 years old, in good health, and comfortable in water too deep in which to stand.
• What’s the difference between PADI Brand open water & SSI open water courses

Open Water Diver Course Modules:

1. Dive theory –  complete and review the Knowledge development sections in the Open Water Diver Course manual; complete quizzes under the guidance of your Instructor to verify understanding; complete the course ‘Final Exam’ with 75% or more questions correct. If you choose Free eLearning, we can monitor your progress via your diver profile.
2. Confined Water skills practice – Learn the dive skills you will need to scuba dive. We have our own private scuba diving pool designed specifically for open water course students  – this means that there’s no commuting between the dive shop and a communal local shared pool – this cuts down and saves hours of being stuck in traffic and makes your day less stressful. Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
3. Open Water skills mastery – Complete and review the diver training with 4 Open Water Dives on a Diving Boat to a maximum depth of 18m

Dive Course Theory – Knowledge Development options:)

• You can begin to study independently by reading through the course materials and completing the short quizzes therein. The Open Water Diver Course manual has Knowledge reviews at the end of each chapter, which must be completed. The Open Water Knowledge Reviews will be required by your driving instructor on the first day of your 3-day diving course option, so this independent study section of the manual is very important. w
• E-learning courses or online E-books are highly recommended, particularly for those whose first language is not English and of course, they’re more environmentally friendly than the old school paper manuals. Private study before the start of your course will create more time for you and your instructor to discuss dive knowledge, answer specific questions you may have, and, most importantly, practice pool skills in the water on day one.
• The e-learning online course is also available from Padi, priced at 240 USD, which has an Online exam.
• The other option is the Free Open Water course introduction called “Pre Learning”. You learn the same way as e-learning, but complete the exam in the classroom.
• P cards are mailed directly to your home address. This takes longer,r around 6- 8 weeks. Digital certification cards can also be purchased directly for an additional cost. It’s irrelevant what open water course reading materials you choose, as both brands are similar in many ways; each conforms to the international standards for diving education  ISO 24803:2017. Both are certified by the WRSTC (World Recreational Scuba Training Council) and the ISO/EUF (International Standards Organisation/European Underwater Federation). The knowledge and skill requirements are almost identical, which means certifications are equivalent, interchangeable, and recognised globally.

Day 1 of the course: Confined Water Diving & Skills Practice

Diver training will often be conducted in a Dive pool. During the confined water pool sessions, you will learn the Open Water Diver scuba skills you will need for diving safely in open water.

• While Learning new dive skills and practising the basic principles and safety aspects of scuba diving, under the continuous supervision of your fully-qualified scuba Instructor

Day 2 and Day 3 of the course

You will complete 4 Open Water (dives in the ocean). These training dives are completed over the remaining two days of the course. These dives are conducted at some of the many local islands and coral reefs where you can enjoy some of the most beautiful diving in Phuket.

The Open Water Beach Diving option is shorter in time due to a shorter transfer time. Our Kata Beach diving resort is only 100m away from the beach. Our Chalong dive centre is located 10 minutes away from Chalong Pier and 20 minutes’ drive away from our resort at Kata Beach

Why you should sign up for free e-learning

The comparisons to e-learning, as opposed to paper manuals, are sometimes not obvious. Watch the video.

Do I need to be a good swimmer to learn to scuba dive?

The reason you should be comfortable in the water and confident as a swimmer is that after you complete the course and have open water certification you may often dive with people maybe you have never met before, as a certified diver it would be expected that if you have an Open Water Certification or you can look after yourself or your buddy if they got into difficulty, hence each could look after the other one, this buddy system makes diving safe.

Risk awareness video – please watch this before booking any beginners’ course.

Why you should complete your Open Water Certification with Phuket Dive Tours.

• Our own private dive Pool is exclusive to Phuket Dive Tours Customers – we don’t rent a communal pool for your scuba course
• We have exclusive  Affordable diving accommodation. Click here 
• We are one of the only dive shops that have our own dedicated diving pool located within our beach shop & resort.
• All our instructors have many years of experience and extensive knowledge of the local dive sites, and all hold valid visas and work permits.
• Reputation, we have excellent reviews and customer feedback for quality services and customer care.
• VALUE, with our diving courses, we have low overheads, so we pass savings back to customers.
• We offer Kata Beach dives in the high season from November to April as a shorter course option, allowing you more time to do other holiday activities.
• The open-water course has 4 open-water training dives, which can be boat dives or a combination of beach dives and boat dives
• You can tell us if you want extra time with the instructor or access different training formulas for the open water dives to suit you.
• We tell customers that the location of their hotel and traffic jams can add an extra 1 hour to travelling per day if staying in Patong.
• The best location for your course and the diving holiday is Kata Beach, meaning shorter travelling times, often in private transport.
• We offer partial refunds if customers feel they don’t want to continue with the course.
• NOTE: Please be aware of unauthorised operators attempting to sell you a non-genuine diving experience on travel platforms. Scuba diving lessons/skills may not be thoroughly taught or excluded entirely, dives may be short, and your safety is at risk.

Open Water Dive Certification prices include:

• Open Water paper or electronic manual
• Free downloadable Online e-learning manuals
• FREE Dive Log Book paper or digital as part of the app.
• Free digital certification card
• Full set of personalised, fitted diving equipment for the duration of the course.
• We will show you how to use a dive computer and why every diver needs one 
• Food, drinks, snacks, and meals on all Boat Diving.

Dive course price, locations and combo packages.

Why do we include beach diving as an option (available mid-November to April) for an Open Water dive course? This is simply common sense to some people. If you are short on holiday time, then the open water course at the beach will save you 5 hours on Days 2 and 3  in comparison to Boat Diving. If you get seasick and don’t want to be on overcrowded boats in high season, then beach course formulas may be a wiser choice. Ask for details

Beach dives allow you to spend more time with your family and less time in minivans or on boats! (available November – May)

This is the best option for those short on holiday time: beach diving is available just 100 meters from our Kata beach dive shop located in the center of Kata, cutting down on travel time by beach diving will save you holiday time  –  most dive shops won’t offer beach options  –  private course at no extra charge if we don’t have another student on the same day … 

Our Private Dive Pool

Formula 1. Available October to May Price 9,900 THB Day 1 is Pool, Day 2 is 2 Beach Dives, Day 3 is 2 Beach Dives (Course duration 15 Hrs, an efficient way to learn at a budget price)

• Students can pre-study online all chapters of the eLearning dive theory as self-study before starting the pool session.
  
• Day 1 Open Water Diver Course half-day 8.15 registration review, Dive Theory and then complete confined water pool skills – Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
• Day 2 Open Water 2 dives at Kata Beach. Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach
• Day 3 Open Water 2 dives Kata Beach Meet at the dive center at Kata Beach
• All courses include free course materials and free downloadable Free Open Water Diver course Online e-learning, which includes equipment and lunch on boat days 
• Contact us Now

Formula 2. Available October to May Price 11,000 THB Day 1 Pool, + Day 2 is 2 Beach Dives, + Day 3 is 2 Boat dives (Course duration 18 hrs spread over 3 days)

• Students can pre-study online all chapters of the eLearning dive theory as self-study before starting the pool session.
  
• Day 1 Open Water Diver Course, half-day 8.15 registration review, with Dive Theory and then complete Confined water pool skills – Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
• Day 2 Open Water 2 dives at Kata Beach.h Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach
• Day 3 Open Water 2 dives at Racha Yai Hotel,l pick up and drop off 
• All courses include free course materials and free downloadable Free Open water diver course Online e-learning, which includes equipment and lunch on boat days 
• Contact us Now

Formula 3.- Available December Price 12,000 Thb 2 Day Intensive course Day 1 is Pool + 1 Beach Dive,  Day 2 is 3 Boat Dives (Course duration 18 hrs spread over 2 days)

• Students can pre-study and must have completed all 6 online chapters of the eLearning dive theory as self-study before starting the pool session 
• Day 1 Open Water Diver Course, half-day Pool Training, Confined water pool skills – Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
• Day 2 Open Water Diver Course 3 dives at Racha Yai / Racha Noi
• All courses include free course materials and free downloadable Free Open Water Diver course Online e-learning, which includes equipment and lunch on boat days 
• Contact us Now

Formula 4.- 3 Day open water course 4 boat dives Price 12000 Thb Day 1 is Pool, then Day 2 is 2 Boat Dives, Day 3 is 3 Boat Dives (Course duration 18 hrs spread over 3 days)

• Students can pre-study online all chapters of the eLearning dive theory as self-study before starting the pool session 
• Day 1 Open Water Diver Course, half-day 8.15 registration review, Dive Theory and then complete Confined water pool skills – Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
•  Day 2 Open Water Diver Course  2 dives at Racha Yai 
•  Day 3 Open Water Diver Course  2 dives at Racha Yai 
• All courses includes free course materials and free downloadable Free Open water diver course Online e-learning includes equipment and lunch on boat days 
• Contact us Now

Formula 5.- 3 Day open water course 6 boat dives Price 13000 Thb Day 1 is Pool, then Day 2 & 3 are Boat Dives (Course duration 18 hrs spread over 3 days)

• Students can pre-study online all chapters of the eLearning dive theory as self-study before starting the pool session 
• Day 1 Open Water Diver Course, half-day 8.15 registration review, Dive Theory and then complete Confined water pool skills – Meet at the dive centre at Kata Beach.
•  Day 2 Open Water Diver Course 3 dives at Racha Yai / Racha Noi
• Day 3 Open Water Diver Course 3 dives at Racha Yai / Racha Noi or Phi Phi Shark Point + 600 national marine oark fees 
• All courses includes free course materials and free downloadable Free Open water diver course Online e-learning includes equipment and lunch on boat days 
• Contact us Now

Best Places to Learn Scuba in Thailand for Your Course

As students learning to dive, we offer flexible choices or alternatives to long boat rides; however, it’s worth knowing now that it can take more than 3 hours on a slow diving boat to get to Phi Phi Islands.

Phi Phi Island dive sites as part of the open water diving course

If you are looking to learn to dive at the Phi Phi Island dive sites, we recommend the 6 Dive Course option. Note that there’s added marine park fees of 600Thb – you pay this cash on the boat 

Special offers on open water and advanced adventure courses

The Open water diver course can be combined with the Advanced certification License to dive to 30m  – a 2-course bundle on offer at 21000 THB

Additional Open Water Course options:

If you are thinking of an Open Water Course option, then you may want to consider combining the Open Water Diver with the Enriched Air Nitrox Speciality program
You will earn the Open Water Diver and Enriched Air Nitrox (32% or 40%) Speciality certifications after completing these programs, each of which has free online eLearning training materials. 

Related diving courses

• If you feel that you need more time and extra scuba diving lessons to hone your scuba diving skills in the pool, we can extend the Private Open Water Diver Course to 4 days, giving you more time with your instructor and revisiting aspects of the course to suit your individual needs.
• Note: additional course/boat/ Instructor fees would naturally apply to any extension of your course. We charge 4000 thb per extra day.

Transfer times for courses:

Our main dive centre is located at Kata Beach, with a transfer time of around 15 minutes’ drive to the marina. We have transferred from all hotels in the following areas:

Transfers on boat days  Patong 7:15 – 7:30,   – Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Rawai Beach, Nai Harn, Chalong Bay 7:30 – 7:45 (Transfers to boat 15 Mins )

Extra charge private car transfer fee per day – 7:00 am Ban Tao & Surin Beach 1,600thb – Maikhao Beach – Ban Tao – Airport Area 1,500 THB

Extra charge private car transfer fees per day -7:00am Cape Panwa + 1000thb – 7.00 am Koh Siray 1500Tthb  – 7.15 am Phuket Town + 1500thb  

Travel time to Chalong Marina is around 15 minutes from Kata or 1 hour from Patong

The tour itineraries can be changed depending on the local weather conditions. Any changes will be made by the tour leader and boat captain on your trip based on matters of safety

• ALL PRICES SHOWN ARE SUBJECT TO SEASONAL CHANGE

To inquire about the Open Water Diver Course Contact us Now