Beginner’s Guide to Scuba Diving Certification

Written by: Maddie Wilson

July 2, 2025

Time to read 7 min

Ready to embark on an underwater adventure by earning your scuba diving certification? This pivotal step unlocks a breathtaking world teeming with vibrant marine life, stunning coral reefs, and mysterious shipwrecks. More than just a ticket to explore, certification provides you with the crucial skills and knowledge needed to navigate the depths safely and with confidence. Whether you're eager to discover the wonders in your local waters or planning a trip to renowned dive destinations, this guide illuminates the path to becoming a certified scuba diver, revealing the exciting process and essential requirements that await.

Dive Courses at SB Aquatics

Getting Your Scuba Diving Certification

1. Prerequisites

While scuba diving is generally accessible, certain limitations exist. This guide specifically outlines the requirements set by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) , the world's leading scuba diving training organization.

To become a certified diver, you must be at least 10 years old. Divers aged 10-14 are certified as Junior Open Water Divers. These courses have smaller group sizes for more individualized attention. Upon getting a scuba diving certification, Junior Divers aged 10-11 can dive to a maximum depth of 40 feet and must be accompanied by a dive professional or a certified parent/guardian. Junior Divers aged 12-14 can dive to a maximum depth of 60 feet but must still dive with a certified adult. At age 15, Junior Open Water Divers are automatically upgraded to a full PADI Open Water Diver certification.

PADI Junior Open Water students and instructor

https://blog.padi.com/junior-open-water-vs-open-water/

A medical evaluation is required for the PADI Open Water Course. Students must complete a diver medical form, as good health is necessary for safe scuba diving. Some individuals may need physician approval before starting the course. Certain health conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors can increase risk under pressure, so honest completion of the form and consultation with a doctor are important. Diving during pregnancy is not permitted.

Prior to getting a scuba diving certification, you must be comfortable in the water. Students need to demonstrate the ability to float or tread water without aids for 10 minutes and swim 200 yards/meters without aids, or 300 yards/meters with a mask, snorkel, and fins.

At SB Aquatics, these basic water skills are checked at the student orientation, which is typically the Thursday evening before the pool sessions begin.

2. E-Learning

Once you have determined that you fit the criteria to start the PADI Open Water course, your scuba diving certification journey begins with PADI e-Learning! Before diving into the pool, you'll complete engaging online modules at your own pace, typically taking 8-10 hours. These interactive lessons cover essential scuba diving knowledge, from key terminology to crucial safety procedures, ensuring you're well-prepared for your first confined water session. Arriving ready with this foundational understanding will not only boost your confidence but also enhance your learning experience as you discover the wonders beneath the surface.

The PADI E-Learning and RDP Table modules must be completed before orientation at SB Aquatics! This is included in the price of the class.

3. Gear

While rental scuba gear like tanks, weights, BCDs, and regulators are often available, aspiring Open Water divers typically need their own mask, snorkel, and fins, plus boots and gloves when necessary. Personalized fit for these items is key to underwater comfort. Visiting a local dive shop for professional fitting before your course is highly recommended to ensure a comfortable experience.

https://www.padi.com/gear?equipment=All

Renting a wetsuit and hood might be an option, but owning them is ideal for optimal warmth and comfort during your learning journey. While you will manually log your training dives in the PADI logbook using RDP tables, you may want to consider purchasing a dive computer for added safety. Almost all divers will end up buying one anyways, so it's a great tool to reference during training!

Don't forget essentials like a gear bag, a Surface Marker Buoy (SMB), and a cutting tool. A logbook is also required for instructor sign-offs on completed skills and dives throughout your certification – and it becomes a treasured record of your future underwater explorations once you have your scuba diving certification!

Scuba students at SB Aquatics receive a 10% discount on gear, as well as a guaranteed fit.

You will need to own or purchase at least your personal gear (mask, fins, boots, snorkel, gloves). SB Aquatics staff members will walk you through fitting each piece of gear properly. This can be done during store hours, or during the student orientation.

Rental wetsuit, hood, tank, BCD, regulator, and weights are included in the OW course at SB Aquatics.

4. Confined Water Dives

Once you have gotten medical clearance, finished the e-Learning, passed the swim test, and picked out your gear, you can finally get in the water! Your confined water dives, consisting of five dives in a pool or calm water setting, mark your first hands-on experience. Here, you'll learn to assemble and use your equipment, master essential safety procedures, and practice the art of buoyancy. Expect your instructor to brief and demonstrate skills before you try them.

Divers practicing skills in a pool x Santa Barbara Aquatics

https://pros-blog.padi.com/how-to-teach-rescue-diver/

While this stage is exciting and a great way to bond with fellow students, be prepared for a few hurdles. It's common for divers to need a little extra practice to perfect certain skills – that's all part of becoming a confident diver, and your instructors are there to guide you every step of the way!

Confined water dives are completed on the first Saturday and Sunday of the certification course at SB Aquatics.

5. Open Water Dives

After getting signed off on the confined water portion of the course, it’s time to hit the open water! This is typically the ocean, but can also be a lake or a quarry. You will complete 4 dives, typically spread out over 2 days. On these dives, you will demonstrate the skills that you practiced in the confined water dives, leaving out a few that are not safe to practice in the open water. Additionally, you may engage with other aspects of diving and dive culture, including boat etiquette, shore entry and exit, and dive logs. Once you have completed all skills and dives, and your instructor believes that you are ready to dive without them (but always with a buddy!), they will submit photos of your logbook to PADI to process your scuba diving certification.

The first OW dive is typically completed at Refugio State Beach on the second Saturday of the OW course at SB Aquatics.

The remaining three dives are completed at the Channel Islands on the Spectre Dive Boat on the second Sunday of the OW course. The boat boards at 6:00 am at the Ventura Harbor, and heads to Anacapa and/or Santa Cruz Islands for three dives. The boat serves coffe, tea, breakfast, grilled lunch (with vegetarian options), and soft drinks. End the exhausting but fun day while enjoying dessert in the hot tub! Expect to return to the harbor between 3:00-5:00 pm (depending on conditions).

Need some flexibility with the schedule of our OW course? Contact us to set up a private session!

6. Continued Education

Congratulations! As a certified PADI Open Water Diver, the world's underwater playgrounds are now yours to explore with any dive operator, anywhere! You can also gear up and dive freely with your buddies, as long as you feel confident. With your PADI Open Water eCard, or physical card, you will be able to rent gear or join in on group dives. Remember, your initial scuba diving certification allows you to descend to 60 feet, opening up a vast array of dive sites.

https://pros-blog.padi.com/padi-ecard-what-you-need-to-know/

Ready for deeper adventures and to hone your skills? The PADI Advanced Open Water Course beckons, offering opportunities for more challenging dives and focused training in areas like buoyancy and underwater navigation. For those looking to enhance their safety skills and learn how to manage underwater and surface emergencies, the Rescue Diver certification is an invaluable step. The PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver certifications form the foundation of recreational diving.

Dreaming of turning your passion into a profession? The Divemaster certification marks your entry into the professional diving world, followed by instructor-level certifications that allow you to share your love for the underwater realm with others. With a wide array of additional specialty courses available, your dive education can be a lifelong journey of discovery and skill development. The learning never truly stops for those who yearn to explore further!

Chart of PADI courses and certifications

https://blog.padi.com/padi-core-courses/

Dive Courses at SB Aquatics

Ready to Start Your Scuba Journey?

Earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification is more than just a step; it's a gateway to an extraordinary world. From the initial eLearning modules to the exhilarating open water dives, each stage of the process equips you with vital skills and knowledge. Whether you're a novice diver or someone looking to deepen their expertise with advanced courses and specialties, the adventure never truly ends. So, gather your gear, complete the necessary steps, and prepare to dive into a realm of unparalleled beauty and exploration. The underwater world awaits, ready to reveal its wonders to those who dare to explore.

Everything you need to know to get your scuba diving certification including prerequisites, e-learning, gear to rent vs buy, and every step of your certification process.

Maddie Wilson