Beginner
PADI Open Water Diver
The internationally recognized certification that makes you an autonomous diver — your entry point to explore the ocean anywhere in the world.
Why take this course
- Gain the independence to dive with a buddy, without an instructor, anywhere in the world down to 18 meters.
- Earn an internationally recognized PADI certification, valid in more than 180 countries with no expiration date.
- Get certified in one of Brazil's most respected diving destinations, with clear water and rich marine life.
- Open the door to the next level: Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and PADI specialty courses.
- Learn at your own pace, with one-on-one guidance from a PADI instructor from start to finish.
The PADI Open Water Diver is the most popular scuba certification in the world and the course that opens the door to the ocean. Once you pass the course, you'll be able to dive independently with a buddy, anywhere in the world, down to 18 meters — an internationally recognized certification with no expiration date.
The course combines knowledge development, confined-water training, and open-water dives, always guided by a PADI instructor. No previous experience is required — just a willingness to learn and feel comfortable in the water.
In Búzios, you complete the open-water stage in one of Brazil's most respected diving destinations, with visibility and marine life that make the certification an unforgettable experience.
- Level
- Beginner
- Duration
- 3 in-person days in Búzios
- Theory
- 100% online, at your own pace, before the in-person part (PADI eLearning)
- Check pricing with our team
- Pricing available on request — contact us for the current rate sheet
What you'll learn
- Basic principles of dive physics and physiology
- Assembling and caring for scuba equipment
- Buoyancy control and underwater technique
- Dive planning and using dive tables/computers
- Safety procedures and emergency management
- Underwater communication and buddy diving
Knowledge development
You'll study recreational diving theory through PADI eLearning, at your own pace, from anywhere. This is the foundation for everything that follows.
Confined water (pool)
In confined water, you assemble and adjust your gear for the first time and practice every essential diving skill in a controlled, shallow environment: breathing underwater for the first time, clearing and removing your mask, recovering your regulator, controlling your buoyancy, making controlled ascents, and sharing air with your buddy in an emergency. This is where each skill gets repeated calmly, at your own pace, until it becomes second nature — the safety foundation you carry into every dive that follows.
Flexibility for out-of-town students
The open-water dives always happen in Búzios
The confined-water (pool) stage can also be completed in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, closer to home, before you travel to Búzios just for the open-water dives.
We don't run fixed class groups: once you purchase the course, we work with you directly to schedule each stage.
São Paulo
Pool / confined-water stage
Possibility of completing the pool stage in São Paulo before traveling to Búzios — we schedule the dates with you after you purchase the course.
Rio de Janeiro
Pool / confined-water stage
Possibility of completing the pool stage in Rio de Janeiro before traveling to Búzios — we schedule the dates with you after you purchase the course.
Open water (Búzios)
The final stage always takes place in Búzios: four open-water dives where you apply everything you've learned. Once you pass, you earn the PADI Open Water Diver certification — recognized internationally and valid to dive anywhere in the world down to 18 meters.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age of 10 (Junior certification until age 15)
- Ability to swim and feel comfortable in the water
- Complete a diver medical/health questionnaire
What to bring
- Swimsuit and towel
- Sunscreen (reef-safe preferred)
- ID document
- Willingness to learn and have fun
What's included
- PADI eLearning — all the theory, at your own pace, before the in-person part
- Confined water (pool) classes
- 4 open-water dives
- Snacks on the boat
- Accommodation at the Búzios Divers dive center during the course
- Direct WhatsApp support from your instructors
Frequently asked questions
You need to know how to swim and feel comfortable in the water, but you don't need to be an advanced swimmer. PADI requires a simple swim and float test at the start of the course.
Related courses
PADI Open Water Diver
The internationally recognized certification that makes you an autonomous diver — your entry point to explore the ocean anywhere in the world.