There are several different types of PADI SCUBA diving course.

For beginners there is the PADI Open Water Diver course. This particular diving course takes around 4 days to complete. The Advanced Open Water course takes between 3-4 days and requires the student to have taken the basic open water PADI diving course. Both of these SCUBA diving courses are built upon practical and theoretical modules. The theory modules are largely classroom based and rely on lectures and self-study. The practical elements of the PADI diving course are generally carried out in swimming pools and/or open water.

At the end of the PADI course the student is issued with certificates, which show the proof of diving competence.

Advanced PADI Courses

For more experienced divers, there are other types of PADI SCUBA diving course such as PADI Specialty Diver and PADI Rescue Diver. These diving courses provide the student with more advanced skills such as emergency techniques, first aid and advanced underwater navigation. Advanced courses build upon previous PADI diving certification and subsequent diving experience.

What About PADI Dive Master and Instructor Courses?

Taking things further are the PADI Instructor and Dive Master PADI SCUBA diving courses. For these diving courses, you must have previous PADI diving qualifications and have many hours of diving experience behind you to be considered a suitable candidate. Having successfully completed these PADI diving courses you will then be able to work in a PADI licensed diving school or dive centre.

How Much Do PADI Courses Cost?

It is worth noting that a PADI SCUBA diving course is not cheap; they are considered to be more expensive than courses offered by other diving bodies. PADI diving training itself has also come under fire, with some SCUBA diving professionals criticising the duration of the courses, which tend to be shorter than some other organisations. Nonetheless, the PADI SCUBA diving course and PADI diving organisation itself are very well established.