PADI
OPEN WATER DIVER

Diving Course Sydney

Learn to Dive Today!

Have you always wanted to explore the world beneath the waves? The PADI Open Water Course is the world's most popular and widely recognised scuba diving certification. No prior experience is required! 

At Dive Centre Bondi, we believe in quality education and quality training which means all of our PADI Open Water Classes are kept small, with a maximum of 5 students per class.

Can't find the dates that you need? Contact Us for additional courses or ask us about a flexible private course.

Course Details

Our weekday PADI Open Water Courses run from Tuesday to Thursday (3 consecutive days) and our weekend courses start on a Saturday and finish the following weekend (Saturday and Sunday). The course includes your PADI eLearning, three days practical instruction, certification fees, a DiveBondi T-shirt and your PADI Open Water Certification Card.

After successful completion of your open water training dives you will become a certified PADI Open Water Diver!

Are you already certified? Take a look at our Advanced Open Water Course

Day 1 - Confined Water

9am (8am weekends) to 5pm. Course Introduction at Dive Centre Bondi, equipment fitting then off to the swimming pool to take your first breath underwater!

Day 2 - Your First Dives

9am (8am weekends) to 3pm. Open Water dives 1 and 2, taking your new skills to the open water.

Day 3 - Dive With Confidence

9am (8am weekends) to 4pm. Open Water dives 3 and 4 - refining and developing skills with your instructor.

Equipment

All equipment is included in the course cost with the exception of mask, snorkel, boots and fins. These are personal items and for comfort, hygiene and safety reasons we find students prefer to have their own. Our professional staff can help you to find equipment that fits properly and suits your requirements. Alternatively, all of these items can be rented for $50 for the whole course ($25 for mask & snorkel, $25 for boots & fins). Students who purchase their own mask and snorkel can rent boots and fins for FREE. As a Dive Centre Bondi Student you unlock a 10% discount off everything in store!

Our PADI Open Water Course Reviewed

Prerequisites

  • The minimum age to participate is 12 years old (a parent's or guardian's consent is required for participants under 18 years old.)
  • You must be cleared as medically fit to dive by completing a Medical Statement prior to your course starting. If any questions are flagged as "Yes" you need to gain medical clearance from a doctor. Please ensure you complete this Medical Statement before the start of your course.
  • You must be able to swim 200 metres without stopping. There is no time limit for this and you may use any swimming stroke(s) you want.
  • You must be able to float or tread water for 10 minutes, again using any method(s) you want

FAQs

The Open Water Course is the entry-level scuba diving certification that allows you to dive up to 18 metres. In Sydney, it’s the perfect way to start exploring local dive sites like Bondi and Clovelly. You will be certified through PADI, which is the most globally recognised scuba agency.

Many dive schools offer a 2-day Open Water course, but we’ve found that a more relaxed 3-day schedule works better for a few key reasons.

First and foremost, it gives you the in-water time you need to truly master your skills. With our 3-day format, you'll enjoy longer, more relaxed dives. This extra time in the water isn't just for fun—it's essential for building the muscle memory and confidence required to become a capable and safe certified diver.

By not rushing through the training, you have the opportunity to get comfortable at your own pace. You’ll leave the course feeling not only confident in your abilities but also genuinely comfortable and ready to explore the underwater world on your own. Our goal isn't just to get you certified; it's to ensure you finish as a competent and comfortable diver.

Our Open Water Course in Sydney runs over 3 days, giving you plenty of time to learn in small groups with personalised instruction. We keep class sizes small so you can progress faster and enjoy a more supportive learning environment.

The course runs for three days (with some prior learning done online).  Your options are:

Weekends – for people who are busy during the week with work or studies.  These courses start on a Saturday and finish the following weekend (Sat and Sun)

Weekdays – these courses run over three consecutive days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  They’re great for people who work weekends or are flexible during the week

At Dive Centre Bondi, we believe the 3-day Open Water Course is the perfect balance – long enough to master essential scuba skills with confidence, while still being fun and flexible for your schedule. Unlike rushed programs, our small-group approach ensures you get personalised attention, faster learning, and more time in the water. By the end of the course, you’ll not only enjoy Sydney diving with ease, but also feel ready to dive anywhere in the world with confidence. Plus, we provide state-of-the-art equipment and expert instructors at our trusted dive shop in Sydney, making us the ideal choice for your first step into scuba diving.

You’ll be awarded the PADI Open Water Diver certification, recognised worldwide and valid for life. You will be allowed to dive up to 18m deep, with another certified diver. It’s your passport to diving anywhere, from Sydney’s reefs to global dive destinations.

We use a mix of locations to give you the best possible learning experience.

For the first day of the course, you’ll start in a heated 50-meter pool, which is the perfect environment for practicing skills in a safe and comfortable setting.

On your second day, we head to Camp Cove, an ideal training location known for its easy access, calm conditions, and shallow depth.

The third day will take you to an amazing ocean site in Sydney. Depending on conditions, this could be anywhere from Gordon’s Bay to Camp Cove or even North Bondi. No matter the location, you'll get to experience a unique dive site that's perfectly suited for you to put your new skills to the test.

Absolutely! The Open Water Course is designed for beginners. With our small groups, you’ll get personal attention so you feel confident in the water. You need to be able to swim 200m (no time limit) and tread water for 10 minutes.

We don’t normally allow students to start one course and finish on another course later on for two reasons.  First, if the gap between day one and day two is too long , it breaks the momentum and inhibits progress and continued learning (you basically forget stuff before the course is finished!) and second, you would take up a spot on the first course and a spot on the second or third course you join!