Get your scuba diving certification with Olivia’s Reef
The PADI Open Water Diver course – is the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world.
Who should take an Open Water Diver course?
If you’ve always wanted to take scuba diving lessons, experience unparalleled adventure and see the world beneath the waves, this is where it starts. Get your scuba diving certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course – the world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive and gone on to discover the wonders of the aquatic world.
What makes our Open Water Diver Course stand out?
Get more one on one focused time from your Instructor!
Get more guidance and focused time from your instructor because we run our open water courses with a maximum 2:1 student to Dive Professional ratio. Cold water diving in British Columbia has additional considerations to think about when learning to dive and large group classes make this more difficult. Cheap commodity priced courses mean more students and can mean less time to practice skills. We offer twice as much one on one mentoring due to our instructor to student ratios compared to larger group classes.
We offer a no-rush approach to learning. Providing our students with ample time to practice and master skills before moving on, larger class sizes can lead to minimal training without enough time to gain confidence before moving on to the ocean. Wit Olivia’s Reef Diving, you get more time to master skills in confined water due to a minimum 6 hours of instruction time in the pool so you are properly prepared for diving in cold water.
Our goal is to help new divers thrive.
Become a scuba diving role model and community ambassador!
A lack of skill, competence and confidence are cited as main reasons that new divers drop out, which suggests that off-the-shelf group diving courses don’t provide enough training. Cheap commodity pricing might draw more people into “checking out” the sport, but it takes proper training and a broader diving education to keep a new diver committed. Here at Olivia’s Reef Diving, you’ll learn how we go above and beyond to ensure our students feel confident and capable of continuing the sport after completing any of our programs.
PADI Aware & Local Conservation Efforts
Learn how to be a Citizen Scientist!
We volunteer with local conservation efforts including; Rockfish Counts, Lingcod Egg Mass Survey, Sponge Reef Monitoring. Get a first hand look at how Citizen Science can provide useful data from dives significantly increasing data collection.
Optional PADI Aware course add-on:
The PADI Aware course will give you an extra dive! Learn how to be a part of global efforts to protect oceans and wildlife. You’ll have the opportunity to go out on a Rockfish Count or Lingcod Egg Mass Survey dive from shore and work through the process of recording your data underwater and submitting it afterwards.
PADI Open Water Course Reviews:
Your Open Water Diver Learning Journey
Knowledge Development
- Independent study using the PADI E-learning or User Manual.
- Learn basic principles of scuba and the underwater environment.
- Attend 5 classroom sessions to build your knowledge
- Participate in a gear fitting session
- Learn about local wildlife
Confined Water
- Learn and practice all of the essential scuba diving skills.
- 6 confined water pool sessions.
- Get comfortable with your equipment and build up your confidence and skills.
- Water assessment skills (200m swim & 10min survival float)
- Advanced Snorkeling
Ocean Dives
- 5 Ocean dives with guided by your instructor over 2 days at Whytecliff Park.
- Demonstrate your learned skills in an open ocean environment.
- Explore the local waters!
- Practice good safety habits specific to cold water diving
- Plan, discuss and execute our final dive
Whats Included with Your Open Water Diver Course:
- PADI Open Water Diver E-learning or Manual.
- 8 hours of classroom instruction and learning.
- 6 hours of Confined Water training in local pool.
- 5 Open Water ocean dives at Whytecliff Park.
- ALL RENTAL EQUIPMENT IS INCLUDED
- PADI Open Water Certification Card & Fees.
- PADI Drysuit Diver Certification Card & Fees.
Open Water Course Learning Options
Private Open Water + Drysuit Course – $1695
Get one on one Instruction
Learn at your own pace! Increased schedule Flexibility with pool sessions and ocean days.
This is the best option if you want to maximize your learning outcomes. With one on one instruction from our PADI certified professionals you’ll spend extra time working on your buoyancy, advanced propulsion techniques and mastery of your scuba diving skills.
Become a scuba diving role model and community ambassador!
A lack of skill, competence and confidence are cited as main reasons that new divers drop out, which suggests that off-the-shelf group diving courses don’t provide enough training. Cheap commodity pricing might draw more people into “checking out” the sport, but it takes proper training and a broader diving education to keep a new diver committed. Here at Olivia’s Reef Diving, you’ll learn how we go above and beyond to ensure our students feel confident and capable of continuing the sport after completing any of our programs.
Group Open Water + Drysuit Course – $1195
Join other new divers in one of our group courses. This course has a set 3 week schedule. consists of 2 evening classes per week on Tuesday and Wednesday night each week and on the final weekend 2 days of Ocean dives.
Week One
Tuesday 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday 6pm – 10pm
Week Two
Tuesday 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday 6pm – 10pm
Week Three
Tuesday 6pm – 10pm
Wednesday 6pm – 10pm
Saturday 8am – 4pm
Sunday 8am – 2pm
PADI Open Water Course Enrollment Requirements:
To enroll in a PADI Open Water Diver course (or Junior Open Water Diver course), you must be 10 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with scuba diving is required.
PADI Open Water + Drysuit: $1150
(Bundling courses saves you $150)
Sign up today!
Frequently Asked Questions?
Meet your instructor:
Olivia has a passion for the ocean, wildlife and its protection. She has been diving since 2022 and logged over 1100 dives in British Columbia’s waters. As an avid technical sidemount diver, Freediver, community volunteer and underwater photographer, she brings a healthy pool of knowledge to every course she teaches.
She is an enthusiastic underwater videographer and loves sharing all the amazing wildlife in our waters. Her underwater photography can be found on Instagram @olivias_reef
How long does it take to complete the course?
The course runs over 3 weeks.
Typically this course is run over a 3 week period through a combination of evening and weekend sessions. You’ll begin with self directed PADI e-learning followed by 6 evening classroom and pool sessions. Once you have completed all of your confined water training, you’ll move into the open water portion. This usually takes place in the ocean over 2 days at Whytecliff park.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes, you will need to know how to swim before taking a scuba diving course. During your first pool session, you’ll take part in a water assessment exercise where you’ll have to swim 200m and preform a 10 minute survival float.
Why should I take my Open Water Course with Olivia’s Reef
Smaller class sizes equal more focus from your Instructor
We offer a no-rush approach to learning. Providing our students with ample time to practice and master skills before moving on, rushed cheap courses can lead to minimal training without enough time to gain confidence before moving on to the ocean. Get more time to master skills in confined water, our Open Water Courses have a minimum 6 hours of instruction time in the pool so you are properly prepared for diving in cold water.
A lack of skill, competence and confidence are cited as main reasons that new divers drop out, which suggests that off-the-shelf group diving courses don’t provide enough training. Cheap commodity pricing might draw more people into “checking out” the sport, but it takes proper training and a broader diving education to keep a new diver committed. Here at Olivia’s Reef Diving, you’ll learn how we go above and beyond to ensure our students feel confident and capable of continuing the sport after completing any of our programs.