Skills & Training
Open Water course: what to expect, day by day
The Open Water Diver course is the first full scuba certification. It has three parts: theory (usually online), skills practice in confined water, and four open-water dives over at least two days. PADI also requires a 200 m/yards swim (or 300 m/yards with mask, fins and snorkel) and a 10-minute float or tread. Once certified you may dive with a buddy, without a professional, to 18 metres.
By 71 Guardians · Published 29 Oct 2026
What are the three parts of the course?
- Knowledge development: how pressure, equipment and dive planning work — usually done online before you travel.
- Confined water: skills in a pool or calm shallow water, such as clearing your mask, sharing air and controlling buoyancy.
- Open water: four dives in the sea where you repeat those skills and start to explore.
What does a typical course week look like?
With the theory done at home, most of our students finish in 3–4 days: skills practice first, then the four open-water dives over at least two days, with the deepest dives at the end. Exact timing depends on how quickly you're comfortable — there is no pressure to rush.
Are there swimming requirements?
For PADI, swim 200 m/yards without aids, or 300 m/yards with mask, fins and snorkel, and float or tread water without aids for 10 minutes. The swim has no time limit.
What can you do once certified?
Dive with a buddy to 18 m without a professional, rent equipment and get air fills. Many divers go straight on to Advanced Open Water. Prices for PADI, SSI and SDI are on our Courses page.
Frequently asked questions
How deep can an Open Water diver go?
18 metres with a buddy, under the usual entry-level limits.
How long does the Open Water course take?
Usually 3–4 days with us, with the theory done online beforehand.
Is PADI Open Water recognised everywhere?
Yes, and SSI and SDI entry-level certifications are widely accepted too — see our PADI vs SSI vs SDI article.
Questions before you dive with us?
Message our team on WhatsApp — we're divers in Hurghada and happy to help.
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