Open Water Diver
Want to learn to dive? Open Water Diver is the first scuba certification level. We will teach you how to scuba dive in a relaxed, supportive learning environment. At Spring Run, students set the pace - not a busy dive shop’s schedule. To do this, we keep our classes small (max 4 students) to maximize one-on-one time in the water with your instructor. Our goal is for you walk away a competent and confident diver!
Our open water courses are taught in the Florida springs, a unique freshwater environment. Florida’s crystal clear spring waters are 72 degrees year-round (warm in winter and cool in summer!), and offer calm water and easy shore entries that let students focus on new skills without worrying about weather cancellation or bad conditions. By the end of the course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to dive at home or abroad, in both freshwater and in salt.
We typically teach this course over three days, including a Friday evening session where you’ll learn basic skills in shallow confined water, followed by two days of diving in the Florida springs, where you’ll get to practice and demonstrate the skills you’ve learned. Classes are typically held at Ginnie, Fanning, and Manatee Springs, subject to conditions and scheduling needs.
Our class includes a full complimentary gear rental at no additional charge, including top-of-the-line ScubaPro BCDs and regulators, and thicker 5mm wetsuits, so you stay warm.
Prerequisites: Able to swim; medically fit for diving.
Course Details: PADI Open Water or SDI Open Water (pick your agency when booking)
We offer open water certification through multiple agencies. While the in-person content is largely the same, they have different eLearning platforms. SDI issues free physical and digital cert cards; while PADI issues only a digital card - you must pay extra for a physical card. Both are widely accepted worldwide as proof of entry-level diving certification. We are happy to talk to you about this choice. Picking an agency for your open water certification does not limit your ability to take classes with other agencies afterwards. Prices below include certification/training through SDI; you may upgrade to a PADI certification for an additional $150/student.
Estimated time commitment: 3 days* (Confined water + 4 check-out dives)
Minimum age: 10 years or older
Depth: Expect shallow dives (12m/40ft), the maximum allowed depth is 18m/60ft
Maximum Course Size: 4 Students (exceptions available for large groups upon request)
Course Cost: Full complimentary rental gear (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, BCD, regulator, tanks, dive computer) is provided, at no additional cost.
3+ students - $425.00 USD/student**
2 students - $475.00 USD/student**
1 student - $600.00 USD/student**
This price includes certification/training through SDI; you may upgrade to a PADI certification for an additional $150/student.
*Students requiring more than 3 days of instruction to meet course requirements will be charged the private instruction rate of $200/day for each additional day.
**This cost includes eLearning material and instructor fees. If in-person classroom training is preferred in lieu of eLearning additional fees may apply.
Additional fees may be required for air fills, transportation, and dive site entrance cost. Contact us for more information.
Please note: all Open Water students must pass a swim test (200-yard swim; 10-minute float) at the beginning of the course. This untimed test does not require professional swimming ability or prior competition-level swim experience/training - if you are comfortable in the water, we expect you should have no trouble passing. If you are not confident in the water or have little prior experience swimming for fun, or are simply unsure, please talk to us. We are happy to recommend local swim instructors and resources!