Open Water Diver Part 1- E-learning and pool session
Your scuba certification starts the moment you pick a pool date. No waiting, no back-and-forth — just pick a session, sign up, and your PADI e-learning access lands in your inbox right away.
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HOW IT WORKS — 3 STEPS
Step 1 — Pick Your Pool Session & Sign Up
Browse the available pool session dates below and add your spot to the cart. That's it. The moment you complete registration, PADI emails you your personal e-learning access code.
Step 2 — Complete Your E-Learning (on your schedule, before pool day)
Your PADI Open Water e-learning is fully online — work through 5 chapters at your own pace, on any device, from anywhere. Each chapter ends with a short knowledge review. Finish with a 25-question quiz before your pool session day, and you're academically cleared.
No classroom. No commute. No set schedule. Just log in and go whenever it works for you.
Step 3 — Pool Session (approx. 4 hours)
Show up ready to get wet. Your pool session is where you'll practice the in-water skills that make you a safe, confident diver. All gear is provided — no need to buy anything.
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COMPLETE YOUR CERTIFICATION THE SAME WEEKEND
After your pool session, you're ready for your 4 open water dives — and you can sign up for those right now, alongside your pool session.
Open water dives are held at Square Lake in Stillwater, MN — typically Saturday and Sunday — so you can knock out your pool work and your certification dives in a single weekend if you want to.
**You don't have to wait. You can be a certified PADI Open Water Diver within days of starting.**
WHAT'S INCLUDED — NO HIDDEN COSTS
We include all essential gear at no extra charge:
* Mask, fins & snorkel
* BCD (buoyancy compensator)
* Wetsuit
* Air tanks & weights
That's a savings of $250+ compared to other dive shops that require you to buy or rent gear separately. Our flat-rate pricing means the price you see is the price you pay.
All gear is sanitized between student use in accordance with manufacturer standards.
WHO CAN TAKE THIS COURSE
* Ages 10 and up - class sizes are reduced to a 4:1 ratio in the lake for students under 15
* Students with physical disabilities are welcome — we are HSA certified and experienced in adaptive diving
* No prior experience required
READY TO GO?
Pick a pool session date below and add it to your cart. Your e-learning access code from PADI will arrive by email as soon as you register.
While you're at it, go ahead and sign up for your **Open Water Dives (Part 2)** too — complete everything in one weekend.
> Questions? Reach us at pat@midwestschoolofdiving.com or call **651-653-1174** — we're happy to help you pick the right dates.
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PREFER A CLASSROOM? (Optional — In-Person Academic Session)
If e-learning isn't your thing, we also offer an in-person classroom option. Stop by the shop to pick up the Open Water textbook, complete the chapter reviews at home, then attend a Wednesday night classroom session (approx. 4 hours) where we review the material, cover dive tables, and take the final exam together.
The classroom path leads to the same pool session and open water dives — it just replaces the online portion. Most students find e-learning faster and more flexible, but the choice is yours.
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Click "Additional Dates" to view the full pool session schedule.
Availability: In Stock
The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba course, and has introduced millions of people to the adventurous diving lifestyle.
Cost:
Part 1 = $325
Part 2 = $250
Purchased together = $575
Call for the pricing for Private and Semi-Private Classes.
If you need or would like additional pool or lake time there will not be any additional charges within 3 months of starting course, we want you to be comfortable and diving in a safe manner during your training and certification!
Class fee and cancellation policy:
If you have not redeemed your E-Learning, you have 3 months from the time of purchase to request a refund. Once E-learning has been redeemed, it is non-refundable.
Your class fee is non-refundable within fourteen days of the class starting date.
If you change any class dates, pool or lake less than 48 hours before their start time there will be a $25 re-scheduling fee.
Classes are held weekly: Classroom and pool sessions are held on Wednesday and Friday evenings; lake on Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons. For the Summer we will be adding additional days during the week for class, pool and lake dives - check our online calendar. In order to hold a class other than private or semi-private we try to have at least 3 students enrolled. Kids as young as 10 are welcome without additional surcharges - they pay the same as adults.
Our low price includes the free use of all required gear,we don't make students purchase any gear (mask, fins or snorkels). We recommend that you use our gear during the certification; find out what you like and dislike before you decide to purchase any equipment, free use of the following:
• Mask
• Fins
• Snorkel
• Buoyancy Control Vest
• Regulator and gauges
• Weights
• Wetsuit
• Hood
• Gloves
