Open Water Certification

How It Works

Ready to earn your scuba certification? We’re here to help! The first certification you need is PADI Open Water Diver. This certification teaches you the basics and allows you to book charters and rent gear globally! There are three required portions in this course: academics (PADI eLearning), confined water dives, and open water checkout dives. Once all three are completed under the supervision of an instructor, you will be a certified diver!

Read below for a full break down on how to gain your PADI Open Water Diver Certification with Columbus Scuba.

Group Open Water Lessons

Price: $629
This course includes the academic, confined water, and instructional components needed to earn your PADI
Open Water Diver certification.

What’s Included:

1. Online Academics (PADI eLearning). Once you register for your class online, we will receive your booking info and PADI will email your online academics directly to you.

The email with your academics comes from PADI, but is manually distributed by our in-house staff. Access to your eLearning will be sent within one business day (24hours) of purchase. Please allow for more time if the course is purchased on weekends or holidays.
If you do not receive your PADI academics email, please check your junk or spam folder. Contact us for assistance.
Open the email and click “REDEEM CODE” to register and begin your coursework.
You must complete sections 1 & 2 before your first pool session.
All sections must be completed before your Open Water Checkout dives.

2. Confined Water (Pool) Sessions.

Students and their instructor meet once per week for four consecutive weeks.
Group lessons are offered on various nights of the week at set locations.
Each PADI Open Water pool course consists of four consecutive sessions, practicing essential scuba skills which build on one
another and must be attended in order.
Swim and float tests are completed within the four consecutive pool sessions.
- Swim 200 yards without stopping, using flotation, or requiring assistance. untimed
- Float or tread without using any flotation devices, grabbing the side of the pool, or requiring assistance. 10 Minutes

Example Schedule:

Session 1: Sunday, January 05 | 6:00–9:00 pm
Session 2: Sunday, January 12 | 6:00–9:00 pm
Session 3: Sunday, January 19 | 6:00–9:00 pm
Session 4: Sunday, January 26 | 6:00–9:00 pm

Once students complete their fourth pool session, they will have finished the academic and
confined water portions of the course and then qualify to schedule and begin their “Checkout Dives.”

Included SCUBA gear for pool sessions: Regulator, BCD, tank, weights, and wetsuit.

Not Included SCUBA gear for pool sessions: Mask, fins, snorkel, and boots are personal-fit items that we recommend you own. These are
available for purchase at our store. Columbus Scuba students receive a discount and free
rewards membership.

Open Water Check-Out Dives

(Required – Not Included. Must register for and schedule separately)

$35 registration fee when completing with Columbus Scuba
Four (4) instructor-led dives completed over two days in open water (quarry, lake, or
ocean)
Conducted at Gilboa Quarry, approximately 2 hours north of Columbus in Ottawa, OH

Since the dives must be split into two days, most students choose to camp at the quarry or stay at
a nearby hotel to avoid commuting.

Upon completion of the fourth dive, students will be PADI Open Water Certified.
Included for Open Water checkout dives:

Regulator, BCD, tank, weights, wetsuit, hood, and gloves (Students pick up equipment before
the weekend to assure they have everything they need and a proper fit)
BBQ Lunch on Saturday
Pot luck dinner (Columbus Scuba provides main course while others bring side dishes and
favorite beverage). This is a great way to meet new people and divers in the community!

Open Water Checkout Dive Season: Late May through October (weather permitting).

Not Included:

Quarry fees (entry and lodging fees). See pricing details at www.gilboaquarry.com
Dive site air fills (students are provided a filled cylinder prior to weekend but will need air fills on-site air fills throughout the weekend). See pricing details at www.gilboaquarry.com/fill-station
Transportation to/from quarry
Mask, fins, snorkel, and boots are personal-fit items that we recommend you own. These are
available for purchase at our store. Columbus Scuba students receive a discount and free
rewards membership.

Booking your PADI Group Open Water Lessons

Visit: https://columbusscuba.dive360.biz/courses/open-water-group-lessons
Select a course that fits your schedule.
Each course includes four consecutive pool sessions. Please ensure you can attend all four sessions before booking
Book the course online.

Your online academics are manually distributed by our in-house staff. Access to your eLearning will be sent within one business day (24hours) of purchase. Please allow for more time if the course is purchased on weekends or holidays.

Important:

Missed or rescheduled sessions result in a $75 missed class fee, which covers additional
instructor time and pool rental.
You must stop by our store before your first pool session to pick up your PADI student folder

Flex Schedule PADI Confined Water Lessons

Price: $759

If you cannot attend four consecutive pool sessions, our PADI Flex Schedule option is available
for you. These are typically private or semi-private scheduled lessons

Flex Schedule Lessons: Includes everything in the Group Open Water Lessons, except pool sessions are scheduled
around your availability.

How It Works

After booking online, email Columbus Scuba your availability.
info@columbusscuba.com.
We will pair you with a dive educator who shares that availability.
Open Water Dives are still registered and booked separately and are completed on our pre-scheduled weekends.

How to Book Flex Schedule Lessons

Visit: https://columbusscuba.dive360.biz/products/flex_class
Register and pay online.
Our staff will contact you to schedule your pool sessions.

Open Water Check-Out Dives

Registration Fee: $35

Open Water Check-Out Dives are not included with Group or Flex Schedule lessons and must
be booked separately.

Checkout dive weekends are offered from late May through October (weather permitting)
Conducted over 2 days typically one weekend (Saturday & Sunday)
If your schedule does not allow for a consecutive Saturday & Sunday, contact info@columbusscuba.com and we will work to accomadate you.
Location of regularly scheduled checkout dives is Gilboa Quarry in Ottawa, OH: www.gilboaquarry.com

Booking Open Water Checkout Dives

Visit: https://columbusscuba.dive360.biz/courses/check-out-dives-weekends-students-
Select and book a weekend that fits your schedule.

Included for Open Water checkout dives:

Regulator, BCD, tank, weights, wetsuit, hood, and gloves (Students pick up equipment before
the weekend to assure they have everything they need and a proper fit)
BBQ Lunch on Saturday
Pot luck dinner (Columbus Scuba provides main course while others bring side dishes and
favorite beverage). This is a great way to meet new people and divers in the community!

Open Water Checkout Dive Season: Late May through October (weather permitting).

Not Included:

Quarry fees (entry and lodging fees). See pricing details at www.gilboaquarry.com
Dive site air fills (students are provided a filled cylinder prior to weekend but will need air fills on-site air fills throughout the weekend). See pricing details at www.gilboaquarry.com/fill-station
Transportation to/from quarry
Mask, fins, snorkel, and boots are personal-fit items that we recommend you own. These are
available for purchase at our store. Columbus Scuba students receive a discount and free
rewards membership.

Lodging Recommendation: Gilboa Quarry offers multiple lodging recommendations for a all budgets. View all lodging options here

Hotels: The Drury Inn & Suites and Hancock Hotel both offer special rates for Gilboa Quarry visitors when booking at least 2 weeks in advance. Each is located in Findley, OH.

Camping: Gilboa Quarry offers RV and Tent camping plots. View camping options