Course at a Glance

Course Fee: $459.00
Certification: PADI Open Water Diver
Minimum Age: 10 years old
Schedule Options: Weeknight and weekend classes available
Class Size: Limited to a maximum of six students
Pool Training: Conducted in our on-site heated indoor pool
Open Water Dives: Four certification dives completed over two days
Location: Sugar Land, TX — serving divers from Houston, Katy, Pearland, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, and surrounding areas
Included: PADI eLearning, rental scuba equipment, dive computer, tanks, weights, exposure protection, DAN student dive insurance, pool training, and four open water certification dives
Not Included: Personal snorkeling gear — mask, snorkel, fins, and boots
Student Discount: Students enrolled in a course receive 10% off purchases at Sugar Land Dive Center during their course.

What's Included

Our PADI Open Water Course is designed to be simple, transparent, and easy to understand. The course fee includes the required training components and equipment needed for your scuba certification, with no hidden training costs.

Your course includes:

• PADI eLearning
• All required scuba equipment, including a dive computer
• Divers Alert Network (DAN) student dive insurance
• Confined water pool training
• Four open water certification dives

Personal Fit Gear: Mask, Snorkel, Fins, and Boots

Students are expected to have their own personal snorkeling gear, including mask, snorkel, fins, and boots. Properly fitting personal gear makes a major difference in comfort, confidence, and enjoyment during the course.

If you are not ready to purchase your own snorkeling gear right away, rental packages are available to help you get started. If you decide to purchase the gear you are using, your rental fee can be applied toward the purchase price. This gives you the opportunity to try the gear before making a final decision.

Students enrolled in a course also receive 10% off purchases at Sugar Land Dive Center during their course, making it a great time to purchase a properly fitted mask, snorkel, fins, boots, or other personal dive gear.

Our staff will also help you choose gear that fits properly and is appropriate for scuba training, local diving, and future travel.

How the PADI Open Water Course Works

You will learn to scuba dive and earn your PADI Open Water certification in three steps:

Step One — PADI eLearning

The academic portion of the PADI Open Water Course is completed through PADI eLearning, allowing you to study at your own pace before your in-water training begins.

PADI eLearning introduces the knowledge needed to become a safe and confident scuba diver and prepares you for your pool training with your instructor. After completing the eLearning, you will arrive ready to review key concepts, ask questions, and begin applying what you have learned in the water.

Step Two — Confined Water Pool Training

Your confined water training is conducted in our on-site heated indoor pool. During five confined water pool dives, you will practice and master the essential scuba skills needed to dive safely and confidently.

Training is conducted at a comfortable pace, with your instructor working with you to build confidence in the water. If additional pool time or extra sessions are needed to help you master the skills, we will work with you to provide that support.

Step Three — Open Water Certification Dives

The final step is completing four open water certification dives over two days at a local dive site. During these dives, you will apply the skills you practiced in the pool while gaining real diving experience under the supervision of your PADI Instructor.

After successfully completing the eLearning, pool training, and open water dives, you will earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification. This certification is recognized worldwide and allows you to dive locally, on vacation, and on future group dive trips.

Why Learn to Dive with Sugar Land Dive Center?

Choosing where to learn to scuba dive matters. Sugar Land Dive Center provides a complete training experience focused on safety, comfort, confidence, and long-term support after certification.

When you train with Sugar Land Dive Center, you benefit from:

• Small class sizes limited to a maximum of six students
• Patient, professional PADI Instructors
• An on-site heated indoor pool
• Flexible weeknight and weekend schedules
• All-inclusive course pricing
• No hidden training costs
• Rental scuba equipment included
• Dive computer included during training
• DAN student dive insurance included
• A family-operated local dive center
• Equipment support from a full-service dive shop
• Continuing education and dive travel opportunities after certification

We do not just certify divers. We help new divers become part of the diving community and continue diving after the course.

Prerequisites for Learning to Dive

To enroll in the PADI Open Water Course, students must:

• Be at least 10 years old
• Have adequate swimming skills
• Be in good physical health
• Complete the required Diver Medical. You can review the Diver Medical using the button below.

Diver Medical

A physician's approval may be required depending on your answers on the Diver Medical.

For divers who are 10 or 11 years old, a parent or legal guardian must also read and provide a signed copy of the Youth Diving Responsibility and Risks Acknowledgment.

    Youth Diving Responsibility and Risks Acknowledgment (PDF)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the PADI Open Water Course take?

Most students complete the PADI Open Water Course over a few class sessions, depending on the schedule they choose. Sugar Land Dive Center offers convenient weeknight and weekend course options, as well as private and semi-private classes on request.

Do I need to own scuba equipment before taking the course?

No. Your course includes the required scuba training equipment, including a BCD, regulator, tanks, weights, exposure protection, and a dive computer. Students are responsible for personal fit gear: mask, snorkel, fins, and boots. Rental packages are available for students who do not wish to purchase gear right away.

Where is the pool training completed?

Pool training is conducted on-site at Sugar Land Dive Center in our heated indoor pool. This makes training comfortable, convenient, and consistent throughout the year.

Where are the open water certification dives completed?

The course includes four open water certification dives. These dives are usually completed during a scheduled open water training weekend. Our staff will provide details about available dates, locations, and what to bring before your certification dives.

Is this a good scuba certification course for Houston-area beginners?

Yes. Sugar Land Dive Center is convenient for students from Sugar Land, Houston, Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Stafford, and surrounding areas. The PADI Open Water Course is designed for beginners and is the first step toward becoming a certified scuba diver.

Is the PADI Open Water Course good for complete beginners?

Yes. The PADI Open Water Course is the entry-level scuba certification course and is designed for beginners. Our instructors teach at a comfortable pace, with small classes limited to six participants.

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