Open Water Diver is the first full scuba certification, and it is the card most travelers mean when they say they want to get certified. This guide to the PADI Open Water course Ambergris Caye visitors take with White Sands Dive Shop explains what the course covers, how many days to set aside, and which of our four routes to the card fits your trip.
It is written for first-time divers, for anyone who has started PADI eLearning at home, and for divers who already hold the PADI Scuba Diver card and want to finish the job. We are a 5 Star PADI Dive Facility on the beach in San Pedro, owned and operated by PADI Staff Instructor Elbert Greer.
How long does the PADI Open Water course on Ambergris Caye take?
Quick answer: The PADI Open Water Diver course at White Sands Dive Shop on Ambergris Caye combines five classes with four open water dives, and you should allow 3-4 days. If you finish the theory at home first, a referral needs about two half days. Scuba Diver holders can upgrade in two days.
What the PADI Open Water course covers
The full course has two halves: knowledge you learn in class and skills you practice in the water. Our course description lists five classes, and they build on each other so the open water dives make sense when you get to them.
- Scuba gear selection and preparation: choosing, assembling and checking your equipment.
- Underwater life: what you will see on the reef and how to behave around it.
- Dive planning: depth, time and the buddy routine before every dive.
- Basic oceanography: waves, currents and visibility.
- Diving physics and maladies: how pressure affects your body and how to avoid problems.
The physics class is less scary than it sounds. Water pressure rises by one atmosphere for every 33 feet you descend, as the NOAA explanation of how ocean pressure changes with depth sets out, and that one fact explains why you equalize your ears and never hold your breath.
The course then finishes with four open water dives in our warm Caribbean water. These are where you show your instructor that you can use the skills calmly on a real dive, not only in practice.
Four ways to earn your Open Water card on the island
You do not have to spend your whole vacation in a classroom. White Sands Dive Shop offers the certification in four forms, and the right one depends on how much you have done before you land. The table compares what each includes and the time to allow.
| Route | What it includes | Time to allow | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Water Diver, full course | Five classes plus four open water dives | 3-4 days | Beginners who want to learn everything on the island |
| Open Water for eLearning completion | Pool and training dives, including four open water dives | 3-4 days | Travelers who signed up for PADI eLearning before the trip |
| Open Water Referral | Four open water dives after training started at home | Two half days | Students referred by a home dive center |
| Scuba Diver to Open Water upgrade | Chapters 4 and 5 plus two open water training dives | Two days | Divers who already hold PADI Scuba Diver |
If you are still deciding between doing the theory at home or on the island, our guide to PADI eLearning and Open Water referral dives in Belize walks through the paperwork and timing. For the cost of each route, see the current course prices on our Water Sports page.
Scuba Diver certification and the upgrade to Open Water
PADI Scuba Diver is a shorter certification that we also teach. It covers the first part of the Open Water course and is a good choice if you only have a couple of days. The trade-off is in what the card allows you to do afterward.
According to PADI’s comparison of Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver, a Scuba Diver dives only under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional, to a maximum of 40 feet. An Open Water Diver can plan dives with a certified buddy to a maximum of 60 feet.
How the upgrade works
Our upgrade from Scuba Diver to Open Water Diver includes chapters 4 and 5 of the course with two open water training dives. Please allow two days.
How to plan the course around your trip
Ambergris Caye is only a 15-minute flight from the Belize International Airport. Plan the course for the start of your stay, then spend the rest of the week diving with your new card.
- Choose your route from the table and email us your dates.
- If you picked eLearning, finish the online part before you fly.
- Keep 3-4 days free for the full course, or two half days for a referral.
- Add fun dives or a day trip once you are certified.
Our local dive and snorkel trips leave at 9:00, and we pick up at the dock of your hotel. Never dived at all and not sure yet? Try a Discover Scuba Diving experience on Ambergris Caye first, or compare every option in our guide to learning to dive on Ambergris Caye.
After Open Water: where your new card takes you
Once you are certified, the barrier reef is open to you on our 1-, 2- and 3-tank local dives. A popular next step is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve dive with the Shark Ray Alley snorkel, which combines a reserve dive with a snorkel stop.
If you want more depth and more confidence, the Advanced Open Water course on Ambergris Caye adds five specialty dives, with Night, Deep and Navigation as the core three. Many divers also set their sights on the full-day Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef dive trip, which includes three dives.
Coming back after a long break? A scuba refresher course on Ambergris Caye reviews your skills in the pool before a dive with the instructor.
Who teaches your Open Water course
White Sands Dive Shop is owned and operated by Elbert Greer, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. The shop is a 5 Star PADI Dive Facility, a PADI International Resort Association member and licensed by the Belize Tourism Board. You can read more about Elbert Greer, your PADI instructor.
Our students say it better than we can. Bryan Nelson wrote that David Barnes “remarked that we managed to find perhaps the best possible open water instructor to take Sam on his certification dives.” Susan added: “Thank you again for helping me to complete my certification. You truly put me at ease and made the whole experience fun.”
Read the full letters from Elbert’s dive students to hear about their first dives in their own words.
PADI Open Water course, Ambergris Caye: your questions answered
How long does the PADI Open Water course take on Ambergris Caye?
Allow 3-4 days for the full course at White Sands Dive Shop, which includes five classes and four open water dives. A referral, where you start the training at home, needs about two half days.
Can I do the theory online before my trip?
Yes. We offer Open Water for eLearning completion, which covers the pool and training dives, including four open water dives, after you finish the PADI eLearning at home. Allow 3-4 days on the island.
What is the difference between Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver?
PADI says a Scuba Diver dives only under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to 40 feet, while an Open Water Diver can dive with a certified buddy to 60 feet. Our upgrade between the two takes two days.
Who will teach me?
White Sands Dive Shop is owned and operated by Elbert Greer, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor. The shop is a 5 Star PADI Dive Facility licensed by the Belize Tourism Board.
Where can I find the course prices?
Current prices for every course are listed on our Water Sports page. Email us with your dates and we will confirm what fits your trip.
Book your Open Water course with Elbert
Tell us your travel dates and which route you have in mind, and Elbert will help you plan the days. Email elbertgreer@fastmail.fm or call 011 (501) 226 2405.