VOTED AS CANADA’S #1 DIVE SHOP | TRAINING HAPPY DIVERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS

OPEN WATER DIVER

STEP #1 - CLASS & POOL

START YOUR COURSE WITH US TODAY.

Step #1: Pick your e-learning, Class & Pool Weekend dates from our available dates.
Step #2: Add your Checkout Dive Weekend from our available dates.

PADI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE

Have you always been amazed at ocean documentaries? Wondered what it would be like to swim with dolphins? Imagined the last harrowing details before a ship went down into the sea? This is where it starts. 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.

Download full details

WHAT YOU LEARN

The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three parts:

  1. Knowledge Development (online home study) to understand the basic principles of scuba diving,
  2. Confined Water (Pool) Dives to learn basic scuba skills,
  3. Open Water Checkout Dives to review your skills and explore!

All students must complete all 3 elements for certification. This means registering for:

  1. e-Learning & Confined Water (Pool) Dates
  2. Open Water Checkout Dive Dates

Please see the flyer at the DOWNLOAD FULL DETAILS button above for more information.

PREREQUISITES

To enroll in the PADI Open Diver course or Junior Open Water Diver course, you must be:

  • 10 years or older (our 10-13 year old divers will need parental consent to start their e-learning).
  • Have confident swimming skills and be in good physical health

THE FUN PART

The fun part about this course is…well, just about all of it because learning to dive is incredible. You breathe underwater for the first time (something you’ll never forget) and learn the basic skills to become a certified diver. During the course, you’ll make at least five pool dives and four dives at local dive sites under the supervision of your PADI Instructor, demonstrating the skills you have learned. Then you are certified to explore the wonders of the underwater world. What are you waiting for … jump in!!

THE SCUBA GEAR YOU USE

In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear including a regulator, BCD, and standard accessories. With the assistance of a FLOAT N’ FLAG representative; you will use equipment that ensures your comfort throughout the course, both in the pool and open water.

For comfort, fit and hygiene reasons, all students must purchase their own scuba quality mask/snorkel + fins/boots for the course. All the remaining gear and air fills are included in the course fees. Please see the flyer at the DOWNLOAD FULL DETAILS button above for more information.

THE LEARNING MATERIALS YOU NEED

PADI has an incredible and engaging program, providing your learning material in an eLearning environment via the internet. Study at your own pace through an interactive computer-based program.

PADI’s Open Water Diver materials cover what you need to know about basic scuba diving skills, terminology and safety procedures. For each concept you’ll read a description and watch a video demonstration. Once the materials are completed, the fun begins in the pool as you practice these skills with your instructor.

YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE:

Following your exciting checkout weekend and certification as a new Open Water Diver, there are several choices for your next learning opportunity. It’s important to keep growing in knowledge and skills, with each step opening up new diving opportunities, new friends and new confidence!.

Top picks

If you found maintaining your buoyancy during checkouts a challenge, the PEAK PERFORMANCE BUOYANCY course will help you master this skill while fine tuning your weighting, trim, weight placement and even practice some propulsion techniques.

Another opportunity, the ADVANCED OPEN WATER diver course will give you 5 additional adventure dives to expand your experience, including Night, Navigation and Deep diving. You’ll get some breadth in your experience with different types of dives, making you more competent and confident.

The cool thing about these 5 dives is that they count as the first dive for the specialty course for that dive, so if one of them really interests you, you’ve already started!

Most divers will also take their ENRICHED AIR DIVER (Nitrox) course right away, and if taken before your Advanced OW course, you can even use Nitrox for your deep dive!

There are a number of other fun and useful courses you can take after your OW certification, including the following
- DRIFT diver - ideal if you want to join the crew on our Brockville trips and Holiday Monday drift dives in the Niagara River
- NIGHT diver - Night diving is often described as divers favourite type of dive. You’ll see cool stuff that you don’t see during the day.

You can also learn about the special equipment and techniques in courses like DPV Diver (Diver Propulsion Vehicle), important safety techniques in EMERGENCY OXYGEN PROVIDER, and how to protect your gear and assist with gear issues in the EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST course. Click on the courses tab and review the key courses offered on a regular basis. If there’s something you’re interested in but don’t see, please let us know and we’ll create a plan for you.

Contact FLOAT N’ FLAG to personalize the best study option for you!

This is a first rate place to learn how to dive. Brad's team is well organized, experienced, enthusiastic...and nice people! They don't cut corners on the training but help you through it. And they make it fun. My final checkout dive was delayed by a family matter so a few weeks later Brad the owner took me though it one-on-one. You can't get more dedicated than that. After certifying I did my first mid-week dive at Gulliver's Lake and what a great way to gain experience when you start out. I'm looking forward to many years at Float N Flag and highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn recreational diving.
Doug Martin
Brad and the team at Float N Flag are some of the most enthusiastic and organized people we work with. As a dive destination, we see dozens of groups from around the world every season in Tobermory, ON. Brad is always professional, organized, and displaying a true passion for both the sport he loves and the business he runs. We would recommend Float N Flag without hesitation to new divers and experienced divers looking for a great group of people to dive with! Keep up the great work!!!
Kelly McAdam
I recently attended the open water course with my 14 year old son. Rob was a fantastic instructor that took the time to ensure that all of the concepts and skills were understood and mastered. George also assisted in the pool and was kind enough to lend his spare mask to my son after his developed a leak. It is evident that Brad and Tammy run a very organized dive centre. The shop and classroom are clean and the logistics at the pool are well thought out. I highly recommend Float N' Flag Dive Centre.
Dave Pecharich
Just completed open water course March 2018. Awesome experience. Instructors were fun and totally thorough on all skills. I wouldn't look to any other shop. Great value. Feel 100% confident about diving. Float N Flag has an awesome community and has tons of SCUBA events around Ontario and abroad.
Mark
Awesome shop! Excellent service. Excellent instructors!!! This is my go to shop, there is always a positive answer to my inquiries!!! Good job Float and Flag Team!!!! :)
Adrian Flachi
Float n Flag is amazing with my Junior Open water divers. My son recently certified and they were very patient and provided lots of encouragement during his lessons when he was nervous. My daughter is excited about her upcoming certification and the staff share her passion for wanting to dive. I am thrilled with the service we receive and proud to call them my home shop.
Kim Powell
Brad and the team at Float N Flag are some of the most enthusiastic and organized people we work with. As a dive destination, we see dozens of groups from around the world every season in Tobermory, ON. Brad is always professional, organized, and displaying a true passion for both the sport he loves and the business he runs. We would recommend Float N Flag without hesitation to new divers and experienced divers looking for a great group of people to dive with! Keep up the great work!!!
Divers Den
I have always found Brad and his staff to be very friendly, knowledgeable and not intimidating to newer divers. They always have safety at the forefront but have a lot of fun as well. I just recently came back from my first boat diving holiday in Roatan run by Brad, and apart from being the only one bitten by bugs (not a fault of Float n Flag!), I had a wonderful time. Brad's enthusiasm for diving and underwater creatures is something he passes on to those who dive with him. Thank you so much Brad to you and your staff.
Anne Jackson
Brad and his team were very professional and knowledgeable; they made diving fun and exciting for a new learner. I was impressed with their schedule flexibility and how accommodating they were to my scheduling conflicts. The ratio of instructor to student was great and personal. Diving with Float n Flag felt like being part of a close community.
Sherry Du
Float n' Flag is a top notch dive centre. Brad is extremely safety-conscious and professional and instills these qualities in his dive masters. They go out of their way to ensure divers are comfortable in the water and have the skills required. We recently travelled with Float n' Flag and had an amazing experience. I was really impressed at the organization, thought and care that went into the entire trip experience.
Heather Buerkle
Very professional owner, new to the stores new location and owner but seems like Float N’ Flag’s legacy is in good hands. Looking forward to dealing with them in the near future.
Andrew MacGregor
I have been to a lot of dive shops in the past but Float n' Flag is by far the best shop I have ever seen! Not only does the shop look great every one of the staff is fantastic and I highly recommend FnF to any one interested in becoming a scuba diver!
Jesse Baisley
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3245 Harvester Road, Unit #9 Burlington, ON, L7N 3T7

Tel: 905-333-Dive (3483)

Fax: 1-877-838-3203

See store hours here

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