Experience the thrill of scuba diving. Instruction is carried out in small groups, so you can experience professional scuba training under close supervision. Become a PADI Open Water Diver and gain a qualification that is recognised throughout the world.
See for yourself what scuba diving is all about! Try a Discover Scuba Diving experience. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to breathe underwater. If you want to find out but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it. While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you’ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world.
Cost of course: £45. This can be counted towards an Open Water Course, if you sign up for an Open Water Course within a month of doing a Discover Scuba Experience.
I took part in a Discover Scuba Dive and I enjoyed it so much that I have signed up for my Open Water course. The club were very helpful and I encourage others to learn to dive with them.
Christopher Pattinson, Poole
You learn the basics you need to dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional. One thing you’ll learn is that you really can breathe underwater and whether you like doing that or not. You will:
All the equipment you will need is included in a Discover Scuba Diving experience. You’ll use all the basic scuba gear including a mask, snorkel and fins, a buoyancy compensating jacket that also carries your scuba tank, a scuba regulator to breathe from and instrumentation to monitor depth and air supply.
If you've tried diving through a Discover Scuba Diving experience or resort course, the skills you learned may be credited towards a portion of the full PADI Open Water Diver course certification.
There is nothing like breathing underwater for the very first time. It takes a little getting used to –after all, human beings weren't designed to do that – but after a few minutes of awestruck wonder, most participants realize how easy scuba diving really is. The biggest challenge instructors have with the Discover Scuba Diving program is not coaxing participants into the water, but coaxing them out when the program is over. The fun part? It’s all fun!
If you've always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, discover new adventures or simply see the wondrous world beneath the waves, 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. It certifies you to dive up to a depth of 18m.
Cost of course: £550 plus entry to dive sites.
I really enjoyed my experience with Southampton scuba diving. The instructor and dive master students were extremely knowledgeable and patient which gave me the confidence to persist even though I was extremely nervous. The open water dives were made easy and enjoyable for me through the efforts of the club, and everyone at the club was friendly and welcoming. I chose this club as I wanted to learn with people that dive and teach for the love of it, and one where I wouldn't just be a number, that's exactly what I got from Southampton scuba diving; I would definitely recommend them to anyone wanting to do any scuba diving course. A big thank you to the club, I had a great time, have been really proud of myself, and feel like a real scuba diver now!
Karen Chapman, Southampton
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:
If you’ve tried diving through a Discover Scuba Diving experience, the skills you learned may be credited towards a portion of the full PADI Open Water Diver course certification.
Get Your PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification. 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 what you need to know to become a certified diver. During the course, you’ll make five pool dives and four dives at local dive sites under supervision.
Don't fancy the open water dives in the UK. Prefer to dive somewhere warmer. The PADI Open Water Referral course is just for if you are wanting to dive abroad. It covers the pool and theory elements of the full PADI Open Water Course. Having completed the Open Water Referral course, you can than complete the four qualifying dives at another PADI Dive Centre abroad or in the UK. But you must complete these dives within 12 months to qualify for your Open Water.
Cost of course: £350
Ken and his team offered a friendly, professional environment for the Open Water Referral course that provided me with an excellent foundation for completing my qualification while on honeymoon. My wife and I look forward to furthering our qualifications with Southampton Scuba Diving and to diving with Ken and his team in the future.
Andrew Howe, Salisbury
Before we can accept you on a diving course, you'll need to complete this medical form. If you answer "Yes" to any of the questions, you'll need to obtain a fit to dive note from your GP.