Learn to Dive on Malapascua Island in the Philippines!
During PADI’s entry level Open Water Diver Course you will gain the necessary knowledge to dive with a buddy, independent of supervision. After you are certified you will be able to go to any scuba shop around the world and rent equipment, get air fills, and dive within the limits of your training. You will learn to plan, conduct, and log open water dives.
Recreational scuba diving is an activity that can be enjoyed by almost everyone. To dive safely, divers need to have basic knowledge and skills. These skills are not difficult, but proper guidance is important. TSD only uses very experienced PADI Instructors, and so you know you will be in the safest of hands. We will be with you through every step of your learning process and before you know it, you will be a certified scuba diver!
Several options for beginners
- Full Open Water Course (recommended):
- 2.5-3 days
- Certified to dive to 18m
- Scuba Diver Course
- 1.5-2 days
- Certified to dive to 12m
- Discover Scuba Diving
- 3 hours
- Not certified; max depth 12m
There are three parts to the Open Water Diver Course:
Knowledge Development
This involves self-study and some classroom work. You will work through the PADI manual and video and then we will revise what you have learnt during classroom sessions (usually in our beach “classroom”!). Find out how you can do this in advance with PADI’s e-learning program for use on computers and mobile devices.
Confined Water Dives
We will take you to very shallow water for your first time breathing off scuba! You will learn some basic skills in a safe and comfortable environment.
Open Water Dives
Find out what diving is really about! You will complete four open water dives over two or more days. If available, our underwater photographer can film you on your last dive, so you can keep your memories with you forever!
Find out more from PADI about the PADI Open Water Course.
Online manuals and e-learning
Thresher Shark Divers also offers the next evolution in the PADI Open Water Diver experience: the revolutionary PADI Open Water Diver e-learning. It fuses state-of-the-art technology with proven PADI instructional design to deliver the excitement and experience of learning to scuba dive to your device. It is an interactive version of the popular PADI Open Water Diver course, integrating the PADI Open Water Diver manual curriculum, learning objectives, video clips, quizzes and knowledge reviews into a rich, interactive learning environment.
You may use it online or download for offline use. This contains all of the academics.
Another option is the less bandwidth-intensive online manual which is an ebook. Unlike the Touch it is the manual only and you will do the quizzes and watch the videos separately.
If you want to learn to dive this is a great way to save valuable holiday time and do your studying in advance. It can cut 1-2 days off the duration of your course, giving you more time to enjoy the beautiful island of Malapascua, both above and below the water.
Contact us to purchase your unique code or buy online now and then download the access the manuals online now!
If you prefer a hard copy of the manual that is possible, but you will not be able to access it in advance.
Anyone can learn to dive as long as you are in reasonable physical condition. Please check the medical form and consult a physician if necessary. You can also contact us with your questions and we encourage you to do so!
Swimming ability: There is a swim test of 200m, any style, no time limit. For those who are not strong swimmers, you may instead do a 300m snorkel swim with mask, snorkel and fins. You will also need to do a surface float of 10 minutes with no aids.
The minimum age to start diving is 10 years old: 10-14 year old divers earn a ‘Junior’ Open Water Diver certification which automatically upgrade on turning 15.
Your Instructors
Our PADI diving instructors have been though a rigorous training program and each has many years of teaching experience with hundreds of students.
We take great pride in teaching students of any level. Diving lessons are almost always one-on-one, and there will usually be an assistant as well. So you will get individual attention and diving instruction will go at your own pace.
You can be assured that with us, you will have only the best: top quality service, unrivalled professionalism and a safe and most of all fun diving vacation from start to finish!
Try before you buy?
If you have a spare two hours and just want to give it a try, why not take PADI’s Discover Scuba Diving experience? After a short theory session we will go over a few basic skills, and our experienced instructors will take you on your first dive! We will be right by your side the whole time to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
Also known as an Intro Dive or Resort Dive, Discover Scuba Diving is a short half-day program to get an idea how cool scuba diving is!
After a short theory session we will go over a few basic skills, and our experienced instructors will take you on your first dive! We will be right by your side the whole time to ensure your safety and enjoyment.
This is the first part of the PADI Open Water Course, if you enjoy it (and we are sure you will!), you can apply the experience and the cost towards your Open Water certification with us!
PADI Scuba Diver
Short on time? If you are short on time to complete the full Open Water Course, then the PADI Scuba Diver certification is a great choice for you. It can be completed in 2-3 days only.
This is a lifetime certification that enables you to dive to 12 meters under instructor supervision. You can upgrade and complete the Open Water course whenever you like at any PADI dive center around the world.
This is two thirds of the full Open Water course and you will get a lifetime certification that enables you to dive to 12 meters under instructor supervision. You can upgrade and complete the Open Water course whenever you like at any PADI dive center around the world.
Another option is to complete any part of the full Open Water course and get a “Referral” to complete all other parts at a later date (within one year).
Thresher Shark Divers and PADI have several options for combining your PADI Open Water course with PADI Specialty courses.
Options include Digital Underwater Photography, Buoyancy, and Nitrox.
Contact us for more information and current special offers.
If you enjoy the PADI Open Water Course, you will probably want more. Why not try PADI’s Advanced Open Water course?
The emphasis is on fun and variety during this course, but you will also work on improving your diving skills. Choose five “themed” dives from many including Deep, Wreck, Night, Navigation and Buoyancy. There are also several options to combine your Open Water course with other courses to improve your skills, do more in less time and save money!