PADI Open Water Diver Course
Another item off the bucket list, I am finally a certified Open Water PADI diver!
One of my close friends Ignatius, has always discouraged me from diving. As a salvage engineer/rescue/advanced diver, I guess he has seen enough to know how dangerous it CAN be. But this was something I really wanted to do for myself.
I took the PADI Open Water Diver Course with the wonderful guidance of Terry & Gary from Freestyle Divers. They come highly recommended, especially for a slightly difficult student like me. I am a bit claustrophobic and have a fear of drowning, not exactly the qualities of a easy student. But Terry & Gary were wonderful, constantly giving me assurance and the confidence to follow-through skill tests. They will not force you to do something you’re not comfortable with. Everything is done at your pace, and at your comfort level.
So I’d highly recommend taking up a course with them if you’re living in Singapore. Here’s a quick run-down on what to expect for an Open Water license.
Knowlege Development sessions x2
- Watching the PADI “Introduction to Scuba Diving” DVD and course material collection
- You will then need to self-study
- Theory lesson where you go through syllabus and quizes
- After all that, the actual multiple choice exam
Skills Development Sessions x2 (pool sessions)
- Introduction to dive equipment
- Fundamental diving skills
- 200 meters non-stop swim test
- tread water or float for 10 minutes
Open Water Evaluation x2 sessions
- 2 dives a day at Pulau Hantu for 2 days
- Skills evaluation on what has been taught during confined water training and development
Looking back, the only thing I disliked about the whole experience is the mask-off and mask-clearing skills test. In this exercise, you are taught how to clear your mask when it’s half-filled and fully-filled with water. Obviously when you’re diving at >10m of water, you can’t expect to resurface just to clear your mask and head back down.
So the method is to take a breath, title your head back a bit and blow through your nose. Basically you force out the water by filling the mask with air.
I was just absolutely terrified of that. REALLY REALLY terrified. During the pool sessions, there were a couple of instances when I started to choked on some water and had to quickly resurface. Imagine if you’re 30m underwater!
Plus, I can’t open my eyes underwater because it burns, so can you imagine how nervous I was?
So when it came to the open water dive mask of skills test, we were about 10m deep kneeling on the seabed. You have to take your mask off, put it back on (which is now filled with water), and then clear it. Terry was well aware of my concerns, had this hand on my shoulder throughout the exercise just to reassure me that he was there and it will be OK. I tried to remain calm and take things slow, the trick is to just keep breathing and take things slowww and don’t freak out. Luckily, that went alright. Phew!
I’m so happy I got to strike this off my list!
To be honest, I still have my apprehensions about diving, but like everything its calculated risk and of course don’t do anything stupid.
I started the course in February this year and finished all my exams and dives in march. Now I’m looking forward to my first overseas dive.
Suggestions anyone? Where should I go for my first overseas dive? Not somewhere too $$$.
diving is absolutely fun though its a dangerous sport. soooo glad you took it up! welcome to the club babe!
hmmmm overseas trip huh. wells you can start gentle by going to p.dayang (gorgeous underwater marine animal) and move to sipadan when you are more comfy being underwater!
one thing to note: why PADI though? im not against PADI but i do think NAUI practice safer diving techniques compared to PADI.
Congrats! I used to dive very regularly and enjoyed it. I think diving is pretty safe as long as you dive with a responsible group of people, get a dive computer and do what it says. The people who get into trouble are often the ones who try to push the safety boundaries by trying to maximise their time underwater.
I second going to Dayang for a cheap weekend trip. Back then, if I remember correctly, it used to cost about $200+ for a weekend trip including food, transport and accommodation. After diving in Pulau Hantu, I think you will see a stark difference in the water quality. I remember doing a day dive off Singapore waters once and I could hardly see 30cm in front of me. Never again!
If you fancy a nicer place that is still affordable, I think the Gili islands in Lombok (near Bali) are pretty good. I’ve not been to Sipadan, but heard that it is very good. Another popular diving spot is Lembeh. I think few people here realise that we are lucky to live close by to some of the best diving spots in the world.
pulau.perhentian,pulau.redang,pulau.lang.tengah,pulau.sipadan,.all.these.
are.in.malaysia!pulau.sipadan.is.a.little.pricier.than.the.others,but.worth
all.your.money!.excuse.the…………..space.bar.busted.have.fun!
oooh yeaps perhentian is nice!
Terence: heh no more $200 all in for dayang lor! i think its like $400-$500 now?!
i heard horror stories about singapore waters, you had proved its horrible there, thank goodness i didnt even try it!
Wowsers, $400 and above for a weekend at Dayang sounds like daylight robbery. Unless they dramatically improved the accommodation (wooden hostels with cranky airconditioning) and facilities (toilets and nothing else), I’d save up for a trip to somewhere better. What I enjoyed about those weekend trips was the thrill of having that mini holiday every few weeks. We’d leave on Friday night and be back by Sunday evening. No need to take leave. There was also no need for a watch. Sun rises, time to eat-dive-eat-dive. Sun goes down, time to sleep. I also loved lying on the deck of the boat on the way back. If you were lucky, you’d get to see dolphins or flying fish.
Congratulations on your OW certification Ms Gray. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you have overcome fears isn’t it? It was part of the reason I got into diving myself. Plus it opens up a whole new world for exploration.
I recommend you try diving in Tulamben, Bali someday. It’s not that expensive, and arguably one of the best dive spots you could in Asia that you can do easily.
Safe dives always.
Well done mate. I did mine in May after putting it off for years and loved every minute of it. The hardest part for me was practicing taking off the BCD in the pool and then putting it back on again – I kept floating away from it! Are you going to do the Advanced? I’m booked in to do it next week and can’t wait (despite the cold here!). Next year I’ve got a wedding in Koh Tao (Thailand), which is apparently a great spot for diving. Other recommendations I’ve heard are in the Great Barrier Reef (duh!) and Malaysia. Keep it up!
– Brian
You are too humble. What is dangerous,calculated risk,difficult student… to person that lide DH in Kiara.
Btw, for an Open water course taking you down to 30M? Then Terry & Gary has just failed to be an Instructor..Hope is just a miss type.
hey, i about to take my PADI open water licence. Even though i have done 3 resort dives before, when i went for theory and pool classes and they taught me the half filled mask and take-off and replace mask…i was most terrified. I tried few times before i was comfortable with that!!!
When i lose my contact lenses i am almost blind so i am terrified. So to lose my contacts in salt water, hmmmm let me see in 2 weeks time:) well done
@tiffany @Terence @ms
thanks for all the recommendations and reassurances.
@pat fong
Hey pat thanks for that recommendation, maybe i’ll try that soon. Am going to bali over the weekend.
@Brian
I’ve heard good things about koh tao! Advance… i think i’d like to get a few OW dives in first and get used to it before thinking about advance. If i go anywhere soon, i’ll let you know and give you the low down.
@TAN
Not saying that i did or could.
Was just figuratively speaking
@Lin
Good Luck!!! i’m sure you’ll be fine, especially since you’d have 3 resort dives already. I think the best advice is to do the techniques slowwlllyyyyy and calllmmllyyy.