Open Water Scuba Certification

Learn to Scuba Dive in Port Stephens

OVERVIEW

Our Open Water Scuba Certification is designed for people who want to learn properly — with small groups, relaxed coaching and plenty of time in the water.

This isn’t about rushing through skills or being one of eight people trying to get an instructor’s attention. We keep our courses intentionally small so you can feel supported, ask questions and build real confidence before heading out to dive independently.

Experience Details

Flexible

Next Dates

3 days

Duration

$999pp

Pricing

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1:2 Instructor to Student Ratio

Your first breath underwater is something you never forget.

An Open Water Scuba Certification is your licence to explore the underwater world.

Over three days, you’ll learn the foundations of scuba diving including equipment, buoyancy, dive planning, underwater communication and open water diving skills — all while exploring some of our favourite local sites around Port Stephens.

By the end of the course, you’ll earn your internationally recognised certification and be ready to start diving anywhere in the world.

What’s Included

SDI Open Water Scuba Certification

1

All scuba equipment hire included

2

Digital learning materials (eLearning)

3

Small group instruction (1:4)

4

A supportive space

5

Itinerary

  • Complete your SDI eLearning at home before your course starts.

    Learn the theory at your own pace so we can spend more time doing the fun part once you arrive.

  • We’ll get familiar with your equipment, cover the essentials and complete your confined water training.

    This is all about building comfort and confidence before heading into open water.

  • Time to take everything into the ocean.

    We’ll complete training dives and continue developing skills while exploring local conditions.

  • By now things start to click.

    We’ll complete your final open water requirements and spend more time enjoying the experience of diving rather than thinking about every little thing.

    Certification complete. Congratulations!

Your Instructor

Rob

Lead Instructor | SDI Scuba Instructor | PFI Freediving & Spearfishing Instructor

Rob is the engine room behind Squids. Equal parts instructor, gear nerd and professional hype man, he somehow manages to make complex skills feel simple and intimidating environments feel approachable.

A certified SDI Scuba Instructor and PFI Freediving and Spearfishing Instructor, Rob is also a passionate cave diver who never misses an opportunity to talk equipment, streamline a setup, or explain why your next piece of gear definitely matters.

Outside the water, Rob is an adrenaline junkie through and through — with a background in paragliding, skydiving, BASE jumping, rock climbing and kite surfing. Teaching has always come naturally to him, and nothing beats seeing someone leave the water more confident than when they arrived.

What Sets Our Courses Apart

01 / Small groups, more diving

We keep courses capped at a maximum 1:2 instructor ratio so you spend less time waiting and more time getting personalised feedback and quality water time.

02 / Learn at your pace

Some people pick things up straight away. Others need more time. Both are completely normal and we build our courses around that.

03 / Real diving, real conditions

We train in the ocean because that’s where you’ll actually dive. Conditions, planning and local knowledge all become part of the learning experience.

“There is no faster way to learn! I’ve been diving in multiple countries since and I felt so prepared because he also teaches you what to expect in countries around the world!”

— Michelle completed her Scuba Discovery, Open Water Certification, Night/Limited Visibility in May 2026

Best
Seller

Open Water Scuba Certification
Open Water Scuba Certification
$999.00

Take the leap into the underwater world and earn your SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification, recognised worldwide. Squids Dive Co specialises in small-group training and personalised coaching, giving you more time with your instructor, more confidence in the water, and a smoother learning experience compared to traditional big-group courses.

Across 3 days, you’ll complete your confined water skills, four open-water dives, and all competency requirements using top-of-the-line scuba gear. Our instructors work closely with nervous or new divers and allow plenty of time for practice, questions, and skill refinement.

Your eLearning code will be sent only after your medical form is reviewed and cleared. Once your eLearning is finished, you’ll be ready to start your in-water training and become a fully certified diver.

Divers aged 10–14 years will receive a Junior Open Water certification and must dive with a parent/guardian or a dive professional until they reach the required age for independent diving. At 15 years old, juniors can upgrade to a full Open Water certification through a simple administrative process.

You’ll also have the option to purchase the same gear you train in, making your transition from student to certified diver smooth, comfortable, and familiar.

What's included

  • 3 days of training with a professional instructor

  • Small groups (max 3 students)

  • All scuba hire equipment (premium BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, fins, masks, weights, tanks & tank fills)

  • Confined water skills session

  • 4 open-water certification dives

  • Worldwide recognised scuba certification by SDI

  • eLearning access (sent after medical clearance)

  • Logbook guidance & certification processing

What's not included

  • Personal transport to training locations

  • Food, drinks, snacks

  • Costs for required GP medical clearance (if applicable)

  • Personal gear purchases (optional add-on)

Itinerary

Day 1 — Orientation, Theory & Confined Water Training
Meet at Squids Dive Co HQ for a welcome, gear fitting, safety briefing, and course overview. Review key eLearning concepts with your instructor. Then head to the pool or sheltered site to learn foundational skills: breathing underwater, buoyancy, mask clearing, regulator recovery, ascents/descents, and safety procedures.

Day 2 — Open Water Dives 1 & 2
Gear up and enter the water for your first two ocean dives. You’ll practise basic skills, get comfortable in deeper water, and start exploring real marine environments under close instructor supervision. Slow pace, lots of support, and personalised coaching.

Day 3 — Open Water Dives 3 & 4 + Certification
Complete your final two dives and demonstrate your skills with confidence. Once you’ve met all safety and competency standards, you’ll be certified as an Open Water Scuba Diver, valid worldwide.

Debrief at Squids Dive Co HQ, log your dives, chat through next steps, and explore equipment purchase options if you’d like your own setup.

Your Open Water Certification is more than just a course — it’s the beginning of your scuba journey. The first breath underwater, the first moment you realise how quiet the ocean is, and the start of a whole new way to explore the world.

    • Swimmers

    • Towel

    • Water bottle

    • Warm clothes for afterwards

    • Reef-safe sunscreen

    • Lunch and snacks

    • A sense of adventure

      We’ll provide the scuba gear.

  • Minimum age: 15 years with parental consent
    Comfortable in the water
    Able to swim 200m and float/tread water for 10 minutes
    Complete medical questionnaire before arrival

    If you answer YES to any medical questions, GP clearance may be required before diving.

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WE DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN THE REST

✹

WE DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN THE REST ✹

ABOUT SQUIDS DIVE CO

Built by Ocean People

Squids Dive Co wasn’t created to be another cookie-cutter dive shop or high-volume tourist operation. It was built by two locals genuinely obsessed with the ocean, adventure, and helping people discover what’s possible underwater. From the very beginning, our vision was simple: create the kind of dive company we’d actually want to book ourselves — small groups, real coaching, relaxed vibes, genuine connection, and unforgettable experiences in the water. What started as a simple idea has grown into a passionate ocean community based in beautiful Port Stephens, bringing together divers, snorkellers, freedivers, spearos, and ocean lovers who feel most alive by the sea.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and book in, places will go fast!

  • None at all. This course is designed for complete beginners.

  • You don’t need to be an athlete. You just need to be reasonably comfortable in the water and able to complete the swim requirements - able to swim 200m continuous, unassisted and float/tread water for 10 minutes.

  • Yes — once course requirements are completed successfully, you’ll receive your internationally recognised SDI Open Water Certification.

  • Totally normal. Most people arrive feeling excited and nervous. We keep groups small and move at a pace that helps you feel comfortable.

  • We choose training locations based on weather, tides, visibility and student experience to create the best possible learning conditions.

  • Absolutely — most people finish this course and immediately start planning their next dive.

    Your underwater life starts here.

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Let’s Dive Together

Do you have more questions about our Open Water Course? Feel free to reach out—we’re here to help.