Course overview

The PADI Open Water Diver course in Bohol Panglao is your entry into scuba, certifying you to dive independently with a buddy to 18 metres anywhere in the world. Panglao's calm, clear shallows off Alona Beach make an ideal classroom, before your first open-water dives explore the warm reefs where turtles and schooling tropical fish are everyday sights.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble, check and use scuba equipment correctly
• Master essential underwater skills such as mask clearing and regulator recovery
• Control buoyancy for relaxed, efficient diving
• Plan dives using tables or a dive computer
• Communicate with hand signals and dive safely with a buddy
• Respond to common minor problems underwater

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10 (Junior Open Water Diver) or 15+ for full certification
• No prior experience or scuba certification required
• Able to swim and float comfortably
• Diver medical questionnaire (physician sign-off if any condition is flagged)

What's included · What's not

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory and basics

   Start the knowledge sections and learn equipment setup with an introduction to dive theory.
2. Day2
   Confined water

   Practise core skills in the calm shallows off Alona Beach until they feel natural.
3. Day3
   First open-water dives

   Make your first two open-water training dives on a sheltered Panglao reef.
4. Day4
   Final dives and exam

   Complete the remaining open-water dives and pass the final knowledge exam to certify.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Bohol Panglao.

Frequently asked questions