Course overview

Earn the world's most popular scuba certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course in Moalboal, Cebu, qualifying you to dive independently with a buddy to 18 metres anywhere in the world. You learn the fundamentals through eLearning, confined-water sessions and four open-water dives on the gentle Panagsama Beach house reef, where turtles and the famous sardine school are part of your classroom. You finish a fully certified PADI Open Water Diver.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble, maintain and use complete scuba equipment
• Master all core skills including mask clearing and regulator recovery
• Achieve neutral buoyancy and controlled ascents and descents
• Plan dives, monitor air and use the buddy system
• Respond to common problems and basic self-rescue
• Dive independently with a buddy to 18 metres

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10 (Junior Open Water) / 15
• No prior certification required
• Able to swim 200 metres and float/tread water for 10 minutes
• Complete a medical questionnaire; physician's clearance for some conditions

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 & confined water

   Complete eLearning knowledge reviews and the confined-water skill sessions in the shallows off Panagsama Beach.
2. Day2
   Open-water dives 1-2

   First two open-water training dives on the gentle house reef, applying skills among turtles and reef fish.
3. Day3
   Open-water dives 3-4

   Final two training dives, often near the sardine school, completing the certification.

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 Moalboal.

Frequently asked questions