FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I replace my certification card if it was lost or stolen?

Contact us directly or you may replace your card online 

How do I obtain a letter saying that I am certified?

PADI can provide you with a letter of certification via FAX or email. There is small fee for this service from PADI. Please contact the PADI Customer Service Department to request this service.

How much is the Master Scuba Diver Application?

approx $44US.

How can I get college credit for my certification?

View PADI courses for college credit information.

How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?

PADI courses are performance-based, which means that you earn your certification when you demonstrate that you’ve mastered the required skills and knowledge. Because some learn faster than others, course duration varies. Typically, the PADI Open Water Diver course is split into five or six sessions over as little as three days or as long as six weeks.

How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?

PADI offers junior scuba certifications. You must be at least ten years old (this may vary in some countries) to receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification.

Ten and eleven-year-old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional and are eligible to dive to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet.

Twelve to fourteen-year-olds must dive with a certified adult. At age fifteen, the diver may upgrade to a regular PADI Open Water Diver certification without further training.

Scuba diving sounds exciting, but I’m not sure if it’s for me. Can I try it without signing up for a course? 

Absolutely! The PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience allows you to make a shallow scuba dive in a pool or shallow open water site supervised by a PADI Professional. Try it and then proceed to the certification programs.

I’m a certified diver through another training organization. How can I become a PADI Diver? 

Start by visiting us and present your certification card. After an assessment of dive skills and knowledge, a PADI Instructor will guide you to the appropriate course. You must take a PADI course to obtain a PADI certification. Here are some general course prerequisites:

For the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and most PADI Specialty courses – an entry level scuba certification and documentation of at least four open water scuba training dives as part of the certification course completed.

For the PADI Rescue Diver course – certification beyond entry level and documentation of at least 20 open water scuba dives that include experience in deep diving and navigation

For the PADI Divemaster course – certification from a recognized training organization specific to scuba rescue and documentation of at least 20 logged open water scuba dives that include experience in deep diving, night diving, and underwater navigation. Additionally, you’ll need a CPR and first aid certification within the past 24 months and need to be at least 18 years old.

I’m a scuba instructor certified through another training organization. How can I become a PADI Instructor? 

Contact ourPADI Course Director to determine where your instructor rating fits in the PADI System of diver education. You’ll complete initial training based on your current qualifications, followed by the PADI Instructor Examination (IE). The IE is a two-day evaluation of teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, water skill level, and understanding of the PADI System, attitude and professionalism. Success at the IE qualifies you as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

FAQ about the PADI Open Water Course

Do I need to know how to swim before starting the PADI Open Water Diver Course? 

Before starting the dive course, you should be a confident swimmer who is comfortable in the water and swim 200meters non stop and float for 10 minutes in water too deep to stand up in. Remember that you will do a small swim test, and be required to swim underwater when diving.

Where will I do the PADI Open Water Course? 

 You can find the locations we work out of on the Find Us page. Youcan also opt to complete the theory at home with PADI eLearning.

How long does it take to complete the PADI Open Water Course? 

The course usually takes 4-5 days to complete. The scheduling of the classes is completely up to you however and you can come in to complete sections of the course when you have time. You have one 12 months from the date of signing up to complete the course.

Are there any classroom sessions in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course? 

There are no classroom sessions in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course. You need only read five chapters, each related to one of the five adventure dives that you will complete or complete the online elearning prior to completing the adventure dives. You are required to do the deep and navigation dives, but the other three are your choice. You can choose digital underwater photography, peak performance buoyancy, wreck, night, fish identification, search and recovery, underwater naturalist, multilevel, boat to name a few.

FAQ for general diving inquiries

Do we need to pay entrance fees to get to the Sir Bani Yas Island or hotels? 

If you are diving with us from the then you do not need to pay any water taxi fees to Sir Bani Yas Island. If however you wish to use the pool and beach facilities after the day’s diving, or if your friends and family want to use the hotel facilities while you are diving, then some beach access fees may be applicable to Khalidiya Palace Hotel, Westin Hotel, Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Spa.

Is a visa required to enter Dibba Oman? 

A visa is not required to cross the border of Oman at Dibba. You do however need to show your passport or UAE National ID for trips to Mussandam.

What if the dive is cancelled? 

In the unlikely event that the UAE Coast Guard declares a storm warning, and our dive boats are not allowed out of the marina, then you will be refunded for any dives not completed.

What is the cancellation policy? 

We require payment in full 24 hours before departure to confirm your booking, and this is non-refundable in case of no show or cancellation.

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo Dives

How long is the dive in the Dubai Aquarium?

Actual bottom time will be around 35 minutes, the maximum depth is 11m and the water temperature is 23 deg C. An informative dive briefing about the Dubai Aquarium and the marine animals in it, as well as how to interact with the animals is given and takes 30 minutes. Additional time is allowed for kit up and certificate presentation. Set aside 2 hours total time for the experience.

Can I take my camera into the Dubai Aquarium?

If you are doing the Discover Scuba Diving experience, or the Certified Diver Shark Dive then you will not be able to take your camera with you, as it is important that you are focused and aware of your surroundings. If you are doing the Dubai Aquarium Specialty Course, then you will be able to take your camera with you on dives 2 and 3.