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Learn to Scuba Dive in Sydney & Manly
Underwater footage is illustrative. Marine life varies by site, season and conditions.
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Every course ends with the same certification. Weekend and Weekday differ only in the days you give up; Premium adds time, dives and a smaller group.-
WeekendSave 29%
Open Water Weekend Course
Friday evening, then all day Saturday and Sunday
$499*
$699- Starts every week
- Suits you if you work Monday to Friday
- Online theory, a pool session, then four ocean dives
- Minimum age 15
-
WeekdaySave 43%
Open Water Weekday Course
One weekday evening, then two full weekdays: Monday to Wednesday, or Wednesday to Friday
$399*
$699*Goes up to $499 for dates from 14 October
- Starts every week
- Suits you if you can take two days off midweek
- Online theory, a pool session, then four ocean dives
- Minimum age 12
- Runs Monday to Wednesday, or Wednesday to Friday
-
Premium
Premium Open Water Course
4.5 days at a relaxed pace: an evening orientation, then four days of training
$999*
- 2 pool sessions and 6 ocean dives, two more than the standard course
- A maximum of 4 divers per instructor
- Transport to the dive sites included
- Premium Guarantee: not certified after 4.5 days? Come back for more training at no cost
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars (AUD) and can change by date. Your booking shows the price for the date you choose.
Dates
Choose a date to see prices and spots left, then book.- Mon, 5 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Mon, 5 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Wed, 7 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Fri, 9 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Mon, 12 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Mon, 12 OctFrom $999Check availability
- Wed, 14 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 16 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Mon, 19 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 21 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 23 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Mon, 26 OctFrom $499Check availability
Prices are per person and can vary by date and option.
No date that suits? See Open Water dates at our Manly dive centre →
How do you get a scuba licence in Sydney?
The Open Water course is the first scuba certification, and in Sydney it takes two and a half days. You start with online theory at home (three to four hours, with quizzes), then come to our St Peters dive centre for an evening orientation. After a session in a heated pool you make four ocean training dives, all from the shore, at Sydney sites such as Gordons Bay and Shelly Beach. Every piece of dive gear is included for the whole course. Take it over a weekend (Friday evening, then Saturday and Sunday) or across two weekdays; the Premium option stretches it to four and a half days with six ocean dives and no more than four divers per instructor. The minimum age is 12 on the weekday course and 15 on the weekend course, and you need to pass a swim test and complete a medical questionnaire. At the end you hold an Open Water certification recognised worldwide, to 20 metres.
What’s included
- Online theoryOnline training and quizzes, done at home before day one
- Pool trainingA confined water session in a heated pool
- Four ocean training divesAll shore entry — no boat
- Open Water certificationRecognised worldwide. You get an e-card; a physical card is an optional extra when you book.
- Dive gear hire for the whole courseMask, fins and snorkel; 5 mm one-piece wetsuit with long arms and legs; buoyancy vest (BCD); regulator with a spare air source; dive computer; tanks and air fills; weight belt and weights
Not included
- Pool entry feePay it at the pool when you arrive.
- TransportYou need your own car or a Club Membership (see Where we meet, below).
- Dive medicalIf you need one.
- LunchBring your own.
- Prescription maskIf you want one. You can buy one; they aren't for hire.
Weekend itinerary
- BeforeOnline training
We email you access to the online training after you book. It takes 3 to 4 hours, including quizzes. Finish it before the course starts, and upload a headshot to your online training profile for your certification.
- Friday6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Orientation. Meet your instructor and group, review the online theory, get fitted for gear, sit the exam.
- Saturday7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Pool training and the swim test. Ocean dive 1, and dive 2 if there's time.
- Sunday7:00 am – 5:00 pm
The rest of your ocean dives (2, 3 and 4). Certification BBQ.
Times are a guide. They change with group size, the time of year and ocean conditions. Your instructor confirms exact meeting times on the orientation evening.
Weekday itinerary
- BeforeOnline training
We email you access to the online training after you book. It takes 3 to 4 hours, including quizzes. Finish it before the course starts, and upload a headshot to your online training profile for your certification.
- Day 16:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Orientation. Meet your instructor and group, review the online theory, get fitted for gear, sit the exam.
- Day 27:00 am – 6:00 pm
Pool training and the swim test. Ocean dive 1, and dive 2 if there's time.
- Day 37:00 am – 5:00 pm
The rest of your ocean dives (2, 3 and 4). Certification BBQ.
The weekday course runs Monday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Friday. Times are a guide. They change with group size, the time of year and ocean conditions. Your instructor confirms exact meeting times on the orientation evening.
Premium itinerary
- Day 16:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Orientation. Meet your instructor and group, review the online theory and get sized for gear.
- Day 27:45 am – 4:00 pm
Pool session in the morning, then your first ocean dive while it’s all fresh.
- Day 39:00 am – 3:00 pm
Two ocean dives. A full day in the water.
- Day 47:45 am – 4:00 pm
Your second pool session to refine the skills, then one ocean dive.
- Day 59:00 am – 3:00 pm
Dives five and six, and you finish as a certified Open Water diver.
Pool training is at Victoria Park Pool, near Broadway. We choose the dive site on the day, based on where the diving will be best.
What you’ll see
Iconic NSW species live here year-round. The blue-ringed octopus is a rare but thrilling sight — keep your distance!
Requirements
Swimming
- Swim 200 metres without stopping. Use any stroke. It is not timed.
- Tread water or float for 10 minutes.
- You do this test in the heated pool during the course.
- Premium course: snorkel 300 metres or swim 200 metres, and float or tread water for 10 minutes.
Age
- 15 or older for the weekend course.
- 12 or older for the weekday course.
- There is no upper age limit.
- Under 18? Book in person at the dive centre. A parent or guardian signs a consent form, and we check we have gear in the right size.
Medical
- Fill in the dive medical questionnaire before you book.
- If you answer "yes" to any question, or you are 60 or over, you need a doctor to sign you off as fit to dive. Send us that form at least 7 days before the course starts.
English
- The online theory is available in several languages. All training with your instructor is in English, so you need to be comfortable in it. Other students can't translate for you.
Glasses
- Soft contact lenses are fine.
- Or you can buy a mask with prescription lenses. Prescription masks aren't available for hire.
Dive training starts with the standard recreational diver medical questionnaire, the same wherever you train. What it involves, and when you need a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No, but you do need to be water-safe. You swim 200 metres without stopping or holding the side, using any stroke. Then you tread water or float for 10 minutes. There is no time limit on the swim. The test happens in the heated pool on the course.
How old do I need to be?
15 for the weekend course and 12 for the weekday course. There is no maximum age. Book for anyone under 18 in person at the dive centre, because a parent or guardian must sign a consent form. Children train alongside adults; we don't run separate children's courses.
How deep will I be able to dive?
Your certification lets you dive to 20 metres. Once certified you can also hire tanks and buy air fills.
I don't have a car. How do I get to the pool and dive sites?
Add a Club Membership when you book. It includes free transport from the dive centre to the pool and dive sites during your course. Seats are limited, so book early. Public transport doesn't reach the sites.
How many people will be in my class?
Up to 6 students per instructor, on both the weekend and weekday courses.
What if I haven't finished the online theory?
You can't start the course. You'll need to move to a later date, and a rebooking fee applies. Allow plenty of time, and start as soon as your access email arrives.
Is the certification recognised overseas?
Yes. Your certification is issued by International Scuba Certification and is recognised worldwide.
I wear glasses. Can I still dive?
Yes. Soft contact lenses are fine under a mask. Or you can buy a mask fitted with prescription lenses. They come in half steps from −1 to −8. Prescription masks aren't available for hire.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If we cancel because conditions are unsafe, you can move to another course date within 12 months. If the new course costs more, you pay the difference.
Terms and conditions
- Open Water Weekend CourseRead the terms and conditions
- Open Water Weekday CourseRead the terms and conditions
- Premium Open Water CourseRead the terms and conditions
