Watch before you choose · 4:11
Learn to Scuba Dive in Sydney & Manly
Underwater footage is illustrative. Marine life varies by site, season and conditions.
Watch on YouTube →Choose your course
Same course, same certification. Pick the days that suit you.-
WeekendSave 29%
Open Water Weekend Course
Friday evening at the shop, then Saturday and Sunday in the water
$499*
$699- Starts every week
- Online theory, a pool session, then four ocean dives from the shore
- Minimum age 15
-
WeekdaySave 43%
Open Water Weekday Course
One weekday evening at the shop, then two days in the water: Monday to Wednesday, or Wednesday to Friday
$399*
$699*Goes up to $499 for dates from 14 October
- Starts every week
- Online theory, a pool session, then four ocean dives from the shore
- Open from age 12, so it is the one to choose for a younger diver
* 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.- Wed, 7 OctFrom $399Check availability
- Fri, 9 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 14 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 16 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 21 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 23 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 28 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 30 OctFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 4 NovFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 6 NovFrom $499Check availability
- Wed, 11 NovFrom $499Check availability
- Fri, 13 NovFrom $499Check availability
Prices are per person and can vary by date and option.
No date that suits? See Open Water dates at our Sydney dive centre in St Peters →
How do you learn to scuba dive in Manly?
The Open Water course at our Manly dive centre takes two and a half days and needs no experience. You do the theory online at home before day one, then meet at the shop for an evening session. After training in the heated pool you make four ocean dives from the shore on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with every piece of dive gear included for the whole course. Choose the weekend course (Friday evening, then Saturday and Sunday in the water) or the weekday course (one evening, then Monday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Friday). You need to pass a swim test and complete a medical questionnaire, and all parts of the course must be finished within 90 days of your start date. At the end you hold an Open Water certification recognised around the world, to 20 metres, and you can keep diving with us from the shore or on the boat.
What’s included
- Online theoryOnline modules and quizzes, done at home before your first session
- Pool trainingA session in the heated training pool
- Four ocean training divesAll from the shore
- Open Water certificationRecognised worldwide. You get an e-card; a physical card is an optional add-on at booking.
- Full gear hire for the courseMask, fins, snorkel, 5 mm one-piece wetsuit (long arms and legs), BCD, regulator with spare air source, dive computer, tanks and air fills, weight belt and weights
Not included
- Pool entry feePaid at the pool.
- TransportTo the pool and dive sites, unless you add Club Membership.
- Dive medicalIf you need one.
- LunchBring your own.
Weekend itinerary
- BeforeOnline theory at home
We send your online training access by email after you book (during business hours). Allow 3 to 4 hours for the modules and quizzes. Finish it before your first session, and upload a headshot to your training profile.
- Friday6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
At the shop. Meet the group, review the theory, get sized for gear and sit the exam.
- Saturday7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pool training and the swim test. Then your first ocean dive, and the second if time allows.
- Sunday7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ocean dives 3 and 4 (and dive 2 if it didn't happen Saturday). Then the certification BBQ.
These times are a guide. They shift with group size, season and ocean conditions. You'll get exact times at the Friday evening session.
Weekday itinerary
- BeforeOnline theory at home
We send your online training access by email after you book (during business hours). Allow 3 to 4 hours for the modules and quizzes. Finish it before your first session, and upload a headshot to your training profile.
- Day 16:30 pm – 9:00 pm
At the shop. Meet the group, review the theory, get sized for gear and sit a short exam.
- Day 27:00 am – 6:00 pm
Pool training and the swim test. Then your first ocean dive, and the second if time allows.
- Day 37:00 am – 5:00 pm
Ocean dives 3 and 4 (and dive 2 if needed). Then the certification BBQ.
These times are a guide. They shift with group size, season and ocean conditions. It runs Monday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Friday; you'll get exact times at the first evening session.
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
- 200 metres, continuous, any stroke, no time limit.
- Then 10 minutes treading water or floating.
- It happens in the heated training pool during the course.
Age
- 15+ on the weekend course, 12+ on the weekday course. No upper limit.
- Bookings for under-18s are made in person at the shop, with a parent or guardian consent form.
Medical
- Complete the dive medical questionnaire.
- A "yes" to any question means you need a doctor to confirm you're fit to dive, at least 7 days before you start. So do divers aged 60 and over.
- Tell us about any medical condition before you book.
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.
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
Weekend or weekday — which should I pick?
They're the same course with the same certification. Pick the days you can free up. The weekday course (Monday to Wednesday, or Wednesday to Friday) also accepts divers from age 12. The weekend course is 15+.
How do I get to the shop from Manly?
Pro Dive Manly is in Brookvale, next door to Manly, at 2/170 Harbord Rd. On the course, use the Ethel Avenue entrance. Open in Google Maps.
How do I get to the pool and dive sites without a car?
Add a Club Membership when you book. It includes free transport from the shop during the course. Seats are limited, so book early.
How cold is the water?
Between about 15 and 24 °C, depending on the season. Our 5 mm full-length wetsuits are included in your gear hire.
How deep will I be certified to dive?
Your certification lets you dive to 20 metres.
How many people are in a class?
A maximum of 6 students per instructor, on both the weekend and weekday courses.
Can I do the course if English isn't my first language?
Yes. The online theory is available in several languages. All training with your instructor is in English, so you need to be comfortable in it. No translation services are available, and other students can't translate for you.
What if I can't finish the online theory in time?
You won't be able to start. You'll need to move to a later course, and a rebooking fee applies.
What happens if the ocean is too rough?
If we cancel for unsafe conditions, you can move to another 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
