PADI Open Water Course

At Peterpan Andaman Diving we teach open water Koh Similan national park classes with a maximum group size of 4.That means our experienced western and local instructors can make sure everyone has a great experience and qualifies as a safe confident diver. Plus you’ll have a great time learning to scuba dive here in Phang nga!

Here are details of exactly what’s involved:

Day 1 [Afternoon]: Scuba Diving Theory

We’ll start with an academics session covering scuba diving basics. We’ll cover topics such as:

How a set of scuba gear works

Relationship between depth, pressure and volume

How water pressure affects your body

We’ll watch some videos, discuss the content & complete some simple quizzes to test your understanding.[Don't worry - the minimum age to learn to scuba dive with PADI is 10 years old so you shouldn't find it too demanding.

Day 2 [Morning]: Dive Planning

You can’t just dive as deep as you want, for as long as you want and expect to be ok!

Dives must be planned – depth, bottom time etc. – we’ll teach you to do this by using PADI’s recreational dive planner. We’ll practice some examples, and then complete a multiple choice exam to finish off your academics.

Day 2 [Afternoon]: Confined Water [Shallow] Skills Practice

Now it’s time to get your scuba diving gear on & head into shallow water for your first dive. We’ll start by learning lots of scuba skills in shallow water. This will include equipment assembly & buddy checks, mask & regulator clearing, alternate air source exercises, buoyancy skills & ascent procedures

We’ll conduct your confined water dive in the sea – you’ll get to see Koh Similan fantastic corals & marine life from the first moment you enter the water.

Day 3 [Afternoon]: Open Water Andaman Sea  Dives 1 & 2

Your first two ‘proper dives’ will be to a maximum depth of 12 meters.

Each dive will be approximately 40 minutes long – we’ll repeat some of your shallow skills a little deeper plus explore the dive sites.

Typical dive sites are Koh Similan national park- you’ll be diving on coral reefs and around shallow pinnacles.

Out in the open water Koh Similan national park has incredible marine species to enjoy. Expect to see masses of colorful corals – table, plate, stag horn & brain corals. Plus experience Andaman’s great marine life – you’ll see millions of tropical reef fish [butterfly, angelfish, triggerfish . . . ] plus experience some of our diverse marine species such as blue spotted stingrays, moray eels and squid!

Day 4 [Morning]: Open Water Andaman Sea Dives 3 & 4

For the last two dives of the course, we’ll get right down to 18 meters. By now, you should be controlled & comfortable in the water so we can visit the more distant dive sites.

Here you’ll get to see some of Andaman’s bigger fish – barracudas, giant grouper, even grey reef & occasional whale sharks [harmless!].

For the last two dives of your scuba course, an underwater videographer will accompany you, capturing footage of your underwater experiences on film.

Day 4 [Evening]: Certification & Diving Movie

We’ll celebrate you completing your PADI Open Water Course by watching your diving movie [enjoyed over a couple of cold beers!].

We’ll complete your certification paperwork, and you’ll be issued with your PADI Open Water certification.

This is a diving certification for life, allowing you to dive with a buddy, to 18 metres in conditions similar to those in which you learned to dive.