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Junior Open Water Diver Certification

PADI® Junior Open Water Certification Course is the children's version of the adult Open Water Diver and available for families with young kids in Pattaya, Thailand.

Even though the course core requirements are exactly the same, some Junior Open Water Diver restrictions apply (e.g. maximum depth limits and buddy qualification levels).

About the Open Water Diver Course for Kids

Young students need to meet the same minimum standards in (all):

Academics and dive theory sections.
Shallow scuba skills training sections (e.g. in a pool).
Completion of four (4) scuba training dives.

The Junior Open Water Diver depth limits for a ten (10) or eleven (11) year old is twelve (12) metres.

Nonetheless, the maximum depth increases to eighteen (18) metres when the child reaches the age of thirteen.

For this reason, some of the PADI® training standards have been adapted for children to comprehend during the course. A typical example would be using more pictures and non technical text in training manuals.

The final exam is also exactly the same as the adult version. Hence, children need to score at least 75% to avoid having to do a retest.

Junior Open Water Course Requirements

There are only a few restrictions to join a scuba class in Thailand. You should be in general good health (e.g. have a reasonable level of fitness) and be comfortable swimming in water. The minimum age to start PADI Open Water Diver certification course is ten (10).

Students get basic scuba lessons through a combination of knowledge development classroom sessions and diving safety skills conducted in shallow water.

Being able to repeat the skills in deeper water on four (4) separate training dives means you are well on your way to getting PADI's Junior Open Water Diver qualification.

Important: You must also have no medical contraindications to scuba diving. Thus, most divers will need to sign the RSTC Medical Statement before performing any in-water training activities.

PADI JOW Schedule in Thailand

It's possible to complete the written theory tests and exit exam, all swimming pool skills, and four ocean training 'check out' dives, in three 'crammed' days of tuition.

But, the Junior Open Water is performance based. So, most scuba diver training agencies recommend spreading the course over at least four (4) days.

Let's dive in a bit deeper:

The theory lessons come from the participant manual, video, or multimedia DVD, five short multiple-choice quizzes and a final exam.

There are five (5) corresponding pool or confined water skill sessions. You complete the course by making four (4) dives in an open water environment (e.g. an ocean) to a maximum of eighteen metres.

As a result, most dive students prefer to take four days to complete the course at a more relaxed pace. Your scuba instructor will cover the following topics:

Buoyancy control, ascents and descents (e.g. equalisation techniques when scuba diving), breathing underwater.
Streamlining your swimming skills and the buddy diver safety procedures.
Preventing and anticipating common scuba errors beginners make underwater.
The Blue Planet diving environment, aquatic life behaviour and interaction, and evaluating dive conditions for the local environment.
An introduction to boat diving techniques (e.g. entries and exits).
Special considerations for using and maintaining equipment used by scuba divers and diving gear accessories.
Principles of dive planning (e.g. how long and how deep you can dive and stay within the safety limits).
How much fun diving really is and how to continue your education in diving.

Important: Students who are completing PADI referral programs (e.g. choosing to finish the course at another location) will need to do a quick review test.

Open Water Divers Equipment and Materials

We include the required PADI Manual and RDP Table (recreational dive planner) in the price. Even so, you can buy extra manuals and scuba accessories and gizmos at the dive shop in Pattaya, Thailand.

The recreational scuba divers equipment that you need to complete the Open Water Diver course is also included in the price, such as:

PADI eLearning®

The PADI PDF e-manual contains interactive lessons that you can use in the Open Water Diver eLearning process. You should allocate around eight to ten hours of studying to complete the eLearning modules.

Price for PADI® Junior Open Water Diver Course from 15,500 THB*

FAQ about Open Water Diver Course

When Should You Do a Scuba Refresher?

Suppose you don't go diving for more than six months. There is a simple way to refresh the knowledge and skills that you already learned.

After a long period of inactivity, taking the PADI ReActivate® program will help you brush up on the safety procedures and scuba diving fundamentals.

How Long is the Open Water Scuba Course?

Details about PADI Junior Open Water Diving Course in Pattaya, Thailand. It is commonplace for students to get the Open Water qualification in four (4) days.

The minimum time it takes to complete the theoretical study, practice dives in a pool or pool-like environment, and four training dives is three (3) days.

How to Interact with Underwater Organisms?

Divers share a common responsibility to protect and conserve nature. As a result, passive interaction with aquatic animals helps safeguard delicate and sensitive sea life.

Is the PADI Exam Difficult?

You need to pass a diving theory exam before you get your PADI certification. In most cases, you should not find it hard to reach the passing score (usually 75%).

Note: There is no set time limit for students to complete their final exam. In fact, most of the questions relate to the review sections of the diving manual.

Can Child Open Water Divers Dive Alone?

The scuba diving buddy system is a safety rule that pairs two or more divers together. Moreover, the group should also perform the standardised pre-dive safety checks (BWRAF) before entering the water.

Nonetheless, PADI does consent to a type of 'solo diving' through the Self-Reliant Diver certification course, which is available in Pattaya, Thailand.

What are the Medical Requirements for Scuba Diving?

A certain level of well-being and general fitness is needed to carry out scuba activities. Thus, you may need to get written approval from a physician before you go diving.

You can download the online version of the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire to check if your current medical status will require a physician's approval.

Note: You should not ask dive staff (e.g. divemasters, instructors) for medical advice and clearance to go diving. Instead, you can contact the Divers Alert Network (DAN) if you have questions about your medical fitness to dive.

After Becoming Junior Open Water Diver

Dive students are taught by highly-trained PADI Instructors (OWSI). That means you learn how to scuba dive in a relaxed environment. Even so, PADI® Open Water Diver is only the first level of a wide range of scuba certifications.

Earning a certification in scuba diving means you would be joining the largest dive community worldwide - part of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

Having an internationally-recognised Open Water Diver certification means you can begin a new lifestyle full of discovery and exploration. It is a licence to learn advanced scuba lessons beyond an entry-level diver.

Here's the best part:

The PADI Open Water certification does not expire. Furthermore, the next level (e.g. Advanced Open Water Diver) focuses on underwater activities, instead of lengthy classroom sessions.

Related Information and Help Guides

Note: The short PADI video [3:09 seconds] outlines what to expect when you try scuba diving for the first time. Click here to contact Private Scuba in Pattaya, Thailand.