A New Adventure
The PADI Open Water Diver course opens up a whole new exciting underwater world of adventure with an internationally recognised scuba diving certification.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to explore coral reefs, swim with turtles, or watch sharks hunting in the shallows, the PADI Open Water Diver course is for you.
Certifying divers up to 18M, the many islands and extensive coral reefs around Koh Lanta are the perfect place to learn scuba diving.
Small Groups
Our experienced and professional PADI instructors teach in very small groups, with typically only one or two students with each instructor (maximum 3).
This means that we can provide the very highest level of service and personal attention for each and every student.
PADI Open Water Diver Course Schedule
The PADI course is conducted over a 4 day period and normally runs as follows:
Day 2, 3 and 4 will normally start around 8 am, however the finish time depends very much on each individual student's pace of learning and confidence in the water.
Book online to save 10% on scuba diving trips and PADI courses.
The PADI Open Water Diver course content
Day 1: Check-in & Self Study
The first day begins in the morning at our dive shop in Lanta Castaway Beach Resort with the course paperwork, diver medical questionnaire, checking equipment sizes, receiving the self study materials and study instructions.
We will also answer any last minute questions you may have, and provide a detailed schedule for each day of the course, including what you need to bring on each day, etc. (e.g. swimwear, sunglasses, reef-safe sunblock).
In the afternoon you can start the theory self study which involves watching the PADI course videos at your resort/villa, and answering the knowledge review questions to be sure that you understand everything.
The PADI course theory is split into 5 sections, and we will ask you to watch the videos and answer the knowledge review questions for sections 1, 2 and 3 on the first day. This should normally take no more than 4 - 5 hours depending on your pace of learning.
The course theory will cover important topics, including the effects of pressure, safe diving practices, scuba diving equipment, the buddy system, and more.
We will provide an Android tablet loaded with the PADI videos and a digital copy of the PADI Open Water Diver course manual which allows the self-study to be completed at your resort or villa.
Day 2: Theory Review & Confined Water Skills
The second day begins with a review of the course knowledge reviews for sections 1, 2 and 3 with your instructor.
Your instructor will cover all of the questions and answers with you, reviewing any theory areas where necessary, and administering a quick multiple choice quiz after each section.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed for ages 10+, so the quizzes and final exam are not too difficult!
After reviewing knowledge sections 1, 2 and 3, it's time for a break, followed by the confined water session in shallow water where you will learn all of the skills necessary to be a competent and safe diver.
You will learn many new skills, including:
- Equipment assembly
- Pre-dive safety checks
- Mask and regulator clearing
- Alternate air-source use
- Buoyancy control
- Communicating using hand signals
- Ascent and Descent procedures
- How to help yourself and your buddy deal with problems
Normally your instructor will also conduct the 200M swim test during the confined water session, or, if time is short, this can also be conducted at the dive site on day 3.
The remaining self-study theory and knowledge review questions for sections 4 & 5 are completed at your resort on the evening of the second day.
Day 3: Open Water Dives 1 & 2, Theory Review + Exam
The third day begins with a thorough pre-dive briefing from your instructor followed by 2 open water dives to a maximum of 12M at one of the spectacular dive sites around Koh Lanta, such as Koh Haa, Koh Rok, or Koh Bida.
During the open water dives, you'll have a chance to repeat and practice some of the confined water skills from day 2 in deeper water at real dive sites.
You will explore the extensive coral reefs with your instructor, perfecting your buoyancy, building your confidence, and discovering the wonderful marine life on the dive sites around Koh Lanta.
After returning to Koh Lanta in the early afternoon, you will log the dives and your instructor will review the remaining knowledge review section 4 and 5 with you, followed by the short quiz and exam (very easy).
Day 4: Open Water Dives 3 & 4, PADI Certification
The final day begins with a further 2 open water dives, this time to a maximum of 18M, again at one of the fantastic dive sites around Koh Lanta.
Once again, you'll have a chance to repeat and practice some of the confined water skills from day 2 in deeper water at real dive sites, further improving your buoyancy, comfort, and confidence underwater.
Again, after returning to Koh Lanta in the afternoon, you will log the dives, and, as long as you have met the course requirements, your instructor will tell our office staff to process your brand new PADI Open Water Diver certification!
| Dive Course | Online Price | Walk-In Price |
| Open Water(4 days) | ฿13,050 | ฿14,500 |
What's Included?
The PADI Open Water Diver course price includes:
- All PADI materials & PADI certification
- Free Equipment Rental
- Experienced Instructors & Small Groups
- Lunch & soft drinks while diving on the boat (day 3 & 4)
- Free resort transfers for north/west Koh Lanta on day 2, 3 & 4
- Does not include National Park Diving Fee: Adult ฿600 per day, Child: ฿400 per day.
Keep Diving! After you have finished the course, join one of our daily dive trips or take things to the next level with the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.
PADI e-Learning Online
If you're short on time, or don't want to waste time with self study while on holiday, PADI eLearning allows student divers to complete the course theory online, before arriving on Koh Lanta.
After confirming your booking with us, you can register for eLearning directly on the PADI eLearning website https://www.padi.com/courses?irra=36148.
Make sure that you select Dive & Relax Koh Lanta as your affiliated eLearning dive centre so that we can receive updates on your course progress and will be able to process your PADI certification at the end of your course.
You pay an eLearning fee direct to PADI when you register on the PADI website. The online payment to PADI also includes the course certification fee.
This means that we can then discount the price to complete the course with us here on Koh Lanta.
Learn at your own pace, covering the online materials and videos whenever it suits you. After each theory section, there is a short multiple choice quiz, followed by a final exam.
Expect the PADI Open Water Diver online theory to take 10 - 20 hours depending on your pace of learning. You will need a good, strong internet connection.
Open Water eLearning Schedule
| Dive Course | Online Price | Walk-In Price |
| Open Water E-Learning(3 days) | ฿9,450 | ฿10,500 |
What's Included?
The PADI Open Water Diver eLearning course price includes:
- Free Equipment Rental
- Experienced Instructors & Small Groups
- Lunch & soft drinks while diving on the boat (day 3 & 4)
- Free resort transfers for north/west Koh Lanta on day 2, 3 & 4
- Does not include PADI E-Learning fee AU $231. Purchase and complete the PADI course theory on the PADI website before you arrive on Koh Lanta. You must select Dive & Relax as the affiliated dive operator.
- Does not include National Park Diving Fee: Adult ฿600 per day, Child: ฿400 per day.
Try PADI Open Water E-Learning for free
Email us with your full name at info@diveandrelax.com and we'll register you with PADI for a free introduction to the PADI Open Water Diver course.
Download the PADI Training App from your app store and try the PADI Open Water Diver eLearning material before purchasing the full course.
For Apple iOS devices and Android devices, download size approx 74 MB.
Open Water Referral Course
For those of you wishing to save even more valuable holiday time then the Open Water Diver course theory and confined water skills can be completed at home with your local PADI dive shop.
You can then complete the 4 open water dives with us here on Koh Lanta in just 2 days and be certified as an Open Water Diver.
After completing the theory and confined water skills at home with your local dive shop, your instructor will issue you with a PADI Open Water Diver Course Student Referral form which you must bring with you to Koh Lanta in order to complete the course with us.
Open Water Referral Course Schedule
The schedule to complete the course with us will then be:
Please be aware, if it's been more than a couple of months since you completed the confined water session at home, we will ask you to repeat the confined water session with us, before diving in the sea. In this case, the schedule will be the same as the eLearning course above.
| Dive Course | Online Price | Walk-In Price |
| Open Water Referral(2 days) | ฿9,450 | ฿10,500 |
What's Included?
The PADI Open Water Diver Referral course price includes:
- Free Equipment Rental
- Experienced Instructors & Small Groups
- Lunch & soft drinks while diving on the boat (day 3 & 4)
- Free resort transfers for north/west Koh Lanta on day 2, 3 & 4
- Does not include National Park Diving Fee: Adult ฿600 per day, Child: ฿400 per day.
How to Book a the PADI Open Water Diver Course?
Send us an email and let us know when you plan to visit Koh Lanta, how many people are in your group and when you would like to start the course.
We can then send you all the necessary information, answer your questions and tell you how to pay the course deposit online to confirm your booking with us.
Book online to save 10% on scuba diving trips and PADI courses.