Open Water Diver
Open Water Diver (OWD) is a scuba diving certification level provided by several diving training agencies, such as Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Scuba Schools International (SSI), and National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). The OWD certification allows divers to undertake independent dives (with a buddy) up to a certain depth, typically 18 meters (60 feet).
Training[edit | edit source]
The Open Water Diver course consists of three main parts: knowledge development, confined water dives, and open water dives. The knowledge development portion is designed to understand the basic principles of scuba diving. This can be done online, with a textbook, or in a classroom setting.
Confined water dives are conducted in a pool or body of water with pool-like conditions. Here, students learn and practice scuba skills. Finally, open water dives are where students apply what they've learned in a real diving environment.
Certification[edit | edit source]
Upon successful completion of the course, students are awarded the Open Water Diver certification. This certification is recognized worldwide and does not expire. However, if a diver does not dive for an extended period, a refresher course is recommended.
Safety[edit | edit source]
Safety is a paramount concern in the Open Water Diver course. Students are taught how to manage their buoyancy, navigate underwater, and what to do in case of emergencies. They are also taught the importance of dive planning and the use of dive tables or dive computers.
Equipment[edit | edit source]
Open Water Divers are trained to use basic scuba gear, including a dive mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device (BCD), dive computer, and scuba tank. They may also use other specialty gear related to the specific dive conditions, such as a dive light or underwater camera.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Open Water Diver Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD