Open Water - Leonardtown Pool
This course is held at the Wellness & Aquatics Center located at the College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown Campus.
Students MUST register through St. Mary's Parks and Recreation HERE.
Availability: Contact us for booking information
How It Works: PADI Open Water Diver Certification in 3 Simple Steps
The PADI Open Water Diver course has three required stages. Each stage must be completed in order to move to the next. This structure keeps training safe, efficient, and confidence-building.
STEP 1 – Online Academics (PADI eLearning)
You’ll start with PADI’s interactive eLearning program. It covers all the dive theory you need through videos, animations, and knowledge checks. Most people finish in 12–16 hours, and you can work at your own pace on any device.
This step must be finished before you begin pool training. When you enroll with us, we’ll issue your PADI eLearning code.
Want to preview the online course? Try it FREE
STEP 2 – Pool Training (Confined Water Sessions)
Once your E-learning course is complete, it’s time to get in the water. You’ll spend a minimum of eight hours learning essential scuba skills with one of our instructors. Choose either:
• A Saturday–Sunday weekend at a local indoor pool (year round)
• Four evening sessions at our on-site pool at the dive shop (Memorial Day through Labor Day)
These sessions prepare you for real open-water diving and must be completed before Step 3.
What You’re Purchasing Through St. Mary's Parks and Recreation (Steps 1 & 2)
Your eLearning is included and will be issued after payment.
If you already purchased eLearning directly from PADI, we’ll credit $100 toward your personal gear purchase or your checkout weekend.
STEP 3 – Checkout Weekend (Open Water Dives)
This is where it all comes together. Join us for a scheduled Saturday–Sunday checkout weekend and complete four Open Water dives under instructor supervision. You’ll demonstrate the skills you mastered in Steps 1 and 2—and have a great time doing it.
After Dive #4, you’ll officially earn your PADI Open Water Diver certification.
Total Cost for All Three Steps: $895
Important: Our Course Fee Is Truly All-Inclusive
Personal gear—mask, snorkel, fins, and boots—is the only thing not included. Fit matters, so we provide expert in-shop fitting and a 10% student discount.
Everything else is covered. That means:
• All pool fees
• All rental gear
• Air fills
• Quarry entry fees
• Instructor time
• All required course materials
No hidden charges. No add-ons. Just straightforward, high-quality scuba training designed to take you from beginner to certified diver without surprises.