From $550 per person, plus tax · PADI eLearning bought separately
For anyone ready to become a certified diver.
Age
10 and up
Time
PADI eLearning at home, then 2 days in the water (under 8 hours each day)
Where
A protected shore site in San Juan or Vega Alta. You pick the town when you book; the meeting point and directions are in your confirmation email.
You need
To be able to swim, be comfortable in the water, and be medically fit to dive
Gear
Included: all the scuba gear you need for the course
PADI’s most popular scuba course, in three steps:
PADI eLearning, at home. About 12–15 hours on your phone or computer, at your own pace. Finish it before your first day in the water. It’s bought separately from PADI.
Skills practice. In calm, shallow water with your instructor: setting up your gear, breathing, buoyancy and what to do if something goes wrong.
Four open water dives. You use your new skills on real dives over 2 days. Then you’re certified to dive to 18 m (60 ft) with a buddy, anywhere in the world. Ages 10–14 earn Junior Open Water, with age-based depth and buddy limits (details).
Started your PADI Open Water course with another dive center? Finish it with us in Puerto Rico: the confined water skills, the open water dives, or both. Bring your referral paperwork.
Referral: all 4 open water dives
From $450 per person, plus tax
For students who finished the knowledge and pool training elsewhere.
Age
10 and up
Time
2 days
Where
A protected shore site in San Juan or Vega Alta
Paper book?
$60 PADI processing fee, plus tax. No fee with eLearning.
From $650 per person, plus tax · PADI eLearning bought separately
For Advanced Open Water divers ready to look after themselves and others.
Age
12 and up
Time
2 days
Gear
Bring your own, or rent it for $35, plus tax
Dive computer
Required: bring yours or rent one when you book
Prevent and manage problems in the water, from a tired diver at the surface to an unresponsive diver underwater. Requires first aid and CPR training within the past 24 months, such as EFR.
For experienced divers who want the highest non-professional rating.
Age
12 and up
You need
Rescue Diver, 5 PADI specialty certifications and 50 logged dives
We can take you all the way there: Advanced, Rescue, and specialties such as Enriched Air, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night, Sidemount, DPV, Full Face Mask and Emergency Oxygen Provider. Ask us to map out your path.
We offer adaptive scuba training for divers with disabilities, with an instructor certified to teach it. Every diver is different, so contact us first and we’ll talk through what you need.
Focused courses for certified divers. The first dive of many specialties can also count toward Advanced Open Water. Specialty equipment, like the DPV scooter or the full face mask, is included. Scuba gear rental is $35 extra, plus tax, if you need it (BCD, regulator, mask, snorkel and fins); ask for it when you book. A dive computer is required: bring yours or rent one when you book. See all specialties.
We train at protected shore sites in two areas, San Juan and Vega Alta. Pick the one closer to you when you book, and the meeting point and directions are in your confirmation email. The Advanced course’s deep dive is in Aguadilla. The boat is for certified divers only.
Small groups and private training
Small groups are our specialty: most courses take up to 4 students at a time. Private training is available on request. Ask us.
eLearning comes first
For courses with a PADI eLearning option, finish it before your in-water days. The eLearning links on this page go straight to PADI’s store and are connected to our dive center. If you buy through these links, PR Dive may earn a commission or credit, at no extra cost to you. PADI eLearning is bought separately from PADI and isn’t included in our course prices.
Before any course, you fill in the standard diver medical questionnaire. Download it below and bring it, or we’ll email it to you after you book. Students: if the questionnaire says a physician’s evaluation is needed (a “yes” to questions 3, 5 or 10 on page 1, or any “yes” on page 2), we need a doctor’s signed approval before your first session in the water. Certified divers are responsible for their own fitness to dive.
We recommend dive accident insurance, such as DAN, for anyone who dives. If you join through our link, PR Dive may earn a credit, at no extra cost to you.
We decide on the day based on conditions. For official forecasts and hurricane information, check the National Weather Service in San Juan and the National Hurricane Center.
For PADI Open Water, you do PADI eLearning at home first, about 12–15 hours at your own pace. Then it’s 2 days in the water with us, under 8 hours each day.
How much does scuba certification cost?
PADI Open Water is from $550 per person, plus tax, with all the scuba gear you need for the course. PADI eLearning is bought separately from PADI. See what’s included.
Does my certification expire?
No. Your PADI certification doesn’t expire. If it’s been a while since your last dive, a Scuba Refresher gets you comfortable again.
How old do you have to be?
Most courses start at age 10. Bubble Maker is for children aged 8 and 9. Some courses start at 12, 15 or 18, and Emergency Oxygen Provider has no minimum age. Each course lists its minimum age.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes. You need basic swimming ability, to be comfortable in the water, and to be medically fit to dive.
Do I need a medical form?
Yes. Everyone fills in the diver medical questionnaire before any course or Discover Scuba: download it in English (PDF) or en español (PDF). Or if you’d rather not print it, we’ll email it to you after you book. If it says you need a physician’s evaluation, bring your doctor’s signed approval before your first session in the water. For anyone under 18, a parent or guardian signs.
Do I do the eLearning before the course?
For Open Water, yes: finish PADI eLearning before your in-water days. Other courses say on their card whether they have eLearning. Our eLearning links go straight to PADI’s store and are connected to our dive center. If you buy through these links, PR Dive may earn a commission or credit, at no extra cost to you.
Where does training happen?
Ocean training is done from shore at protected sites in San Juan or Vega Alta. You pick the town when you book, and the meeting point and directions are in your confirmation email. The Advanced course’s deep dive is in Aguadilla. Nitrox and first-aid classes meet at the shop.
How big are the classes?
Most courses take up to 4 students at a time.
I started my course somewhere else. Can I finish with you?
Yes. PADI referral students can do all 4 open water dives, or just the final 2, with us.
Is training done from the boat?
No. Training is done from shore. The boat is for certified divers.
Do you offer adaptive diving?
Yes. We offer adaptive scuba training for divers with disabilities, with an instructor certified to teach it. Contact us first so we can talk through what you need.