Title: How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course | Atlas & Boots
Headings: How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course
How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course
A step-by-step guide for fellow divers who are somewhat nervous ahead of the PADI Open Water Diver course.
Choosing a course
PADI test questions
To prepare for the PADI test questions:
Tips:
PADI confined water tests
PADI open water tests
Final word
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Content: If the latter, you will only need a loose understanding of the former. PADI confined water tests
The following is a list of the confined water tests (or ‘pool tests’) you will be expected to complete. According to my instructor, most nervous divers have difficulty clearing the mask (I certainly did!). If you have a snorkel and mask, practise this skill yourself before the course. 200 metre swim
Tread water for 10 minutes
Assemble, put on and adjust scuba gear
Pre-dive safety check (BWRAF)
Inflate and deflate BCD
Clear snorkel on ascent by exhaling sharply and continue breathing without lifting face from water
Swap from regulator to snorkel, snorkel to regulator several times without lifting face from water
Descend underwater (SORTED)
Clear water from your regulator (exhaling sharply and using purge button)
Use your SPG and signal your remaining air
Recover your regulator from behind your shoulder
Recognise and respond to hand signals underwater
Clear a partially flooded mask
Clear a fully flooded mask
Remove mask and breathe for one minute while stationary, replace and clear mask
Remove mask and swim for at least 15 metres, replace and clear mask
Breathe from a free-flowing regulator for 30 seconds (air blasts out of the regulator forcing you to ‘sip’ air from it)
Demonstrate neutral buoyancy: float at eye level at the surface with no or minimal air in the BCD and while holding a normal breath; pivot from horizontal to vertical underwater several times; float in the ‘Buddha’ stance for 30 seconds
Take off scuba gear and put it back on at surface and at depth
Tighten a loose cylinder band
Disconnect and reconnect the low pressure inflator at surface and at depth
Swim and navigate with a compass at surface and at depth
Remove and replace weights at surface and at depth
Emergency weight drop at surface and at depth
Cramp release on buddy and on yourself at surface and at depth
BCD oral inflation at surface and at depth
Out of air exercises: use alternate air source, provide alternate air source, practise buddy breathing for one minute while swimming
Practise a controlled emergency swimming ascent (CESA)
Ascend while equalising
Tired diver tow for 25 metres
Use inflatable signalling device
Remove weights, scuba unit and fins in water too deep in which to stand and exit
Post-dive care of scuba gear
Phew. PADI open water tests
You must complete four open water dives in order to pass the course.