For most students, the Open Water Course takes between 3 and 4 days to complete. During that time, you’ll learn the essential theory, practice key diving skills, and complete your first open water dives in the Mediterranean Sea.
The exact schedule can vary slightly depending on your availability, weather conditions, and whether you’ve completed some of the theory online before arriving, but the process always follows the same progression.
Practice Your Skills in Confined Water
Once you’ve completed the theory, it’s time to get comfortable with the equipment and learn the practical skills that every diver needs.
In a shallow and controlled environment, your instructor will guide you through essential exercises such as:
- Setting up and checking your scuba equipment
- Clearing water from your mask
- Recovering and clearing your regulator
- Controlling your buoyancy
- Practicing safe ascents and descents
- Learning how to respond to common underwater situations
For many students, this is the moment when everything starts to feel real. You’ll take your first breaths underwater and begin building confidence with the equipment while always being closely supervised by your instructor.
Complete Your Open Water Dives
After mastering the basic skills, you’ll head out to complete your open water training dives.
This is where the adventure truly begins.
You’ll complete four open water dives in the beautiful waters surrounding Malta, one of the best diving destinations in Europe. Known for its excellent visibility, calm conditions, and stunning underwater landscapes, Malta provides the perfect environment for learning to dive.
During these dives, you’ll apply the skills you’ve learned while gaining experience in real diving conditions. With each dive, you’ll become more comfortable, more confident, and more independent underwater.
Most students complete these four dives over one or two days, depending on the course schedule.
Receive Your Certification
Once you’ve successfully completed the theory, confined water training, and all required open water dives, you’ll earn your Open Water certification.
This internationally recognised certification allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres with a buddy and opens the door to dive sites all around the world.
For many new divers, this is the start of a lifelong passion. What begins as curiosity quickly turns into a desire to explore more reefs, wrecks, marine life, and underwater adventures.
How Many Days Should You Plan For?
As a general rule, we recommend allowing 3 to 4 days to comfortably complete your Open Water Course with Scuba Malta.
If you’ve already completed your theory online and you’re comfortable in the water, it’s sometimes possible to finish more quickly. On the other hand, some students prefer a more relaxed pace and spread the course over several days.
The goal isn’t to rush through the certification. The goal is to make sure you feel safe, confident, and ready to enjoy diving long after the course is finished.
Ready to Become a Certified Diver?
The Open Water Course is much more than a certification. It’s your entry ticket into an entirely new world.
In just a few days, you’ll go from wondering what it’s like to breathe underwater to exploring Malta’s incredible dive sites as a certified diver.
And trust us, once you discover the underwater world, you’ll understand why so many divers never stop exploring.
We look forward to welcoming you at Scuba Malta and helping you take your first breaths underwater.
