If you’re thinking about trying scuba diving for the first time, you’ve probably come across two options: a Try Dive and an Open Water Course. While both are designed for beginners, they serve completely different purposes.
The simplest way to understand the difference is this. A Try Dive allows you to experience scuba diving for the first time under the direct supervision of a professional instructor, while an Open Water Course teaches you the skills and knowledge needed to become a certified diver.
Choosing the right option depends entirely on where you are in your diving journey. Are you simply curious about what it feels like to breathe underwater, or are you ready to learn how to dive independently and earn an internationally recognised certification?
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what each experience involves, the main differences between them, and how to decide which one is the best fit for you.
What Is a Try Dive?
A Try Dive is a beginner scuba diving experience designed specifically for people with no previous diving experience.
It allows you to discover what scuba diving feels like without committing to a full certification course. Under the guidance of a professional instructor, you’ll learn the basics of scuba equipment, underwater communication, and safety procedures before entering the water.
The experience is designed to be simple, safe, and enjoyable. You don’t need any previous certification, and you don’t need to know anything about diving before you arrive.
Most Try Dive experiences include:
● A safety briefing
● An introduction to scuba equipment
● Basic underwater skills
● A supervised dive with an instructor
● All necessary diving equipment
For many people, a Try Dive is their first opportunity to experience breathing underwater and explore the underwater world in a controlled environment.
What Is an Open Water Course?
An Open Water Course is the first level of scuba diving certification and the starting point for becoming a certified diver.
Unlike a Try Dive, which focuses on introducing you to the experience, an Open Water Course teaches you the knowledge and practical skills required to dive safely and confidently.
During the course, you’ll learn:
● How scuba equipment works
● Diving safety procedures
● Underwater communication
● Buoyancy control
● Dive planning
● Emergency skills
● Responsible diving practices
Once completed, you’ll receive an internationally recognised certification from SSI or PADI, allowing you to dive up to 18 metres deep anywhere in the world.
An Open Water certification is often considered the passport to the underwater world, opening the door to dive trips, advanced courses, and countless underwater adventures.
Try Dive vs Open Water Course: What’s the Biggest Difference?
The main difference is that a Try Dive is an introduction to scuba diving, while an Open Water Course teaches you how to become a certified diver.A Try Dive is about discovering whether you enjoy scuba diving.
An Open Water Course is about learning the skills necessary to continue diving long after your first underwater experience.
| Feature | Try Dive | Open Water Course |
| Previous Experience Required | No | No |
| Certification Included | No | Yes |
| Purpose | Experience diving | Learn to dive |
| Duration | A few hours | Multiple training sessions |
| Instructor Supervision | Constant | Training towards independent diving |
| Maximum Depth | Introductory depth limits | Up to 18 metres after certification |
Who Should Choose a Try Dive?
A Try Dive is the best choice if your goal is simply to experience scuba diving for the first time.
This option is ideal if:
- You’ve never dived before
- Scuba diving is on your bucket list
- You’re curious about the underwater world
- You want to see if diving is something you’ll enjoy
- You’re not ready to commit to a certification course
- You want a fully guided experience
Many divers start with a Try Dive before deciding whether they want to continue their diving education.
Who Should Choose an Open Water Course?
An Open Water Course is the right choice if you already know you want to become a diver.
This option is ideal if:
- You want an internationally recognised certification
- You plan to dive while travelling
- You want to dive without direct instructor supervision
- You want to improve your underwater confidence
- You want to explore deeper dive sites
- You want to continue with advanced diving courses in the future
For people who know they want to keep diving beyond a single experience, the Open Water Course is usually the most logical next step.
Can a Try Dive Help You Decide If Scuba Diving Is for You?
Yes. For many people, a Try Dive is the experience that helps them decide whether they want to continue with a certification course.
It provides a realistic introduction to scuba diving without requiring a significant commitment of time or money. You’ll learn how it feels to breathe underwater, use scuba equipment, and interact with the underwater environment.
If you finish your first dive wanting to do it again, there’s a good chance you’re ready to consider an Open Water Course.
In fact, many certified divers around the world started exactly this way.
Ready to Start Diving in Malta?
Whether you’re looking to experience scuba diving for the first time or you’re ready to earn your first certification, every diver starts somewhere.
If you want to discover what it feels like to breathe underwater, our Try Dive in Malta is the perfect introduction to scuba diving.
If you’re ready to become a certified diver and explore the underwater world independently, our SSI and PADI Open Water Courses in Malta will give you the skills and certification you need to dive anywhere in the world.
Explore our diving experiences and start your underwater adventure today.
We’ll see you underwater.
