PADI Open Water Course Bali – Learn to Dive in 3 Days
The world’s most recognised scuba certification – taught in small groups by expert instructors at Bali’s top dive sites.
What Is the PADI Open Water Diver Course?
The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world’s most popular scuba diving certification, recognised by dive centers in every country. On completion, you are qualified to dive independently with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 metres – anywhere in the world, for life.
The course combines three phases: PADI eLearning online theory, confined water skills training in a pool, and four open water dives at Bali’s top dive sites. No prior diving experience is required. If you can swim and are in good general health, you can take this course.
At Bali Aqua, the standard course takes 3 days and includes your eLearning, pool sessions, equipment, certification fees, transport, and lunch. Open water dives take place at Padang Bai and Tulamben – with an optional upgrade to Nusa Penida to dive with manta rays on Day 3.
Why Take Your PADI Open Water Course in Bali with Bali Aqua?
- PADI 5-Star Dive Center in Sanur since 2008 – over 15 years of experience teaching beginner divers in Bali’s waters, with a proven safety record and hundreds of certified divers every year
- Small groups, personal attention – maximum 4 students per instructor, typically 2. A Divemaster assistant joins when needed to ensure every student progresses at their own pace
- Multilingual instruction – courses taught in English, French, and Indonesian. PADI eLearning materials available in multiple languages
- Bali’s best training dive sites – your open water dives take place at Padang Bai’s Blue Lagoon and the famous USAT Liberty Wreck in Tulamben – iconic sites that beginner divers remember for life
- Unique Nusa Penida upgrade – replace your Day 3 dives with 3 dives at Nusa Penida including Manta Point – one of the world’s most famous dive sites, accessible directly from your Open Water course
- Flexible scheduling – courses run daily and can start any day. Short notice bookings welcome – begin your PADI eLearning immediately after booking
- Everything included – eLearning, pool sessions, full equipment, PADI certification, transport, lunch, and towel. No hidden costs
PADI Open Water Course Structure – 3 Steps to Certification
Step 1 – Knowledge Development & PADI eLearning
Before arriving in Bali, you will complete your PADI eLearning online – a series of five knowledge development modules covering dive theory, equipment, safety procedures, and underwater skills. The eLearning takes approximately 8 to 10 hours and can be completed at your own pace from home, your hotel, or anywhere with an internet connection.
We recommend completing the eLearning before you arrive in Bali so that Day 1 is spent entirely in the water. If you have a last-minute booking, start immediately after confirming – our team will send you the eLearning access link with your booking confirmation. On Day 1, your instructor will conduct a quick knowledge review with you before the pool session.
Step 2 – Confined Water Training (Pool Sessions)
On Day 1, after your knowledge review, you move to the pool for your confined water training. In a calm, controlled environment just steps from our Sanur dive center, your instructor will guide you through five pool sessions covering all essential scuba skills – breathing underwater, buoyancy control, mask clearing, regulator recovery, emergency procedures, and more.
There is no rush. Every student progresses at their own pace. If you need more time on any skill, your instructor adapts accordingly. By the end of Day 1, you will feel comfortable and confident with your equipment – ready for the ocean.
Step 3 – Open Water Dives in Bali
Days 2 and 3 are spent diving at Bali’s most iconic sites. You will complete four open water dives across two days, applying the skills learned in the pool while exploring vibrant coral reefs, marine life, and underwater landscapes. Each dive is conducted under the direct supervision of your PADI Instructor.
Standard schedule: Day 2 at Padang Bai – two boat dives at Blue Lagoon and surrounding reefs. Day 3 at Tulamben – two shore dives including the famous USAT Liberty Wreck. Optional upgrade: replace Day 3 with 3 dives at Nusa Penida including Manta Point – making your total 5 open water dives for the same certification.
Your 3-Day PADI Open Water Course Schedule in Bali
All Bali Aqua Open Water courses are run on a 3-day schedule with PADI eLearning completed before Day 1. Hotel pickup is included from Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Nusa Dua, and Denpasar, other areas with small additional fee.
Day 1 – Theory Review & Pool Training
- Hotel pickup and transfer to Sanur dive center
- eLearning knowledge review with your instructor
- Final exam
- Five confined water pool sessions
- Equipment fitting and familiarisation
- Skills practice – buoyancy, mask clearing, emergency procedures
- Return transfer to hotel
Day 2 – Open Water Dives 1 & 2 – Padang Bai
- Early hotel pickup – approx. 1 hour transfer to Padang Bai
- Dive 1 – Blue Lagoon: coral gardens, reef fish, turtles
- Surface interval with snacks on the boat
- Dive 2 – Blue Lagoon or Jepun Reef: continued skills and exploration
- Lunch at beachfront warung
- Return transfer to hotel
Day 3 – Open Water Dives 3 & 4 – Tulamben
- Early hotel pickup – approx. 2 hour transfer to Tulamben
- Dive 3 – USAT Liberty Wreck: shore dive, marine life, coral
- Lunch at local warung
- Dive 4 – Liberty Wreck or Coral Garden: final skills sign-off
- PADI certification confirmed on completion
- Return transfer to hotel
Day 3 – Optional Upgrade – Nusa Penida & Manta Point
- Early hotel pickup – speedboat transfer to Nusa Penida
- Dive 3 – Manta Point: encounter manta rays at their cleaning station
- Surface interval – refreshments on board
- Dive 4 – Crystal Bay or PED/SD: coral reef exploration
- Lunch at dive center
- Dive 5 – North coast drift dive
- PADI certification confirmed on completion
- Return speedboat to Bali – transfer to hotel
Upgrade fee: 1,200,000 IDR per person
Dive site order may vary depending on conditions. Your instructor will always select the safest and most suitable sites for your group on the day.
When booking the Nusa Penida upgrade for Day 3, you can choose your Day 2 destination – Padang Bai (Blue Lagoon, shorter transfer from Sanur) or Tulamben (USAT Liberty Wreck, approx. 2-hour transfer). Our team will ask your preference at booking. Both options offer exceptional diving – the choice is yours.
What You Will Learn on the PADI Open Water Course
The PADI Open Water Diver course covers all the essential skills and knowledge needed to dive safely and independently anywhere in the world:
- Buoyancy control – master neutral buoyancy for effortless, relaxed underwater movement
- Dive equipment – learn to set up, use, and maintain BCDs, regulators, masks, fins, and dive computers
- Underwater communication – hand signals, buddy system, and dive planning protocols
- Safety procedures – emergency ascents, air sharing, controlled breathing, and dive table basics
- Dive planning – how to plan safe dives within no-decompression limits with a buddy
- Environmental awareness – reef etiquette, marine life interaction, and responsible diving
PADI Open Water Course Price & Options in Bali
Choose the option that best fits your time in Bali and your diving ambitions. All options include eLearning, pool sessions, full equipment, PADI certification, transport, and lunch. No hidden costs.
PADI Open Water Diver in Bali
- eLearning online – complete before arrival
- 1 day pool training in Sanur
- 2 dives at Padang Bai – Blue Lagoon
- 2 dives at Tulamben – USAT Liberty Wreck
- Hotel pickup and return
- Lunch and refreshments
- Full equipment rental
- PADI certification and logbook
- DAN dive insurance
7,200,000 IDR
4 dives | 3 days
PADI Open Water Diver – Nusa Penida Option
- eLearning online – complete before arrival
- 1 day pool training in Sanur
- 2 dives at Padang Bai or Tulamben (your choice)
- 3 dives at Nusa Penida – Manta Point, Crystal Bay & drift dive
- Hotel pickup and return
- Lunch and refreshments
- Full equipment rental
- PADI certification and logbook
- DAN dive insurance
8,400,000 IDR
5 dives | 3 days
Save With the Open Water + Advanced Open Water Combo
Planning to continue your diving education? Book both courses together and save. The combo covers 9 dives over 5 days across Padang Bai, Tulamben, and optionally Nusa Penida.
- OW + AOW combo – Padang Bai & Tulamben – 12,000,000 IDR (9 dives)
- OW + AOW combo + Nusa Penida – includes Penida during AOW – 13,000,000 IDR (9 dives)
Full combo details and inclusions are available on our diving prices page.
PADI Open Water Course Prerequisites & Requirements
The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed for complete beginners. The requirements are straightforward – most healthy people who are comfortable in water qualify immediately.
- Minimum age – 10 years old for Junior Open Water Diver (max depth 12m, supervised). Full Open Water Diver certification from age 15 (max depth 18m, independent)
- Swimming ability – ability to swim 200 metres continuously at your own pace, and float or tread water for 10 minutes. No time limit, no specific stroke required
- Health – complete a standard PADI medical questionnaire before the course. If you answer yes to any medical question, a doctor’s clearance is required before diving
- eLearning – complete all five PADI eLearning modules before Day 1. Access is sent immediately after booking confirmation
- No prior diving experience required – this course is designed for absolute beginners
Common conditions that require medical clearance include asthma, heart conditions, epilepsy, recent surgery, ear or sinus problems, and pregnancy. If in doubt, consult your doctor before booking. Our team is happy to advise – contact us with any questions.
Divers aged 10–11 receive the Junior Open Water Diver certification, valid to 12 metres when diving with a certified adult. This upgrades automatically to full Open Water certification at age 15.
What's Included in Your PADI Open Water Course
- PADI eLearning – full online theory course, sent immediately after booking. Complete at home before arrival
- Pool sessions – five confined water training sessions in Sanur with your PADI Instructor
- Open water dives – 4 dives standard (5 with Nusa Penida upgrade) at Bali’s top dive sites
- Full equipment rental – BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, dive computer, fins, tank, and weights throughout the course
- PADI certification – official worldwide recognised digital certification card issued on completion
- Dive logbook – your personal record of all dives completed during the course
- Hotel pickup and return – included from Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Nusa Dua, and Denpasar. Small additional fee for other areas
- Land and sea transport – private air-conditioned vehicle to all dive sites
- Lunch and refreshments – lunch, mineral water, and snacks on all dive days
- Towel – fresh towel provided daily
- DAN dive insurance – dive accident insurance coverage for the duration of the course
- Government tax and entry fees – all site access fees and local taxes included
Not included: personal expenses, beverages at restaurant, private instructor, underwater camera rental (400,000 IDR/day).
Frequently Asked Questions – PADI Open Water Course Bali
Yes. With PADI eLearning completed before arrival, the course runs over 3 days – Day 1 pool training, Day 2 two open water dives at Padang Bai, Day 3 two open water dives at Tulamben. On completion of Day 3 your certification is confirmed immediately. We strongly recommend completing all five eLearning modules before arriving in Bali – your access link is sent immediately after booking confirmation.
No prior experience is required. The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed specifically for complete beginners. You will learn everything you need from scratch – from setting up your equipment to planning and executing safe dives independently.
The minimum age is 10 years old. Divers aged 10 and 11 receive the Junior Open Water Diver certification valid to a maximum depth of 12 metres when diving with a certified adult. Divers aged 12 to 14 receive the Junior Open Water Diver certification valid to 18 metres with a certified adult. Full Open Water certification with standard independent diving privileges is issued from age 15.
You do not need to be a strong swimmer. You must be able to swim 200 metres continuously at your own pace – any stroke, no time limit – and float or tread water for 10 minutes. These are basic water comfort requirements, not performance tests. If you are unsure, contact us before booking and we will advise you.
The Nusa Penida upgrade replaces your standard Day 3 dives with 3 dives at Nusa Penida – including Manta Point, one of Bali’s most famous dive sites. When choosing the Nusa Penida upgrade, you select either Padang Bai or Tulamben for Day 2 – many students choose Tulamben to dive the USAT Liberty Wreck during their course. The upgrade costs an additional 1,200,000 IDR and includes a speedboat transfer to Nusa Penida. It is one of our most popular options – booking in advance is recommended.
Standard open water dives take place at two of Bali’s most iconic sites. Day 2 dives are at Padang Bai – Blue Lagoon and surrounding reefs, known for calm conditions, vibrant coral, and diverse marine life ideal for beginners. Day 3 dives are at Tulamben – including the famous USAT Liberty Wreck, one of the world’s most accessible wreck dives starting at just 5 metres depth. The optional Nusa Penida upgrade replaces Day 3 with 3 dives at Nusa Penida including Manta Point.
Bali’s diving conditions are generally good year-round. If conditions at a specific site are unsuitable on your dive day, your instructor will select an alternative site with comparable conditions. In the rare event that diving is not possible due to extreme weather, we will reschedule your dives at no additional cost.
Most divers continue directly to the PADI Advanced Open Water course, which can begin the day after your Open Water certification. The Advanced course adds 5 adventure dives including deep diving to 30 metres and underwater navigation. You can also book the OW + AOW combo at a discounted rate before starting your Open Water course. After certification, you are also welcome to join our daily dive trips across Bali as a certified diver.
