Open Water - Full Course
*see referrals or Junior Divers below

We specialize in certifying divers in four days.

DAY 1: Meet at 10AM for a day of videos, dive table instruction, and quizzes. If possible, it's helpful to pick up a book the evening before class starts.

DAY 2: Start diving! Meet at 8:30AM, get fitted for your equipment (included in the course), and spend about an hour reviewing the equipment and skills. Then, we'll get in a boat and head to the reef where we'll practice skills in shallow water (7ft/2m), before taking our first Open Water dive in a little deeper water (24ft/8m). We'll explore the shallow reefs and find little creatures such as Arrow Crabs and Pederson Shrimps. We'll return to the shop around 2PM. If you didn't finish the evening before, we'll meet in the afternoon to wrap up the classroom exercises. This is an excellent day for a friend to join you as a Refresher or Discover Scuba.

DAY 3: Meet at 8:30AM and begin to explore deeper waters. Open Water Dives 2 and 3 will generally be "outside the reef" where the "real dives" take place. We will dive to 40ft/12m. We'll snorkel at the surface interval. These dives are generally at Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker. We'll return around 2PM.

DAY 4: Meet at 8:30AM and finish your last Open Water Dive 4, generally at Caye Chapel, in 60ft/18m. Then, after a snorkeling surface interval, you'll take your next "extra" dive as a certified diver! We return around 2PM. You also have the option of doing your last open water dives in Hol Chan for and extra US$10 if there is a planned trip already.

*Certified friends may enjoy diving with you. In Days 3 and 4 we do a few skills at the beginning of the dive, but spend the majority of the time exploring the reef. The cost for the diver depends upon the location - generally Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker or Caye Chapel. Day 2 is best for a refresher.

Maximum # of Students per instructor: 6, usually less.

Dives included: 6.

Includes: Equipment, Frenchie's Log Book, PADI Openwater Diver manual and dive tables, and a PADI certification card good for life.

Cost: $700 Belize/ $350 US.

*Junior Open Water Divers. Divers 10-14 years of age are classified as Junior Open Water Divers. The course and requirements are the same, except for: 10- and 11-year old divers will dive to a maximum of 40ft/12m; and for any diver under the age of 12, Frenchie's requires a parent to dive with the student. Once certified, the Junior Diver receives a Junior Open Water certification card that may be upgraded to an Open Water Diver card when the diver turns 15 (this does not require any additional course work; the student must arrange for an instructor to resubmit the application form). A certified Junior Open Water Diver must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or PADI professional.

Referrals
*full course see above

Referrals are for students who complete their pool work and course work prior to coming to Caye Caulker, and then, complete their certification with us in 4 Open Water Dives.

DAY 1: Meet at 9AM and get fitted for your equipment (included in the course). Spend some time reviewing what you have already learned. Generally, we do Open Waters 1 & 2 in a "real dive spot" such as Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker in 40ft/12m. You can snorkel during surface interval. We return to the shop around 2PM.

DAY 2: Meet at 9AM and do Open Waters 3 & 4 in another "real dive spot" such as Caye Chapel in 60ft/18m. Snorkel during surface interval and return to the shop around 2PM.

*Certified friends may enjoy diving with you. We do a few skills at the beginning of our dives, but spend the majority of the time exploring the reef. The cost for the diver depends upon the location - generally Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker or Caye Chapel.

Maximum # of Students per instructor: 6, usually less.

Dives included: 4.

Includes: Equipment, Frenchie's Log Book, and a PADI certification card good for life.

Cost: $500 Belize/ $250 US.

E-Learning

Start your Open Water Course at home on the PADI website by completing the written portion and then do your dives while on vacation.

Day 1: Meet at the dive shop at 8:30am to go over the paperwork and to ensure that you have completed all quizzes and exams. Spend about 1hr discussing scuba skills with a Frenchie's open water instructor and then take a 5 minute boat ride to the "Swimming Pool" to practice these skills. Return to the shop by 2pm.

Day 2: Meet at the dive shop at 8:30am to set up scuba gear and discuss required skills to be practiced on this day. Then we travel for 10 minutes to Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker and do 2 dives to a depth of 40ft/12m. You will spend a few minutes on each dive practicing the scuba excercises then the remainder of your bottom time will be spent diving around and putting your dive skills to the test. Return to shop by 2pm.

Day 3: Meet at the dive shop at 8:30am to set up your scuba gear and discuss skills to be practiced. The location on day 3 varies between Local Reef and Hol Chan (extra $10US for Hol Chan park entrance fee). You will again do 2 dives and spend the first 5 to 10 minutes practicing and mastering some scuba excercises then spend the remainder of the bottom time exploring a portion of the Belize barrier reef.

*Certified friends may enjoy diving with you. We do a few skills at the beginning of our dives, but spend the majority of the time exploring the reef. The cost for the diver depends upon the location - generally Frenchie's Holes North Caye Caulker or Caye Chapel.

Maximum # of Students per instructor: 6, usually less.

Dives included: 6.

Includes: Equipment, Frenchie's Log Book, and a PADI certification card good for life.

Cost: $640BZD/ $320USD