How Do I Get Scuba Certified?

This is hands down the question I get asked the most when I’m out and about talking scuba.

“What do I actually need to do to get certified?”

The good news: it’s probably simpler than you think.

This is the official Dive With Frank guide to earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification, written by a real human who teaches real people how to dive every year.

If you want the deeper “why” behind how my classes are paced and why I teach the way I teach, check out How I Teach.

First, a little reassurance

You don’t need to be:

  • Super athletic
  • Fearless
  • Young
  • Or “a water person”

You just need to be curious and willing to learn.

Scuba certification isn’t about toughness. It’s about comfort, control, and understanding what you’re doing underwater.

Everything builds step by step, at a pace that makes sense.

The Big Picture (The Simple Version)

Every Open Water certification has three parts:

  1. Learning the basics (how diving works and how to do it safely)
  2. Practicing skills in a pool (where everything is calm and controlled)
  3. Demonstrating those skills in open water (quarry or ocean)

That’s it. No mystery. No shortcuts.

How It Works With Dive With Frank

Dive With Frank teaches scuba in a way that’s flexible, supportive, and human.

No factory classes. No rushed weekends. No “keep up or get left behind” energy.

You’ll learn:

  • Why things work the way they do underwater
  • How to assemble and use your gear correctly
  • How to stay calm, comfortable, and in control

And yes, we start from the beginning. Always.

Not Sure Yet? Try Scuba First (Optional)

If you’re curious but not ready to commit, you can start with a Discover Scuba Diving experience.

This is a low-pressure pool session where you:

  • Learn a few basic safety concepts
  • Put on real scuba gear
  • Try breathing underwater

No certification. No obligation. Just a chance to see how it feels.

It’s how I started.

Open Water Certification: The Three Parts

1. Knowledge Development

This is where you learn how scuba works and how to dive safely.

Most students complete this through PADI’s eLearning system, which allows you to study at your own pace, on your own schedule.

While most students choose eLearning for flexibility, in-person knowledge development with Dive With Frank is always an option if that’s a better fit for how you learn.

Access to eLearning is coordinated as part of your course enrollment so everything stays aligned from the start.

We’ll still review key safety concepts together to make sure everything clicks.

2. Confined Water (Pool Training)

This is where the fun really starts.

You’ll practice scuba skills in a pool environment where you can focus on comfort, buoyancy, and control without any pressure.

We take our time here. Skills are practiced until they feel natural, not just “checked off.”

3. Open Water Checkout Dives

This is where you demonstrate your skills in a real body of water, like a quarry or the ocean.

There are four checkout dives, usually completed over two days.

Many students choose to do these locally. Others head somewhere warmer. Both are totally valid options.

What Gear Do I Need?

You don’t need to buy a full scuba kit to get certified.

You do need personal gear that fits you properly:

  • Mask
  • Snorkel
  • Fins
  • Boots

These items matter because comfort matters. Poorly fitting gear turns learning into frustration fast.

I’m happy to help guide gear choices and strongly encourage supporting a local dive shop for proper fitting.

What Happens After You’re Certified?

You dive.

Often. Comfort builds with repetition.

As a newly certified Open Water Diver, you’re qualified to dive to 60 feet, within your training limits.

Diving isn’t a sprint. It’s a long, enjoyable learning curve.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to start, or just want to talk it through, here’s what to do next:

If you’re curious, nervous, excited, or all three, you’re in the right place.

See you in the water.