We offer 3 PADI dive courses. If you’re looking to experience your first breath underwater join our Open Water Diver (learn to scuba dive) course, or to extend your experience join our Advanced Open Water certification, or pass on your diving knowledge become a DiveMaster.
The OWC is the first of the open water dive courses designed to give the inexperienced person the skills and knowledge they need to start a hobby and passion under the water.
The course runs for a minimum of 3 days and covers theory, skills and fun diving to end with an international scuba diving certificate you can use anywhere around the world to a depth of 18 meters.
Day 1: Meet your instructor, theory, learn about equipment, pool skill session
Day 2: 2 Open water Dives up to 12 meters. Theory
Day 3: 2 Open water dives up to 18 meters. Theory & Exam
The advanced course is the follow on from the open water. This course aims to give you a little more knowledge and experience in different situations you might encounter underwater.
The course includes 5 different fun dives, 2 of which are set and compulsory, the other 3 can be chosen by you.
The deep dive to 30 meters and the navigation dives are mandatory, whilst in Galapagos we recommend you choose from drift dive, multi level dive, buoyancy dive, fish ID, photography or boat dive.
It is run over 2 days with 3 dives performed usually on the first day, and there is no exam, just chapter questions to complete and go over with your instructor.
Internship 6 – 8 weeks
The PADI DiveMaster course teaches you to be a leader and take charge of dive activities. Through knowledge development sessions, waterskills exercises and workshops, and hands-on practical assessment, you develop the skills to organize and direct a variety of scuba diving activities. Topics and practical workshops include:
The course involves theory, skills practice, assisting the instructor with courses and Discovery dives, basic equipment service and repair and guiding practice.
The dive master course will be completed in approximately 3 weeks. After this you will be an Academy Bay DiveMaster Intern.
During the course and the time after you will be required to work in the Academy Bay office helping with and learning all aspects of operating a busy dive business. A successful dive business is not all about the diving! Duties will include:
Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organization may apply – ask your PADI Instructor.
We at Academy Bay Diving, hope that you will take with you an in depth understanding of how a dive center operates, how to interact with, guide and assist fellow divers, life long friends, and of course the unforgettable experience of diving in the Galapagos Islands!
Please note that the maximum time any tourist can stay in the Galapagos Islands is 60 days per calendar year.