Dive Courses

If you're in the Galapagos you've got to dive!

PADI Dive Courses in Galapagos

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.

PADI Open Water (OWC)

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

PADI Advanced Open Water

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.

PADI DiveMaster

Internship 6 – 8 weeks

What will you learn?

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 role and characteristics of the PADI DiveMaster
  • Supervising dive activities and assisting with student divers
  • Diver safety and risk management
  • Business of diving and your career
  • Awareness of the dive environment
  • Dive setup and management
  • Conducting dive briefings
  • Organizing a search and recovery project and a deep dive
  • Conducting a scuba review and skin diver course
  • Assisting with Discover Scuba Diving and leading Discover Local Diving programs
What is included in the Program?
  • Teaching and instruction by PADI dive Instructors
  • Some dive equipment (though we do recommend as future PADI professionals to buy your own set of gear) Wetsuits, boots, fins and mask will not be included. Each student is required to bring their own. Please ask us for recommendations on wetsuits and the thickness you will require. BCD and regulators can be provided.
  • After completing the DiveMaster course (usually in the first 3 weeks), you will be able to join, from 2 days per week, fun dives. The number of days diving always depends on customer numbers, their experience and your abilities
  • Light breakfast and lunches included on days you will be diving
  • Extra PADI materials (Instructor Manual, RDP table and eRDPML, Encyclopedia, DiveMaster slates)
What is not included in the Program?
  • PADI DiveMaster e-learning – this will need to purchased by the student (approx $232USD)
  • PADI DiveMaster certification – this will need to be paid by the student on completion of the course directly to PADI (approx $130USD)
  • Housing – we will help to organise economic housing once the student arrives to Galapagos (approx $200-250 per month)
  • Wetsuit, fins, boots and mask – each student will need to bring their own
The PADI requirements are:
  • At least 18 years of age and have Rescue certification and at least 40 logged dives.
  • You will need to finish the course with at least 60 logged dives.Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.
  • A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months.

The course involves theory, skills practice, assisting the instructor with courses and Discovery dives, basic equipment service and repair and guiding practice.

Academy Bay Diving requirements
  • you like working as part of a team
  • you have an open mind and are ready to learn
  • you love diving and want more of it!
Your responsibilities during the Program

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:

  • customer service
  • helping with sales
  • cleaning and organising equipment
  • assisting Instructors with coursework and students
  • assisting with equipment services and cleaning
  • general administration duties

Note that qualifying certifications from other diver training organization may apply – ask your PADI Instructor.

In return for all of your hard work

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.

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