This course is a subset of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you’re short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be right for you. At ABC Diving your instructor will be a recognised PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with at least 500 dives experience in Maltese waters. You will be in safe hands.
PADI Scuba Diver Course Overview
An intermediate step for earning an Open Water Diver certification.
The PADI Scuba Diver course is a subset of the PADI Open Water Diver course. If you’re short on time but really want to become a diver, the PADI Scuba Diver rating might be right for you -particularly if you expect to go scuba diving primarily with a dive guide. This course is an intermediate step for earning an Open Water Diver certification if that’s your ultimate goal.
PADI Scuba Divers are qualified to:
Dive under the direct supervision of a PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet.
Obtain air fills, rent, or purchase scuba equipment and participate in dive activities as long as properly supervised.
Continue dive training by completing the PADI Open Water Diver certification.

To enrol in a PADI Scuba Diver course (or Junior Scuba Diver course):
- You must be 10 years old or older.
- You need adequate swimming skill.
- You need to be in good physical health.
- No prior experience with scuba diving is required.
To complete the academic studies through the eLearning product, we estimate 6 hours of independent study.
The duration of the three course options ranges between one and a half days and two days. A full day is 8 hours on average.
You learn to use scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, dive computer and a cylinder. All required equipment for your course is supplied by ABC Diving.
The total, fully inclusive cost of the PADI Scuba Diver starts at €330.00 with our ‘budget’ option. Our ‘Standard’ option is €380.00 and our ‘Bespoke’ option is €790.00.
This includes:
- All dive equipment needed for the completion of your course
- PADI eLearning educational materials
- Certification cost
PADI Scuba diver course - THE LEARNING PATH
This is what it’s all about – diving. You’ll develop basic scuba skills in a pool or in confined water – a body of water with pool-like conditions, such as off a calm beach. The basic scuba skills you learn during your certification course will help you become familiar with your scuba gear and become an underwater explorer. Some of the essential skills you learn include:
- Setting up your scuba gear.
- How to get water out of your mask.
- Entering and exiting the water.
- Buoyancy control.
- Safety procedures.
You’ll practise these skills with an instructor until you’re comfortable. When you’re ready, it’s time for your underwater adventure to begin at an open water dive site.
An insight into Open Water Dive 1:
- Descend with control and reference using a descent line or sloping bottom contour to a depth not greater than 12 metres/40 feet.
- Participate in a trim check.
- Clear a partially flooded mask.
- Recover and clear the regulator at depth.
- Explore the dive site.
- Signal whether remaining air supply is near designated caution zone, and/or indicate air supply in bar/psi.
- Stay close enough to make physical contact with buddy within two seconds.
- Ascend no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while maintaining buddy contact. Use the five-point method.
An insight into Open Water Dive 2:
- Descend using a descent line or sloping bottom contour for control and reference to a depth not greater than 12 metres/40 feet. Use the five-point method.
- Become neutrally buoyant by adjusting air in the BCD (or dry suit) with the low-pressure inflator.
- Clear a fully flooded mask.
- Perform each role: In a stationary position, one person signals “out of air” and secures and breathes from an alternate air source provided by another diver; the other diver provides the air source.
- Ascend properly using an alternate air source and establish positive buoyancy at the surface.
- Explore the dive site.
- Avoid contact with sensitive organisms and the bottom, and resecure any equipment that becomes loose.
- Stay close enough to make physical contact with buddy within two seconds.
- Indicate remaining air supply within 20 bar/300 psi without rechecking the SPG.
- Signal air remaining at intervals assigned during dive planning.
- Ascend no faster than 18 metres/60 feet per minute while maintaining buddy contact. Use the five-point method (unless ascending using the alternate air source ascent). Make a safety stop if feasible.
- Descent – A detailed look into your body position during the first stages of descent.
- Buddies execute a five-point descent. Concentrate on descending slowly and neutralising your buoyancy as needed during descent.
- Bubble check and acclimatisation below the surface (3-6 metres/10-20 feet recommended).
- Adjust for neutral buoyancy at depth determined by instructor.
- Demonstrate efficient fin kicks, using long, slow strokes and gliding after each kick.
- An introduction to the frog kick.
- Manoeuvre close to a nonliving portion of the bottom (rock, sand, etc.) without touching it and then back away using neutral buoyancy with hand or fin sculling.
Get to grips with the basic principles of scuba diving. You will cover the first three of the five sections of the Open Water Diver course.
Some of the topics you will cover include:
- The relationships between depth and pressure
- The effects of increasing pressure on body airspaces
- Equalisation
- Swimming and moving
- Breathing effectively underwater
- Pre-Dive preparation and gearing up
- Apparent size and distance
how the booking Process works
It's As Easy As ABC!
1. Complete the form
Click ‘Request to book’ button and complete the booking request form. Only 1 form per group is required.
2. Booking approval
Within 3 working hours, your booking request will either be approved or an alternate date suggested.
3. Pack your towel!
Once the booking is approved, a payment request is sent to you. Upon payment, your booking is confirmed.
Choose your course option
Bespoke, Standard or Budget?
Bespoke
€790
- Private Tuition
- 2 Day Dive Course
- 3 Confined & 3 Open Water Dives
- Multilingual eLearning
- PADI Scuba Diver Certification
- Premium Dive Equipment Supplied
- You Choose the Days
- Private Transfer Service From Anywhere in Malta
- Student Dive Insurance Included
- Descent Workshop
- Buoyancy Workshop
- Efficient Finning Workshop
Standard
€380
- Class size up to 4
- 1 & 1/2 Day Dive Course
- 3 Confined & 2 Open Water Dives
- Multilingual eLearning
- PADI Scuba Diver Certification
- Premium Dive Equipment Supplied
- You Choose the Days
- Daily pick up/drop off service From Transport Zone*
- No Student Dive Insurance Included
- No Descent Workshop
- No Buoyancy Workshop
- No Efficient Finning Workshop
Budget
€330
- Class size up to 4
- 1 & 1/2 Day Dive Course
- 3 Confined & 2 Open Water Dives
- Multilingual eLearning
- PADI Scuba Diver Certification
- Premium Dive Equipment Supplied
- Set Schedule**
- No Daily pick up/drop off service From Transport Zone
- No Student Dive Insurance Included
- No Descent Workshop
- No Buoyancy Workshop
- No Efficient Finning Workshop
*View diver transport zone
** The budget course option has a class starting Tuesday & Friday of every week. Each class is conducted for consecutive days.
Course 1 = Tuesday (08:00 am – 17:30 pm) and Wednesday (08:00 am – 13:30 pm).
Course 2 = Friday (08:00 am – 17:30 pm) and Saturday (08:00 am – 13:30 pm).
More Courses
You might also be interested in these courses
Open Water Diver Course
The world’s most popular and widely recognised scuba course.
Open Water + Advanced Open Water Combo
Course combos give you more training and experience while making a financial saving.