No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water.  The swimming requirement for certification is an easy 200 meter nonstop swim (with no time limit or specific stroke requirement) and 10 minute tread/float.

If you don’t have the above mentioned skills, you can learn swimming or enhance your swimming skills through our SWIM TRAINING program to enroll for this course

The minimum age is 10 years old, Student divers who are younger than 15 years earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15 years old. Children under the age of 15 require parent or guardian permission to register for the Open Water Diver course.

There is no maximum age for you to become a certified diver as far as your medical conditions are acceptable

Yes, you can scuba dive if you smoke or vape. In fact, I know of many divers that do smoke at least semi-regularly. However, as you would imagine, there are additional risks. Furthermore, if you smoke or vape and want to dive, you should consult a doctor first.

The biggest challenge is the self-study, which can take a couple of days to couple of weeks, depending on how free you can be to complete the diving theory part. . However, the practical part of the course can completed within 3 days.  A confined pool dives which should take just one day (4 hours) if all skills passed, then 2 days (4-5 hours each) 

We will provide you with the all required equipment and basic gear for the course practical such as regulator set, BCD “Jacket” , Air Cylinders, weights, wetsuit, mask, fins, boots and snorkel.

However, many choose to purchase their own personal gear such as wetsuit, mask, fins and boots. Specially they are becoming certified divers and will intend to use these gear regularly.

Our instructor(s) will guide you while choosing your gear from a large variety of brands or options we have in Poseidon Dive Center that suit you.

Yes, you can wear soft contact lenses while diving and as an additional option we have masks that can have prescription lenses.

Not at all, in fact, it’s probably easier than you imagine – especially if you’re already comfortable in the water. PADI’s entry-level diver course is split into knowledge development, confined water (pool) skill training and four Scuba training dives.  The course is “performance-based,” which means that you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.

In the Scuba class, you will learn how to dive safely and correctly. Your diving certification is proof that you have taken and passed the Scuba course. 

Therefore, if you are planning a vacation trip with sea access. it’s a great idea to have a peak at the local dive sites as additional activity in your journey. 

The quickest way to describe the differences between these two certifications is that Scuba Diver is half of the Open Water diver course.

During your scuba diver course. You’ll do 2-3 confined dives according to the dive agency out of total 5 confined dives, and 2 open water dives out of 4.

The Major 2 differences are:

1. Scuba Diver certification allows you to dive up to 12m/40f only while as an Open Water Diver you’ll dive up to 18m/60f
2. As a scuba Diver you will only be able to dive under the supervision of a diving center’s professional(s) while as an Open Water Diver you will are eligible to dive with a dive buddy that has the same certification level of yours or higher.

The maximum depth for Scuba Diver is 12 meter and should dive only under the supervision of a dive center professional(s).

It’s simple and easy and you can do it anytime. 

You’ll need to fulfill the below:

1. Complete the remaining confined water (pool) skill practice sessions.
2. Complete the remaining 2 out of 4 open water dives.
3. Complete two additional knowledge development modules, a quiz, and a final exam.
4. Additionally, complete a surface swim.

This all can be completed in 1-2 days

Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your ear drum.  In your Scuba course, our instructor(s) will demonstrate and teach you a simple technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane, and they won’t hurt at all.

No, the Scuba Diver Certificate does not have expiry date nor need to be renewed, however, you will need to keep diving very often to build up experience in diving and not to forget what you have learned during your course. or upgrade your certificate to Open Water Diver to get you into new level and depth of diving.

Since you are allowed to dive only under the supervision of a dive center’s professional(s). You can join Poseidon Dive Center Dive Club and have many privileges by becoming a member such as free dives under PDC’s professionals, for more information about our dive club CLICK HERE or simply book and join our usual weekends dives for fun under our supervision and guidance by PDC’s crew,

Or you can upgrade your Scuba diving education by enrolling directly for Open Water Course to upgrade your certificate level, dive deeper, learn more skills and many more.

Please feel free to call us or Whatsapp us at (+974) 6608 4040, or email us at info@pdcqatar.com and we will get back to you ASAP.