Course overview

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world's most popular scuba certification, qualifying you to dive independently with a buddy to 18m. Zanzibar is a good place to learn, with calm, warm water and the shallow reefs of Mnemba Atoll, where students routinely complete training dives among corals, reef fish and the occasional dolphin.

What you’ll learn

• Assemble, use and maintain scuba equipment
• Master more than 20 essential scuba skills
• Clear and remove the mask and recover the regulator
• Achieve neutral buoyancy and controlled ascents
• Plan dives and use tables or a computer
• Dive safely to a maximum of 18m with a buddy

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 10 (Junior Open Water Diver)
• Able to swim and be comfortable in water
• No prior diving experience required
• Medical questionnaire (physician sign-off if any condition applies)

What's included · What's not

Not included? Sort the rest of your trip

Flights and accommodation aren’t part of the course price, here’s how to book them around your dates.

Probability of sightings · month-by-month

What you're likely to see each month, based on historic operator logs.

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day1
   Theory & confined water

   Knowledge development and the first confined-water sessions mastering core skills in shallow water.
2. Day2
   First open-water dives

   Two training dives near Mnemba Atoll to around 12m, applying skills on a real reef.
3. Day3
   Final dives & certification

   Two further dives to a maximum of 18m on Mnemba or Tumbatu, completing the skills and final exam to certify.

Verified through iDive

Every partner school in the iDive network is vetted on safety, instructor credentials, equipment standards and student feedback. Talk to a iDive dive pro on WhatsApp for current availability and reviews specific to Zanzibar.

Frequently asked questions