3 Easy Steps

Once you successfully complete both phases of your course, you will be a certified Open Water diver.

Please contact us at the shop if you would like to discuss the training process. Sometimes a quick conversation can be worth many pages of reading. Call us at: 703-698-7220

Step 1 - Home Study - Students will use self-study materials as the knowledge base for classroom experience

On your schedule; read the text, watch the video and test your knowledge. You choose how you would like to receive your study materials, Online or Tradional Book and DVD.

For online materials, simply log onto PADI through "The" Dive Shop portal and access the learning materials. All video clips and knowledge testing components are available on your schedule.

Book and DVD materials available at "The" Dive Shop to take home for study and knowledge development.

Regardless of which study material option you choose, after reading the chapters, completing the reviews and watching the video, the final knowledge review and testing is done in the classroom.

Step 2 - Classroom & Pool - Combined Classroom and Pool training, where you will learn the theory and practice of scuba diving.

The first classroom session covers equipment orientation, fitting and assembly along with finalizing paperwork for enrollment. Each classroom  segment reviews the main concepts of diving as covered in the study materials. If students demonstrate they fully comprehend the concepts introduced in the study materials, the instructor will move on to the next topic. "The" Dive Shop values our students' time. We do not regurgitate what is covered in the study materials. We will however delve into a bit more detail and elaborate on topics.

A pool segment, where students apply the classroom material follows most classroom sessions. This is where the actual diving begins. During the pool dives, you have plenty of time to become comfortable with your skills and the equipment.

Classroom & Pool Group Schedule:

Group classes meet twice a week for two weeks. We offer 2 group class formats: Tuesday / Thursday evenings Weekend evenings For students who want or need more individualized training, we offer Private Instruction with very flexible scheduling. Find out more...

Step 3 - Open Water Dives

After learning the skills in a confined environment, our instructors take you on a minimum of 4 Open Water dives to review the skills and explore a larger body of water. The Open Water dives are conduced over 2 days with no more than 3 training dives in a day. The local and convenient location for your certification dives is at Millbrook Quarry in Haymarket, only 40 minutes from "The" Dive Shop. Additional locations are available every few months, including Lake Rawlings, Dutch Springs, Ginnie Springs, Bonaire and other group travel destinations.

Occasionally, students prefer to do their open water training dives at a remote site, as a part of their vacation plans. The system that is used to facilitate this procedure is called an open water referral. We can help you with open water referrals. Please let us know if you would like to utilize this option.