If you’re dreaming of breathing underwater and exploring Tenerife’s volcanic seascapes, the Open Water course is the certification that makes it real. It’s the world’s most recognized beginner scuba program: you start with zero experience, and you finish as a certified diver able to plan dives and dive with a buddy in open water (within training limits).
At Barbarian Diving Tenerife (Los Cristianos), we run the Open Water course with a simple goal: make you a confident, calm diver, not just someone who “passed.”
Below is a complete, transparent guide to the Open Water program: what’s included, what you’ll learn, how long it takes, and what your day by day schedule looks like in Tenerife.
Table of Contents
What Is the Open Water Certification?
The Open Water certification is your first full diver level. It teaches:
- Core safety principles (gas management, buddy checks, depth/time awareness)
- Basic equipment mastery (mask, regulator, buoyancy control device, fins)
- Underwater skills you’ll use on every dive
- Real open-water dives with an instructor until you’re ready
Most agencies align entry level training with international recreational diver standards (commonly referenced via ISO levels).
Open Water Course Structure (SSI Standard Overview)
An SSI Open Water Diver course typically includes:
- 6 academic sessions
- 6 confined/pool sessions (skill-building in controlled conditions)
- 5 open water sessions (training dives)
- Maximum training depth: 18 m / 60 ft
- Suggested total duration: 16–32 hours
SSI standards also define key training parameters such as minimum age (commonly 10+) and minimum total bottom time requirements for open water training.
And to keep training safe and effective, SSI standards place limits on how training dives are scheduled (e.g., max training dives per day).
What You’ll Learn (The Real Skills That Make You a Diver)
1) Knowledge Development (Theory)
You’ll learn the “why” behind safe diving, including:
- Pressure & equalization
- Air consumption basics
- No-decompression limits
- Hand signals & buddy procedures
- How to plan a safe beginner dive
3Learning safe diving practices recommended by Divers Alert Network (DAN Europe) help reduce risks and improve diver awareness.
2) Confined Water Training (Skill Building)
This is where you become comfortable with:
- Mask clearing (and mask removal/replace)
- Regulator recovery + breathing control
- Buoyancy fundamentals (the skill that makes diving feel effortless)
- Controlled descents/ascents and safety stops
- Emergency basics (sharing air, responding calmly)
3) Open Water Dives (Real Ocean Training in Tenerife)
You’ll apply everything in the sea through 5 training dives.
These are not “tourist dives”,they’re structured sessions where you demonstrate skills in real conditions, with an instructor watching, coaching, and building your confidence.
Day-by-Day Open Water Program Tenerife (Barbarian Diving Style)
Every student learns differently, but this is a common, proven flow for Tenerife (weather and sea conditions always guide the final plan):
Day 1 — Setup + Confined Water Skills
- Equipment fitting + orientation
- SSI theory check-in (or eLearning review)
- Confined water skills: breathing, mask skills, regulator skills, buoyancy basics
- End-of-day recap and next-day briefing
Goal: You feel comfortable and in control, no rushing.
Day 2 — Confined Water Progression + First Open Water Dive(s)
- Confined water: refine buoyancy + core safety drills
- First open water dive (and possibly a second, depending on pace)
- Debrief: what went well + what we’ll polish tomorrow
Goal: First ocean dives feel calm, not stressful.
Day 3 — Open Water Dives + Certification Skills
- Remaining open-water dives (as needed)
- Skills evaluation (the “checklist” is real, but we teach beyond it)
- Celebration dive energy: relaxed exploration after the work is done
Goal: You’re ready to dive as a certified Open Water Diver (within training limits).
Note: SSI training standards include guidance on dive scheduling (e.g., daily limits).
Why Tenerife Is a Great Place to Learn (Especially in the South)
Tenerife is one of Europe’s best places to learn because you get:
- Year-round diving
- Volcanic reefs, sandy areas, and excellent marine life
- Many sheltered sites in the south (ideal for training days)
Learning in real ocean conditions (not just a pool) helps your buoyancy and confidence develop faster.
Common Beginner Worries (And the Truth)
“I’m nervous about breathing underwater.”
Normal. We build comfort step by step in confined water first, then the ocean. The goal is calm control, not bravery.
“What if I can’t equalize?”
We teach equalization early, gently, and proactively. If you need extra time, you get it.
“Do I need to be super fit?”
You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable in water and able to follow instructions. Course prerequisites include minimum age and general training readiness per agency standards.
What Certification Do You Get?
After successful completion, you earn your Open Water Diver certification, recognized globally (agency-specific card). SSI Open Water Diver training limits are commonly set at 18 m / 60 ft for training depth.
FAQ
How many dives is the Open Water course?
SSI Open Water Diver includes 5 open water dives as part of the program.
How long does the course take?
SSI lists a suggested duration of 16–32 hours, typically delivered over several days depending on schedule and learning pace.
What’s the maximum depth?
SSI Open Water Diver maximum training depth is 18 meters / 60 feet.
Ready to Start Your Open Water Course in Tenerife?
f you’re visiting Tenerife and want to learn properly with small groups, calm coaching, and ocean ready skills, we’ll guide you from your first breath to your first certified dives.
Barbarian Diving Tenerife (Los Cristianos)
Open Water course • Try Scuba • Fun diving • Boat dives
