Learn to Scuba dive in Melbourne with the Academy of Scuba Team.

Congratulations for looking into one of the best experiences you will ever have. The PADI Open Water diver course is the world’s most popular learn to scuba dive training program. Over 80% of scuba divers learn with PADI, and you’re likely to find our course one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences of your life! It’s your ticket to a lifetime of adventure. Imagine hovering weightless over colourful sponge gardens, swimming amongst schools of fish or exploring the wonders of mysterious shipwrecks. It’s all there just waiting for you! When you successfully complete the course, you’re awarded the PADI Open Water Diver certification. This international qualification is your ticket to scuba dive anywhere in the world. There is no expiry date for this certification – all you need do to remain qualified is to go scuba diving!

Why learn to scuba dive in Melbourne or Rye with the Academy of Scuba?

Padi Open Water Courses Starting Every Weekend.
Two stores gives you flexibility
Learn to dive in 2 weekends or over one weekend
Professional dive training, with the largest number of Instructors/Divemasters in Victoria
Fun, fun and more fun
All Open Water scuba training exceeds standards in safety
Four students to 1 Instructor ratio
Accommodation at our large Club house at Rye, whilst on course is available.
We put our diving instructors through rigorous internships before they teach courses.
A huge support network is offered after you learn to scuba dive so that you stay diving.
Only Scuba diving store with our own personal diving doctor as one of our key instructors
We are a Padi 5 Star Instructor Development Centre
A huge range of scuba equipment at both our stores.
Only Scuba diving store in Melbourne where you can get your diving Medical done!
We are passionate about our Scuba diving.

The PADI Open Water Diver certification allows you to dive to depths of 18 metres or less. If you want to go deeper, the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course can get you there – after you’ve finished your basic PADI Open Water Diver training, of course!

Learn to Scuba dive in Melbourne and dive anywhere in the world!

Like most people, you are probably unaware of the spectacular beauty of Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. Have a look though our gallery of dive sites to see just a snippit of what is out there. Melbourne divers come out as some of the best trained divers in the world. Conditions when learning to dive in temperate water are slightly more challenging than in the tropics. Don’t take this as a negative- this just makes you a better diver.

PADI Open Water Diver Course Schedule-

Our typical courses at Glen Iris are run over two consecutive weekends, with one day exploring the knowledge you need to go scuba diving, one day learning skills in a swimming pool, and two days diving in the ocean. If you find it hard to take 2 weekends off we have flexible schedules, mid week courses or you can arrange to have your own private instructor and do the course whenever you like.

We have broken our courses up slightly differently at our Rye facility. We cover exactly the same things as set out below but start our courses on a Friday night for theory, Saturday for your pool session and a shore dive and the Sunday for your last shore dive and 2 ocean dives. This means that you can learn to dive in one weekend. You also have access to our club house for accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights. It makes for a great weekend away and for a very convenient option to those who are short on time.

Part one- You’ll need to do a little home study prior to the first day of the course which is conducted at our shop in Glen Iris. This lets you get in the water and scuba dive sooner.

Part two- During the pool session you’ll learn and practice the skills you’ll need for open water. This is conducted in one of our local swimming pools in Ashburton. Breathing underwater is an experience like no other – your first breaths in the pool are something you’ll likely remember forever!

Then it’s down to the Mornington Peninsula for the city students. For all the next step is Scuba diving in the ocean! You’ll do two shore dives and two boat dives, exploring diverse marine environments and further developing your diving skills. Boat and Pier diving are both common styles of diving in Victoria. We teach you to be safe and confident diver and help you familiarise yourself with boat diving procedures. During these ocean dives you’ll see an amazing variety of aquatic creatures living amongst beautiful sponge gardens and rock formations. WARNING- The colours and beauty may take your breath away!

Part three- 2 shore dives will be conducted on the Saturday, Typically at Portsea Pier. The beauty of Melbourne's bay's is that if it is a bit windy on one side we can go to some other sites like Flinders Pier or Port Arlington. These sites go to around 5 metres in depth and give you a fantastic chance to practice and perfect your diving skills before going deeper the following day.

Part four- 2 boat dives are conducted the next day out to some of the beautiful marine national parks. Sites like Portsea Hole, Popes Eye, the Grotto and other reefs along the Lonsdale and Nepean walls are our favourites when it comes to training you and introducing you to what is in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay.

Getting Started with your PADI Open Water Diver Course-

You can begin learning to scuba dive today! All we need is $250 deposit to secure your place on any of our upcoming courses. Drop by Academy of Scuba to collect your Crew Pack, or book yourself online now, and you’ll be diving before you know it. We’ll even loan you a DVD to make your home study easier, or for just $20 you can have your very own copy. Watch the DVD, explore your Crew Pack, complete some simple Knowledge Reviews and you’re all set for the first day of your course!

What if I don’t like it? 100% Money Back Guarantee

If, after the pool day, you decide you do not like scuba diving and do not wish to continue, then we will fully refund your course. That’s confidence!

Equipment Requirements for Learning to Scuba dive-

For your comfort and hygiene we require you to have your own personal items - that is, your mask, snorkel, boots and fins. Masks especially need to fit your individual face shape correctly, otherwise they have a habit of filling up with water and spoiling your fun.
You will also need to get yourself a dive medical certificate before you start your training. This will need to be completed by a diving doctor. We can recommend an experienced scuba diving physician near you or you can get it done on Thursday nights in the shop with our own Diving Doctor. We are the only shop in Australia that offers this service. Please call to book your place, if Thursday won't do let us know and we can arrange another time to get the medical done, so we can get you into Melbourne's amazing dive spots.

PADI Open Water Diver Course Pricing-

Get Scuba Diving! - $599

In as little as 3 Days or two weekends of training, you can be qualified to start exploring the aquatic realms of any country in the world. This package is ideal if you’d like to get diving now, start doing Scuba dives to 18 metres or less, and then expand your dive skills and knowledge in the future. It includes the PADI Open Water Diver course, your own copy of PADI’s “Go Dive” manual, knowledge review sessions, pool and open water dives, use of modern scuba equipment, your own PADI Diver’s Log Book and the PADI Recreational Dive Planner.

Adventure Package - $999 ( Open Water and Advanced Course)

As with most adventures, in diving a little extra training goes a long way… all the way to 30 metres below the surface for starters! This package includes everything in the “Get Scuba Diving” package, plus your Advanced Course – Deep Diver, Underwater Navigator, Night, Peak performance and Wreck Dive are the 5 dives you will do. You’ll have loads of fun with your new dive buddies, learn and practice skills to make you a more proficient and safer diver, receive your own copy of PADI’s “Adventures in Diving” manual, and with 9 dives, you’ll start to really see the fantastic and exciting places scuba diving can take you. This is a great Package as it saves you $ 75 on your Advanced Course.

One on One - $1149

Time- It’s always in short supply, and many people who’d love to get diving just can’t find two consecutive weekends to do so. If this sounds like you, a one-on-one package might suit. It’s the same as our “Get Scuba Diving” package, but it’s just you and your personal diving instructor, at any times you choose. Whether it is knowledge reviews and pool dives at night, ocean dives during the week, or even four days straight training, it’s entirely up to you, although courses must be completed within the same time frame!

PADI Open Water Diver Course Prerequisites:

To show that your are comfortable in the water we go through a couple of basic swimming skills at the beginning of your pool session. Talk to us if you are not a confident swimmer and we can get you started in your Scuba diving adventures through one of our other programs.

Minimum ages-
12 years old for obtaining a PADI junior open water certification (restrictions include being only able to dive to 12m depth and must be supervised by an adult qualified diver)
15 years of age to obtain your full PADI open water diver certification

You will also have to be cleared for diving by a certified diving doctor. You can get this at the Shop with our in house Diving Doctor.

If you have any more questions view our Frequently Asked Questions here