Open Water Course
A Comprehensive Look at Taking a PADI Open Water Scuba Diving
Class with Silent World Dive Center in Key Largo: A Customer’s
Perspective
Silent World Dive Center, located at 51 Garden Cove Dr., Key Largo, FL 33037, offers a PADI Open Water Diver course, the entry-level certification for scuba diving, allowing dives up to 60 feet under supervision.
My Decision to Dive
I’ve always been fascinated by the underwater world, but the idea of scuba diving seemed a bit intimidating. I could swim, but the thought of breathing underwater with all that gear was nerve-wracking. However, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for the PADI Open Water Diver course at Silent World Dive Center in Key Largo. It was the best decision I ever made! Located in the Northern part of the Florida Keys, Silent World is a
PADI 5-star dive center known for its professional instruction, great customer service, and commitment to safety. Their website, Padi Open Water Certification Course – Silent World, detailed a two-day course costing $650.00 + tax, this includes the PADI eLearning Code Fee, instructor fees, full scuba gear rental, as well as the PADI Processing fee. This seemed like a comprehensive package with no hidden fees besides tips for the crew, and I was eager to get started.
Preparation: Getting Ready for the Course
Before the course began, I had to complete the online PADI eLearning modules. These covered everything from the physics of diving to safety procedures and equipment usage. It was a lot of information, but the modules were well-structured and easy to follow. I spent about 8-10 hours over a weekend completing them, learning about buoyancy, decompression sickness, and how to assemble my gear. I also had to fill out a medical questionnaire to ensure I was fit to dive. I was a bit worried about some minor health issues, like occasional ear infections, but the staff at Silent World were very helpful and answered all my questions via email. Thankfully, I didn’t need to get a doctor’s approval, which was a relief. They informed me that if I had to get a doctor’s approval it was a pretty painless process of just going in for a quick dive physical that you can typically get at an Urgent Care. One thing that caught me off guard was the swim test requirement. From their website, I learned I had to swim 200 meters continuously without a mask, fins, or snorkel, and float for 10 minutes. I’m a decent swimmer, but 200 meters is quite a distance. I practiced in my local pool a few times to make sure I could do it, and it paid off during the course.
Confined Water Training: Building Confidence
The first day of the course we met at Silent World and went over all the paperwork with the girls in the shop, they were extremely well organized and made the process easy. After they handed me a quick review that hit some points that were learned in the E-Learning sections. After completing my quick review, I met my instructor, Killian, and the other students, all first- timers like me. Killian was incredibly patient and reassuring, which helped ease my nerves. He went over all the quick reviews and any questions or concerns we had about the material we had learned so far. Then we started to get fit for our dive gear and packed everything up in his car and he transported our gear to the second location. We then met at a separate site where we would do our confined water session for the day at a place called Jules Undersea Lodge, it was a marina that had a shallow swimming platform so we could perform our Confined Water Skills comfortably and safely. We started with a review of the equipment and how to assemble it. Then, we got into the water to practice essential skills:
- Mask Clearing: This was a bit tricky at first. I had to take off my mask, let water in, and then clear it by blowing air through my nose while looking up. It took a few tries, but I got the hang of it, and Killian was there to guide me.
- Regulator Recovery: This involved learning how to find and replace my regulator if it came out of my mouth underwater. It was important to stay calm and follow the steps, and Killian showed me how to do it slowly, building my confidence.
- Buoyancy Control: Using the buoyancy control device (BCD), I learned how to ascend, descend, and maintain a neutral buoyancy. This was crucial for comfortable diving, and I practiced hovering at a certain depth, which felt like flying.
- Underwater Communication: We practiced hand signals to communicate with each other and the instructor underwater, like “OK,” “up,” and “down.” It was fun to learn, and we laughed when one student accidentally signaled “go up” instead of “I’m ok.” In the form of a thumbs up.
There were also many other skills that we went over and demonstrated that are all needed to become a calm and capable certified diver. Throughout the session, Killian was there to correct any mistakes and make sure I was comfortable with each skill. By the end of the day, I felt much more confident about diving, though I was still a bit nervous but excited about the open water portion of the course.
Open Water Dives: Exploring Key Largo’s Depths
The next part was the open water dives. Over two days, I completed four dives at different sites around Key Largo, the first two open water dives were also located in Jules Undersea Lodge where we got to see the underwater hotel room that you can stay in. The next day we went out in the open ocean to complete our final two open water dives using Silent World’s fleet, including their new 40′ catamaran, the Siren, which was spacious and stable.
Dive 1: Horseshoe Reef
Our first site, Horseshoe Reef, our Captain informed us it was named because from the sky it was loosely shaped like a horseshoe. The water was clear and calm, you could see the boulder corals and Sea fans from the surface as well as different tropical fish hiding under the boat. During this dive, we practiced the skills we learned in the confined water session, like mask clearing and buoyancy control, in a real-world setting. It was a bit overwhelming at first, with the current and the depth, but having Killian and my dive buddy with me made it manageable. I saw yellowtail snappers and sergeant majors, their black stripes flashing, which was amazing.
Dive 2: The Hole in the Wall
The second dive was at The Hole in the Wall, a site with a depth of around 30 feet, also located in John Pennekamp State Park. It has a swim-through, which was a bit scary but also exciting. I saw a sea turtle swimming gracefully near the entrance, which was a highlight. We worked on navigation skills during this dive, learning how to follow a compass and stay on track. The boat ride to the site on the Siren was fun, with Killian giving us a briefing about all the marine life we saw on the reef as well as pointing out landmarks like the Carysfort Lighthouse and giving us great recommendations for Lunch and activities for the rest of our stay.
First Dive as a Certified Diver at Key Largo Dry Rocks
I enjoyed my time with Silent World so much I booked another trip the next day as a fully certified diver which was at Key Largo Dry Rocks, the site of the famous Christ of the Abyss Statue. I was a bit nervous, so I chose to hire my Instructor Killian again, this time as my dive guide for the morning. After the dive he gave me some feedback, saying I needed to work on my fin kicks a bit, but again congratulating me on being a newly certified diver. I saw a moray eel peeking from a hole, which was a cool bonus, and a school of parrotfish, their bright colors mesmerizing.
Certification: A Milestone Achieved
This has been a huge milestone for me completing my open water certification then actually getting to go out as a newly certified diver. It’s a globally recognized certification that allows me to dive up to 60 feet with a buddy or a dive professional, from PADI Open Water Diver Course.
I’m so proud of myself for overcoming my fears and achieving this milestone. Scuba diving has opened a whole new world for me, and I can’t wait to go on more adventures underwater. Silent World also offers advanced courses, like Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver, which I’m considering for the future.
Tips for Future Students
If you’re thinking about taking the PADI Open Water Diver course, here are some tips based on my experience:
- Prepare Physically: Make sure you can swim 200 meters and float for 10 minutes. I practiced these skills before the course, and it made a big difference.
- Stay Hydrated: Diving can be dehydrating, so drink plenty of water before and after dives. I brought a water bottle and kept sipping throughout the day.
- Listen to Briefings: Pay attention to the instructor’s briefings before each dive. They provide important information about the site and the dive plan, and it helped me feel more prepared.
- Practice Skills: Don’t be afraid to ask for extra practice on any skill that you’re not comfortable with. Killian was always willing to help, and it built my confidence.
- Bring a Towel and a Hat: You’ll be spending time on the boat, and the sun can be intense in Key Largo. I forgot my hat on the first day and got a bit sunburned, so I brought one the next day. However Silent World provides complimentary reef safe sunscreen which saved me from an even worse burn with the brutal Florida sun.
Taking the course with Silent World Dive Center was an incredible experience. The staff are professional, knowledgeable, and make sure each student feels supported and safe. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in learning to dive.
