Open Water Scuba Certification
NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver is the main entry-level certification for students who want to become independent recreational divers. The official NAUI page describes the course as meeting ISO Level 2 autonomous diver requirements and preparing certified divers to dive with another certified diver to a maximum depth of 18 meters or 60 feet. It is the foundation for nearly every later recreational, rescue, specialty, cave, or technical pathway.
This course is for beginners who are ready to learn scuba properly, not just try it once. NAUI lists novice swimming ability as an experience requirement, with minimum age policies for junior and standard certification. Students should expect knowledge development, equipment orientation, confined-water skills, and open-water training dives. Good candidates are comfortable learning step by step, asking questions, and practicing until basic buoyancy, communication, and safety habits are reliable.
Training normally includes academic learning, confined-water practice, and open-water dives with a NAUI instructor. In High Springs, Florida, Open Water Scuba Diver gives new divers a structured way to build confidence before moving into nitrox, advanced open water, rescue, cavern, or specialty training. The expected outcome is a certified diver who understands basic planning, buddy procedures, emergency skills, and the limits that come with a first scuba certification.
