PADI Open Water Diving Certification in Punta Cana

Pool training, ocean dives, and a PADI card you can use anywhere

A PADI Open Water scuba certification course in Punta Cana taught by a live instructor over two days, combining pool dives and ocean dives at a private resort in Bavaro. The course includes all diving equipment, hotel pickup from selected properties, and your PADI certification upon completion. You choose between the Scuba Diver License (one ocean dive) or the Open Water License (four ocean dives across two days); online course material costs USD 85 per person, payable to the instructor on your first day.

The Experience

You start in the pool at a private resort in Bavaro, where an instructor walks you through the fundamentals of breathing underwater, clearing your mask, and moving through the water with fins and a tank on your back. The pool lets you practice without the variables of the ocean — current, depth, visibility — so you build confidence before the real thing. Equipment is provided, so you show up and learn; the instructor handles the setup.

By day two, you're in the ocean doing what you came for. The number of ocean dives depends on which license you choose: the Scuba Diver License includes one dive, while the Open Water License spreads four dives across the two days. Either way, you're descending under your own control, following your instructor, and seeing what's below the surface of Punta Cana. The instructor is with you the whole time, and the pace is yours — this is training, not a race.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most properties in the area (Cap Cana and Punta Cana Resort Club are exceptions). The instructor speaks English, Spanish, French or German depending on the option you book. You'll need to complete a health questionnaire before the course starts — some medical conditions can prevent diving, so check with your doctor if you have concerns about asthma, heart conditions or other pre-existing issues. Minimum age is 10 years old, and you should have at least moderate fitness; diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended.

What’s included

• Pool and ocean dives.
• all diving equipment.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from selected hotels.
• a live instructor in your choice of English, Spanish, French or German.
• PADI certification upon completion.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by SeaPro Divers

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to earn a credential that works at dive shops worldwide, not just a one-time guided dive — the two-day commitment and pool training mean you leave with skills and a card, not just a memory.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the Scuba Diver License and the Open Water License?

The Scuba Diver License includes one ocean dive and takes less time, while the Open Water License includes four ocean dives spread across two days and is the full PADI certification that lets you dive independently anywhere in the world.

Do I need to know how to swim before I take this course?

The course requires at least moderate physical fitness and comfort in water, but the instructor teaches you everything else — breathing, equalizing pressure, moving with fins — from the start in the pool.

What happens if I have a medical condition like asthma or a heart problem?

You'll complete a health questionnaire before the course, and some pre-existing conditions can prevent diving; consult your doctor beforehand if you have concerns, since the instructor cannot override medical restrictions.

Is the online course material included in the price?

The online material costs USD 85 per person and is payable directly to the instructor on your first day of the course.

Can I dive if I'm flying in that day?

Diving within 24 hours of flying is not recommended due to decompression risk, so plan to arrive at least a day before your course starts.