PADI Open Water Diver

The PADI Open Water course at Scuba Point runs over 3 days and includes a theory component with a written exam. Pass that and you walk away with a PADI Open Water certification — the entry-level card that lets you dive with a buddy to 18 metres at PADI centres worldwide. The course runs out of the south Tenerife base in Costa Adeje, putting you in the Atlantic off the island's more sheltered southern coast for the open water dives.

Scuba Point's south Tenerife sites give Open Water students a proper open-ocean introduction from the first confined session. The marine life in this part of the Canaries — green turtles, rays, octopus, moray eels, parrotfish — means that even course dives tend to include genuine wildlife rather than just skills practice in bare water. The minimum age is 10 years old, and the course is described as suitable for complete beginners with no prior experience.

Pricing is €440, or €396 with the 10% online discount applied at booking. The Open Water also anchors two of the hostel accommodation packs: Open Water with 7 nights at the Endless Summer hostel plus pick-up/drop-off is €599, and Open Water plus Advanced Open Water with 7 nights runs €859. Both packs are worth considering for those flying into Tenerife specifically to train.

All Scuba Point instructors hold PADI certification and equipment goes through regular servicing. The team is small — founder Marcos has 17 years of diving experience — which tends to mean tighter instructor-to-student ratios on course days than at larger resort operations. After completing the course here, the certification is globally recognised and allows you to dive anywhere in the world with a certified buddy.