Open Water Diver

The Open Water Diver course at Azores Sub certifies you to dive independently to 18 metres anywhere in the world. It runs between 25 and 32 hours in total and is available under either SSI or PADI — you choose the agency. Minimum age is 10.

Practical dives take place in the waters around the south coast of São Miguel, where the centre runs its regular boat trips. That means your training dives happen in the same spots as the guided dives for certified divers — volcanic rock formations, mixed sand-and-rock bottoms, and the marine life typical of the Azores. You're not confined to a harbour or a pool lane.

All equipment is included in the course price along with €1.5 million liability insurance. The theoretical component follows whichever agency curriculum you've chosen, with both SSI and PADI being well-represented internationally — the SSI certification is valid in over 110 countries, PADI in over 180.

Once you finish, you're cleared to join the centre's standard dive departures to spots like Âncoras, Arcos de Caloura, or the west face of the Ilhéu. The same ticket that gets you certified gets you back in the water on your next day on the island.