PADI Open Water Course
Your Gateway to the Ocean
¥68,000 (tax incl.)
Everything You Need
- Classroom instruction
- Pool training (Niigata City)
- Open water dives (Sado Island)
- All course materials
- Full equipment rental
- Facility fees
- Transfers *3
- Insurance
Not included: Ferry fare, accommodation, meals (details below)
Payment
- ¥10,000 deposit at sign-up
- Balance due by certification day (Day 2 of open water training). Paying in full upfront is also fine.
- We accept cash, credit cards, and PayPay
What Is a C-Card?
Short for "Certification Card," a C-Card is your passport to the underwater world. Often called a "diving license," it's the credential you need to dive anywhere on the planet, and in many countries, even to buy gear.
Why PADI?
PADI is the world's largest dive training organization, operating in 180+ countries. Six out of ten divers worldwide hold a PADI card. Freeway is a PADI Certified Dive Center, so your certification is recognized at every dive shop on Earth.
Who Can Enroll
- Anyone aged 15+ in good health
- *Ages 10 to 14 can join the same course at the same price as a "PADI Junior Open Water Diver" (some depth restrictions apply)
- *A medical clearance may be required if you have any current or past health conditions, prior surgeries, or are on medication
- *Participants aged 60+ must submit a medical certificate before the course
- *Minors need a parent or guardian signature at sign-up
Once You're Certified
The world's oceans are yours. Dive to 18 m at any PADI shop on the planet, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Maldives. Ready for more? The Advanced Open Water course takes you even deeper.
Sign Up
Online or by phone
Self-Study
Textbook or eLearning
Classroom
Knowledge review at the Niigata shop
Pool Session
Core skills in a Niigata City pool
Open Water Dives
2 days in Sado's ocean
You're Certified
C-Card in hand
Standard Course vs. eLearning Course
Time Breakdown
| PADI Standard Course | PADI eLearning Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Study | Study all materials at home | Same |
| Classroom | ~2.5 hrs × 2 sessions | ~2 hrs × 1 session |
| Pool (Confined Water) | Half day | Half day |
| Sado Open Water | 2 days (2 to 3 dives/day) | 2 days (2 to 3 dives/day) |
Day-by-Day Schedule
| PADI Standard Course | PADI eLearning Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Classroom session 1 (~2.5 hrs) | Classroom (~2 hrs) + Pool session |
| Day 2 | Classroom session 2 (~2.5 hrs) | Sado open water Day 1 |
| Day 3 | Pool session | Sado open water Day 2 |
| Day 4 | Sado open water Day 1 | None |
| Day 5 | Sado open water Day 2 | None |
Fastest route: eLearning course + a 3-day / 2-night trip to Sado. Call our Sado shop (0259-52-5781) for details.
Classroom Session
Pool Training
- One 2-hour session at a pool in Niigata City
- Weekdays: 11:00 to 15:00
- Saturdays: 12:30 to 14:30
- *Closed on Sundays and the 29th to 31st of each month
Pool Training
Open Water Schedule on Sado
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 6:00 AM | Board the car ferry at Sado Kisen Niigata Port |
| 8:30 AM | Arrive at Ryotsu Port, meet our staff, head to the dive site | |
| Morning | Open water training dives | |
| Lunch | Grab lunch between dive sites | |
| Afternoon | More open water dives | |
| Evening | Drop-off at your accommodation | |
| Day 2 | 7:30 AM | Pick-up from accommodation, head to the dive site |
| Morning | Open water training dives | |
| Lunch | Grab lunch between dive sites | |
| Afternoon | Log your dives, complete certification paperwork | |
| 4:05 PM | Catch the car ferry from Ryotsu Port back to Niigata |
Open Water Training
Not Included
- Return ferry to Sado (car ferry 2nd class: ~¥6,000 round trip, varies by season)
- Accommodation on Sado (room only from ¥6,000 / with meals from ¥8,000 per night)
- Meals
What to Bring
Swimsuit, towel, change of clothes, sandals, sunscreen, seasickness meds (just in case)
Good to Know
- *1 Extra pool timeIf you need an additional session to nail a skill, a ¥10,000 supplemental fee applies.
- *2 Pool rescheduleChanges made less than 1 week before your booked pool date incur a ¥9,000 cancellation fee.
- *3 TransfersCovered: Niigata shop to pool (round trip) and all Sado transfers (Ryotsu Port pick-up → dive sites → accommodation). Not covered: getting to Sado Kisen Niigata Terminal.
