PADI Open Water Course
Early Bird Special
¥58,000 (tax incl.)
Regular price ¥68,000
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
PADI Certified Dive Center
C-Card (Diving Certification)
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 10–14 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.
1
Sign Up
Online or by phone
2
Self-Study
Textbook or eLearning
3
Classroom
Knowledge review at the Niigata shop
4
Pool Session
Core skills in a Niigata City pool
5
Open Water Dives
2 days in Sado's ocean
6
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 (2–3 dives/day) | 2 days (2–3 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 | — |
| Day 5 | Sado open water Day 2 | — |
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: 11:00–15:00
- Saturdays: 12:30–14:30
- *Closed on Sundays and the 29th–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.
