Getting Your Open Water Certification in Bali: Complete Guide

Dreaming of discovering coral reefs, swimming alongside sea turtles, and exploring shipwrecks in warm tropical waters? Getting your Open Water certification in Bali is the perfect way to begin your scuba diving journey. With world-renowned dive sites, warm seas, and experienced instructors, Bali is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive—especially for beginners.

Why Choose Bali for Your Certification?

Bali offers the ideal mix of beginner-friendly conditions and stunning underwater scenery. Sites like Tulamben, Padang Bai, and Blue Lagoon are known for their calm waters, excellent visibility, and diverse marine life. Whether you’re interested in coral gardens, macro creatures, or shallow wrecks, you’ll find it all here—making each training dive feel like an adventure.

Many training dives take place at locations such as the USAT Liberty Wreck, one of the most accessible and fascinating wrecks in the world. Learning to dive on a real historical site adds an unforgettable dimension to your course.

What the Course Includes The Open Water Diver course usually takes 3 to 4 days and includes:

• Knowledge development (via eLearning or classroom)

• Confined water training (in a pool or shallow sea)

• 4 open water dives to practice real-world skills

  During the course, you’ll learn everything from assembling your gear to performing emergency ascents and mastering buoyancy control. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to dive safely while gaining the confidence to explore underwater on your own.

With a certified dive instructor, you’ll be guided through every step. Choose a reputable dive center with small group sizes to ensure personalized attention and a relaxed learning pace.

What You Need to Start

To begin, you must be at least 10 years old, in good health, and comfortable in the water. You don’t need to be a strong swimmer, but you’ll need to complete a 200-meter swim and a 10-minute float test. No prior dive experience is required.

All necessary gear is provided by most dive shops in Bali—including wetsuits, regulators, fins, and dive computers. Some centers also offer GoPro rentals so you can capture your first bubbles underwater.

After the Certification

Once you’ve earned your certification, the world opens up—literally! You’ll be qualified to dive independently with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 meters. Many new divers choose to continue with the Advanced Open Water course or join fun dives across Bali’s top sites like Nusa Penida, Amed, or Menjangan Island.

If you’re staying longer, consider a multi-day dive package or a dive safari, where you can explore different regions of the island and encounter everything from manta rays to nudibranchs.