The cost of this program includes the instructor, use of SCUBA equipment, photos and certification fees.

After an enclosed water (pool session) to allow you to become familiar with our equipment, instructors and refresh your training skills, PDA will provide four open water dives, (two shore based and two boat based).  The dives must be done in order one to four to enable your instructor to assess your competency and complete the required training tasks for your certification.

As part of the Perth Diving Academy commitment to your safe diving education we offer an extension to our regular referral program  This is to allow you to gain even more knowledge and provide you with the opportunity for more on-going advanced training.

In our local area (Perth/Rottnest) a vast majority of the better dive sites are accessed by boat. The PDA OW+ Referral program has an additional two boat dives and includes all the academic and practical skills to provide you with Deep and Computer Adventurer dives.

The OW+ Referral program includes additional day trip aboard Lionfish IV to Rottnest with lunch and all SCUBA equipment supplied for two dives.  On course completion you will not only have a Open Water certification, your instructor will sign the two Adventurer dives off in your logbook. The deep adventurer dive will also allow you to dive below the 18m limit imposed on Open Water Divers and both the dives are a step towards more advanced diver training .

For those who want to experience more diving and gain a higher certification level, PDA offers the Adventurer Referral. During the four days you will complete your Open Water and Advanced Adventurer certifications. This referral option includes your four open water dives (2 shore, 2 boat) plus five Adventurer dives (3 shore, 2 boat) , and both Open Water and Advanced Adventurer certification. Adventurer dives covered: Deep, Computer, Perfect Buoyancy, Night/Limited Visibility and Navigation dives. This option is great if you are traveling around as it gives you a better range of experiences and skills that will come in handy during your various traveling diving adventures.

During all Perth Diving Academy referral programs we will provide you with all the necessary SCUBA equipment.  Our SCUBA units are quality Aqualung air delivery systems with essential information computer gauges and compass fitted. The Seaquest Buoyancy Control Jackets are Australian designed to suit our local conditions and engineered in the United States for durability and high quality of construction.

The cost of rental for this SCUBA equipment during your referral is included in the up-front fee. However you will be responsible for any loss that occurs to the equipment issued to you during the training period.

You will need to provide a 5mm two piece wetsuit and the correct amount of weights for that suit. You also need a quality silicone mask, snorkel, open heel fins and wetsuit boots.

Equipment Hire Rates

Most International standards allow for open water students to complete a medical questionnaire/waiver to participate on a Open Water course.

In Australia, the Australian Standard's Association require that before you come under training by an instructor you must have a current medical examination to (AS4005.1-1992).

AS4005.1 also requires a swimming test prior to certification show the students ability to swim 200m and tread water for 2 minutes.

Your continued health and well being are your most valuable assets. To ensure that you are in a fit and healthy state to undertake scuba diving, a diving medical must be obtained from a qualified diving doctor. We strongly recommend that you attend one of the specialist diving medical centers unless you local Doctor is fully conversant with the provisions of the standards and practices involved in diving. Your medical examination through a specialist centre will be conducted in accordance with Australian Standard 4005.1-1992 and will ensure, amongst other things, that you are able to adequately compensate your ears for changes in pressure. This is a vital function, which must be confirmed before commencing a scuba course.

This medical release must be obtained within no more than 90 days prior to the start of your training.

In the United Kingdom, the same recreational diving medical is covered under the H.S.E. standard. Given the currency exchange rate it is generally cheaper to undertake the medical in Australia rather than in the UK.

A separate sheet with a selection of Doctors that can offer a proper diving medical at a fixed cost (usually around $85.00—$170.00) is available on request.

The referral course format is designed to fit in with our normal training programs, so you will need to check with the PDA facility of your choice to find out the current schedules. As a general rule, these courses run from 8.30am to 5.30pm over two days. Day 1 is theory and pool training with two shore dives on the 'Dive Zone' at Fremantle. Day 2 is spent conducting the remaining two ocean dives from one of our purpose built dive charter vessel "Lionfish IV" or “Wildcat”

If you are completing a OW+ Referral you will need to allow for an extra day charter to Rottnest. Two extra days are required for Adventurer.  (some of these sessions may occur on weekend days)