PADI Open Water Referral: Certification Dives Complete
We completed our PADI Open Water certification dives with Blue Marine Dive in Gili Air. With our experienced instructor Musa guiding us, we successfully performed all required skills underwater and officially became certified divers!
Choosing Blue Marine Dive
After scouring the internet for the best PADI certified school in Gili Air, we found Blue Marine Diver ↗. This PADI 5 Star Dive Centre checked all our boxes:
- Excellent online reviews and reputation
- Located right next to our hotel - incredibly convenient!
- Strong commitment to underwater environmental awareness
- Quality training with experienced instructors
- Competitive pricing
The dive shop's focus on environmental protection and quality instruction made us confident we'd made the right choice.
Meeting Instructor Musa
Our instructor Musa put us at ease immediately. Friendly and extremely knowledgeable, he had thousands of dives under his belt and a teaching style that balanced professionalism with patience. For nervous first-time divers like us, having an experienced instructor was crucial - we felt safe and well-supported throughout the experience.
The Certification Dives
We needed to complete two open water certification dives to finish our PADI Open Water Diver course. These dives would take the skills we'd learned in confined water (pool) sessions back in London and apply them in the actual ocean environment.
Skills Practiced
During our two certification dives, we successfully demonstrated:
- Mask clearing and removal/replacement underwater
- Regulator recovery and clearing
- Controlled emergency swimming ascent
- Buoyancy control and hovering
- Underwater navigation with compass
- Safety stops and proper ascent procedures
- Equipment assembly and buddy checks
Smooth Sailing
Both dives went smoothly! The calm, clear waters around Gili Air provided perfect conditions for our certification. Visibility was excellent, allowing us to not only focus on our skills but also marvel at the colorful fish and coral surrounding us. The water temperature was comfortable, and the gentle current made for easy diving.
The skills we'd practiced in the confined water pool in London transferred well to the open ocean environment. With Musa's guidance, we completed each skill requirement confidently.
Officially Certified!
After successfully completing both dives and demonstrating all required skills, we became certified PADI Open Water Divers! This certification would allow us to dive anywhere in the world (up to 18 meters depth) and opened up an entirely new way to explore our planet's underwater ecosystems.
Where did you get your PADI certification? How were your certification dives? Any memorable moments or challenges? Would you recommend Gili Air for diving certification? Share your scuba diving stories below!
PADI Certification in Gili Air
- Blue Marine Dive: PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in Gili Air. Excellent reputation, experienced instructors, and conveniently located. Strong environmental focus.
- Certification dives: 2 dives required for PADI Open Water. Each dive 30-40 minutes, practicing skills learned in pool sessions at real dive sites.
- Skills tested: Mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy control, underwater navigation, emergency procedures, and safety stops.
- Referral course cost (2018): $300-350 USD for 2 certification dives if you completed theory and pool work elsewhere. Full course: $350-450.
- Gili Air dive conditions: Excellent visibility (15-30m), calm waters, comfortable temperature (27-29°C), diverse marine life, ideal for beginners.
- Certification dives schedule: Usually completed in 1 day with morning and afternoon dives. Some centers offer split schedules over 2 days.
- PADI certification: Valid worldwide for life. Certifies you to dive up to 18m depth. Can upgrade to Advanced Open Water for deeper diving (30m).
- Instructor quality matters: Choose dive centers with experienced instructors and small student-to-instructor ratios (max 4:1). Ask about instructor credentials.
- Environmental awareness: Blue Marine Dive and other responsible operators emphasize reef protection and sustainable diving practices.
- Referral divers: If you completed theory/pool elsewhere, bring your PADI referral form. Most dive centers in Gili Air accept referrals.
Note:
Completing our PADI Open Water certification in Gili Air's beautiful waters was an unforgettable experience. Blue Marine Dive and instructor Musa provided excellent training in a stunning location. We left Gili Air not just as travelers, but as certified divers ready to explore oceans around the world!