Open Water Diver Course in Praia Cape Verde: Your First Diving Certification

Would you like to become a certified diver and start exploring the underwater world with complete freedom? The Open Water Diver course is the official first step toward becoming a certified diver. At Cidade Velha Diving, we deliver it with professionalism, a personal touch, and plenty of passion, all in the unique marine environment of Cape Verde.

Leslie in Baja California, Mexico

What is the Open Water Diver course and what’s included?

The Open Water Diver is an official PADI certification – PADI is the most recognized recreational diving organization worldwide.Once you complete it, you’ll be certified to dive up to 18 meters (60 feet) anywhere in the world, without needing to be accompanied by an instructor.

The course includes:

• Access to the official PADI eLearning materials, so you can study from home, at your convenience.📝 Important: the theory must be completed before starting the practical part of the course.

• Several in-person theory sessions at our dive center:

  • An initial class where you’ll learn how to assemble your scuba gear, understand each component, and review everything from the manual.

  • Daily knowledge reviews to reinforce what you’ve learned.

  • A final review session before the exam, dedicated to answering questions and clarifying key concepts.

• 1 or 2 confined water dives (shallow, controlled environment) to practice basic skills.

• 4 open water dives, where you’ll apply everything you’ve learned under the guidance of your instructor.

Our dive center where we do the theory

How long does the course take?

The course runs over 3 to 4 intensive days, with full days from approximately 9:00 AM to 5:00–6:00 PM.

We offer two options:

🔹 Standard course – scheduled on fixed dates, once we have the minimum group size (which we usually reach without problem).

🔹 Personalized course – if you need to start earlier or fit the course to your exact travel dates, we can organize it for just you or you and a partner/small group.

👉 Contact us to check availability and pricing for this more flexible option.

Tony in Baja California, Mexico

Who will be your instructor?

Our lead instructor, Tony, is Spanish, with hundreds of courses taught and thousands of dives of experience. He speaks Spanish, English, Portuguese, and a bit of French, so all the practical parts of the course (including the in-water sessions) can be conducted in any of these four languages.

The theory and final exam are completed through PADI’s official eLearning platform, which is available in dozens of languages (virtually all major ones). This means you can study the theory and take the exam in the language you feel most comfortable with, while the practical sessions and dives will be in one of the languages the instructor speaks.

Our equipment

What do you need to take the course?

• Be at least 10 years old (up to 15 years old, you’ll receive a “Junior” certification with some limitations).

• Be able to float and feel comfortable in the water.

• Be in good general health. If you have any medical condition, please check with us in advance to see if you’ll need medical clearance.

Cidade Velha beach

Why take your diving course in Cidade Velha?

🌊 We dive in a vibrant marine environment full of life and fascinating volcanic formations.

👨‍🏫 You’ll receive personalized training in small groups, with a friendly, human approach.

📍 We are located in Cidade Velha, just 20 minutes from Praia – and we can help arrange transportation if needed.

Ready to become a certified diver? Contact us to check available dates and get all the details you need to start your underwater adventure. And if you’re traveling solo or as a couple, don’t forget to ask about our personalized Open Water Diver course option.