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What is a PADI Open Water Referral

What is a PADI Open Water Referral

PADI Open Water Referral

Travelling to Phuket with friends or family? On a tight schedule? Looking to maximize your time in Phuket for other activities/tours? The PADI Open Water Referral is what you could be looking for.

Are you interested in taking the PADI Open Water course, but you’re on a limited time schedule? Or perhaps travelling with friends or family and want to maximize your time spent with them whilst in Phuket.

Then the PADI Open Water referral system may be a good option for you.

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Taking advantage of the PADI Referral system allows for you to complete most of your initial scuba diving training at home. This will be together with your local dive center prior to reaching Phuket. Avoid studying the course theory & exams during your vacation plus support your local dive center at the same time.

Here is what you need to know about the PADI Referral system of training.

First section: Open Water knowledge development
Second section: Practical Pool/Confined Water skill development
Third section: Practical Open Water/Ocean dives

What is the PADI Referral Course?

With the PADI Open Water referral system you can complete part or all of the first two sections of the course prior to arriving in Phuket. Your local dive center & instructor will take you through the PADI theory & confined water practical skills. All this before you leave on your trip. You can then simply finish the final section (Open Water training dives) of the PADI course here in Phuket.

In other words, instead of spending a day or so here in Phuket studying classroom theory, exams & pool skills. you will arrive with the majority of your course completed. With the first two sections out of the way you can then focus on what you came to Phuket to do. By simply joining Aussie Divers Phuket on our local day trips to finish of the practical dives required.

The advantage of using PADI’s referral system is that you get to take as much time as you like to complete the theory & pool work. Some Open Water students do take longer to get an understanding of the fundamentals & you can then do this at your own pace.

You also won’t feel as rushed or like you are “cramming” for a test. Plus, as an added advantage you will be supporting your local dive center & this will help you become part of your local diving community.

Excited Scuba Diving Phi Phi Best Day Trips Liveaboard Padi

Excited Scuba Diving Phi Phi Best Day Trips Liveaboard Padi

PADI Open Water Referral FAQ’s

How long is a referral valid for?

When using PADI’s Referral system of training you have up to 12 months to complete the course. However it is best to try & complete the training as soon as possible, whilst the theory & practical skills are still fresh in your mind.

What if I run out of time & cannot complete 100% of the theory/pool sessions?

Your local dive center/instructor will fill out and sign off the sections you complete with them. If you run out of time and do not finish 100% of your theory etc our instructors here will then simply complete each section as required.

Will completing the PADI online eLearning save me a day in Phuket?

Here in Phuket the first day of the 3-day course is spent in the classroom & at the pool. Basically day 1 is the first 2 sections on the course & the second & third days then focus on the Open Water dives & training.

If you do the online PADI eLearning & then plan on doing the pool/confined water practical here in Phuket then the course will still be 3 days. Having completed 100% of the online theory however will give you more time to spend focusing on the skills at the pool & you may end up saving an hour or two on the first day.

Scuba Cylinders Racha Yai Aussie Divers

Scuba Cylinders Racha Yai Aussie Divers

What else do I need to know?

It is a good idea to contact both your local dive center & Aussie Divers Phuket in advance. The friendly team hear at Aussie Divers can then confirm the schedule & pricing options for finishing off the course in Phuket. It is also a good idea to send Aussie Divers a copy of all the Referral paperwork once you completed the theory & pool session. This gives the team a better understanding of what you have complete & what is required to finish off your PADI Open Water course here in Phuket.

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Aussie Divers Phuket> Courses> What is a PADI Open Water Referral
By Darren Gaspari

Proud owner and active PADI Gold Course Director of Aussie Divers Phuket, a professional and awarded PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Scuba Diving Centre. Member of the PADI Advisory Board for the eLearning modules 2019 and 2020.

Posted in Courses on .

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