PADI Open Water Diver Course Information
Instructor : Ronald Tiah (PADI MSDT # 27186)
Trinidad & Tobago Information
The Course:
This is an internationally recognized SCUBA diver course for entry or beginner level students, it is the first level of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver Programs.
The minimum starting age is a “mature” 10 (and requires a Parent / Instructor / Student discussion), there is no upper age limit but it is subject to the individual being of reasonably good health as prescribed by the relevant certification agencies (forms provided).
For students going on to higher levels of academic training, this course provides College or University credits, this course follows sound academic guidelines, transcripts are provided on request from PADI.
Course Details:
The course (Option 2 listed below) is offered in Trinidad & / or Tobago and comprises / includes the following:
1. A new PADI student package, which will include a PADI Manual, a PADI Log book, a Recreational Dive Planner (RDP or tables) and accompanying guide book for same, these items are not photocopies and are yours to keep.
2. 5 Pool / Confined Water Sessions (May be up to 2 hours each, depending on Number of Students)
3. 5 – Theory Sessions (approx. 1.5 – 2 hours max. each)
Some or all theory sessions may be conducted online, depending on students abilities,
4. Use of ALL SCUBA equipment for the pool sessions and the Open Water Training dives at Sea.
Our training gear: You will always use first quality gear cleaned and sanitized after each use, I use all Aqualung (balanced) regulators with alternate air sources, Aqualung Wave / Pro HD BCD, and full depth and pressure gauges. We do use some shorty or long wetsuits. Our masks & fins are mostly Aqualung or Sherwood masks and we sell these also. Each BCD is fitted wit a whistle, a “safety sausage” (SMB), and an underwater rattler.
Very important to you I am sure is the fact that your regulators are sterilized after every use, in accordance with all recommended guidelines and mores now with respect to Covid guidelines.
5. We do four dives in the Ocean, ideally at different dive sites (conditions permitting) using four individual full tanks (min two days required, at 2 dives per day). If the training dives are made in Tobago, then the dives are all Boat Dives, in Trinidad it shall be a mix of shore and boat dives as available.
6. The final Quiz and the certification (E-Card) as issued by PADI in California, USA.
By the end of the course, and in order to be certified the student must meet the certifying agency requirements. The course is a pass or fail course. If you do not do the reading, there is a good chance you will not pass the theory quizzes.
For PADI certification students must:
(a) complete, a written PADI test scoring 75 % or higher,
(b) the student must demonstrate the ability to swim a distance of 200 meters/yards, not timed and any style, and
(c) stay afloat / tread water for 10 minutes.
Tips and guidelines will be given during the course as necessary, but this is not intended to be, or replace a swimming class if needed.
Price / Costing (2022, 2023 & 2024)
Price Option 1 (per person): We have a basic entry price of $2000 TTD and then you add costs for the items you need, eg. Gear rental, boat fees, PADI materials, pool fees; I usually recommend the second option which includes all costs.
Price Option 2 (per person): The full package price for the course is $4500 TTD, when done as part of a group (4 students – which I can put together or you can). This includes the PADI student package, theory ( approx. 8 hours), pool sessions (approx. 8 hours), gear use / rental, boat & captain fees, PADI certification card, 2 days of diving in Ocean – 4 dives (approx. 6 – 8 hours per day).
If you have the required number of friends you can form your own private group, meeting at a mutually convenient location and time.
Once we form a small group I come to a location closest to you to do theory classes, we usually meet in South, Grand Bazaar, West Mall or Price Plaza, with pool sessions in South and Central.
Payment / Fees :
1. Payment in full, or a downpayment of $2500 TTD (cash/check/Credit Card) at first meeting, and the balance of $2000 TT at the final pool / theory session (chapter 4).
DIVE GEAR : There are no hidden or extra fees, you do not need to buy masks, wetsuits or any gear for this class ! If you choose to purchase gear, it is best to do so after having read Chapter 1 & 2 so you know what to look for in SCUBA gear (vs. Snorkeling gear) !
DiveTnT is a dealer for the following brands : Aqualung / US Divers, SEAC, Apeks, Technisub, Deep Sea, Sherwood and Akona. We sell dive and snorkeling gear under the manufacturer’s warranty (no grey market items).
DIVING : We dive both islands – Trinidad and Tobago for training, with a preference for the blue waters found off Tobago. I will only take you when conditions are safe and good for diving. As you will appreciate safety in and under the water is of great concern to us all.
The course can be done in a minimum of four days (not recommended unless you are very comfortable with the water and reading quickly). It is best over a few weeks, better allowing the the student to read and understand the learning materials.
For working folks and students especially, we meet twice a week on evenings, sometimes on weekends in Trinidad – Central, San Fernando and / or POS, and can do the Open Water dives either “Down the Islands” or Macaripe in Trinidad, or in Charlotteville, Tobago.
If we do the final training dives in Tobago we need a minimum of two days there, usually divers go over on Friday evening and return Sunday night, we then do 2 dives on Saturday and 2 dives on Sunday, as PADI guidelines. You will use a fresh and full tank for each dive.
If you choose Tobago for your training dives we will incur a few additional but reasonable costs i.e. : Flights or Ferry trip to Tobago, Accommodation, Ground Transfers and meals. I can assist with some of these logistics.
Costs range from : $100 TT return to Tobago via the inter-island ferry, or $300 TT return via Caribbean Airlines flights.
Accommodation may be : $400 TTD per night for up to 3 people in a guest house (clean, kitchenette, tv, air-conditioned rooms) or $400 TTD per night per person, at the Speyside Inn, including breakfast and taxes (Clean, Air-conditioned, Pool, hot breakfast included).
After one learns to dive and completes the course, we offer regular trips both in Trinidad, but mainly to Tobago.
Also offered are additional training courses such as Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, CPR & First Aid training, Deep Diving, Underwater Photography and many more.
We also do tours to other islands and dive destinations at least once a year !
Recently we have done trips to Curacao, Bonaire, Barbados, Florida, and coming for 2023, we hope to be doing the next Shark Dive trip to Florida, and a trip to Curacao.
Instructor :
Your Instructor will be Ronald Tiah – PADI number is : 27186 MSDT.
My credentials are up to date (2023), and I am registered with PADI to teach and therefore certify students for 2023. A few points as to why you may choose to train with me ?
- teaching actively since 1986 and diving for a few more years
- have over 30,000 logged dives, students will have the benefit of my experience spanning over 40 years of active diving and teaching.
- a perfect safety record to date, ie. no accidents, cases of the bends, or loss of life.
- Very much involved in Shark, Marine Life, Reef and Ocean conservation.
- Underwater Photographer / Videographer.
- Emergency First Response Instructor since 1986, promoting and teaching CPR, AED and Oxygen Training for divers and / or non divers.
- Thousands of photos of divers and marine life, on the website and on my DIVETNT facebook pages, these may also act as references.
- Divers Alert Network (DAN) Instructor ( DAN # 74208), and a member of this leading dive medicine organization, since 1993.
- Additional DAN courses available : Emergency Oxygen Provider, First Aid for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries, Neurological Assessments, CPR & First Aid, Diving Emergency Management Provider course for dive professionals.
- DiveTnT is a business member of DAN and dive students are automatically enrolled into their DAN student medical coverage program. DiveTnT has been awarded the DAN HIRA Level 1 Certification (Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment).
Our Emergency Response Plan is available and on file.
Our number one priority is your safety and proper training, our training shall reflect this at all times.
We have always sanitized our regulators and breathing apparatus after every use, but moreso in these time of COVID, we continue to follow the guidelines for the sanitization and cleaning of breathing apparatus according to the PADI and Divers Alert Network standards.
Your next Step :
- Message about your location (eg. POS, San Fernando, Central), advising of which location is best for you – in person theory (2 sessions) are usually set around 5:30 or 6pm to – 730pm approx.
- When you might like to get started with theory (classes usually run for 4 weeks)
FaceBook Group for DiveTnT : https://www.facebook.com/pages/DiveTnT-PADI-Training-Dive-Trips-and-Equipment-Sales/108430214845
You Tube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4JOZmW8QREQ0GPfyq_19Q
Hope this helps to get you started, or at least gives you ideas for any other questions.
I spend quite a bit of time teaching and diving, and my phone does not work underwater, so if I do not answer the phone I apologize, please send me a message or email me rather than voice mail, and I will respond later in the day or the next day.
Whatsapp works best to reach me : (868) 378-4269
Best regards
Ron