Hurghada Excursions – Sightseeing Tours & Day Trips
3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course
3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course
Explore the three-day PADI Open Water course in Hurghada: training schedule, included equipment, eligibility, certification and Tour price.
The 3-Day PADI Open Water Diving Course in Hurghada gives you the world’s most recognised diving certification in the world’s most beginner-friendly conditions. Warm, crystal-clear Red Sea water, shallow training reefs, and PADI-certified instructors with years of experience teaching first-time divers. From €350 — all equipment, all materials, all 4 open water dives, and your PADI certification card included. No experience needed. Minimum age: 10 years.
01.What Is the PADI Open Water Course? — Everything You Need to Know
The PADI Open Water Diver certification is the world’s most widely recognised entry-level scuba diving qualification — issued by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), the largest recreational diving training organisation on Earth. Once certified, your PADI Open Water card is recognised at dive centres worldwide, allowing you to dive to a maximum depth of 18 metres with any PADI-affiliated operator anywhere in the world.
The course is structured into three main components: knowledge development (theory), confined water dives (pool or sheltered shallow water where skills are practised without pressure), and open water dives (in the actual sea, with a certified instructor). The entire process takes a minimum of 3 days when completed in person, or can be accelerated to 2–2.5 days if the PADI eLearning theory component is completed online before arrival.
5 knowledge modules + quiz
5 pool sessions · 30+ skills
Red Sea reef · real diving
Valid worldwide · 18m depth
Or 2 days with eLearning
All inclusive · no hidden extras
02.Full 3-Day PADI Open Water Course Schedule — Day by Day
1 Theory & Confined Water Skills — Your Foundation
Welcome, Equipment Fitting & Introduction
Transfer from your Hurghada hotel to the dive centre. Meet your PADI-certified instructor — the same instructor stays with you for all 3 days. Equipment fitting: BCD (buoyancy control device), regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins. Introduction to PADI materials.
12:00 PM — Knowledge Development: Modules 1–3
The first three of five PADI knowledge modules — covering: Module 1: Being a Diver (the underwater world, physics of diving, basic dive equipment). Module 2: Your Diving Environment (water, marine life, planning dives). Module 3: Your Diving Skills (buoyancy, equalisation, signals, emergency procedures). Each module concludes with a knowledge review quiz. If you complete PADI eLearning before arriving, Day 1 morning theory is significantly reduced — allowing more water time.
13:00 PM — Lunch Break
Lunch at the dive centre or nearby restaurant. Time to absorb the morning’s material and ask any questions informally with your instructor.
17:00 PM — Confined Water Dives 1 & 2 (Pool Training)
The first two confined water dive sessions — in the dive centre’s pool or a sheltered shallow area (maximum 3 metres depth). Skills practised in Confined Water 1: breathing underwater for the first time, buoyancy control, clearing a flooded mask, removing and replacing the regulator. Confined Water 2: deeper pool work, controlled ascents, neutral buoyancy exercises, hand signals review. Your instructor demonstrates each skill, then watches while you perform it — signing off each skill when completed correctly.
Knowledge Review Modules 4 & 5 (Self-Study)
Complete the final two knowledge modules (Problem Management, and Planning Dives) as self-study in the evening. Review quizzes provided. Transfer back to your Hurghada hotel.
2 Confined Water Completion & Your First Two Open Water Dives in the Red Sea
Final Knowledge Review & Dive Theory Quiz
Quick review of Modules 4 and 5, final knowledge review quiz, and open book final examination (all answers discussed with instructor — this is not a pass/fail test but a learning exercise).
11:00 AM — Confined Water Dives 3 & 4 (Pool)
The final pool sessions — more advanced buoyancy work, controlled emergency ascents, underwater navigation basics, and consolidation of all previously learned skills. By the end of Confined Water 4, you should feel genuinely comfortable underwater and confident with all the skills required for open water certification.
Board the Dive Boat · 30 Minutes to the Reef
Transfer from the dive centre to the dock, and board your dive boat. The boat travels approximately 30 minutes to the first Red Sea open water training site — a shallow reef selected specifically for its calm conditions, excellent visibility, and abundance of marine life. Briefing on the dive plan: site layout, emergency procedures, hand signals review, and what you will see.
13:30 PM — Open Water Dive 1 (Red Sea · 6–12 metres)
Your first open water dive in the Red Sea — the moment everything changes. Descending into 20+ metres visibility, surrounded by coral and tropical fish, with your instructor beside you at every moment. Skills practised: controlled descent, buoyancy check at depth, mask clearing, regulator recovery, fin pivot, and controlled ascent. Duration approximately 30–40 minutes. Surface interval on the boat: debrief, snacks, and review before dive 2.
15:30 PM — Open Water Dive 2 (Red Sea · 8–12 metres)
The second open water dive — slightly deeper, slightly longer, with more exploration of the reef. Skills: neutral buoyancy (hovering motionless at depth), underwater navigation, emergency procedures review. Return to dock. Debrief with instructor. Transfer to your Hurghada hotel. Evening: light preparation for the final day — the last two dives of the certification.
3 Open Water Dives 3 & 4 — Certification Day
Hotel Pickup · Dive Boat · Final Briefing
Transfer to dock. Final briefing from your instructor — reviewing all skills, discussing the day’s dive sites, and answering any remaining questions. This is a celebratory day: by the afternoon you will be a certified scuba diver.
11:00 AM — Open Water Dive 3 (Red Sea · 10–15 metres)
The third certification dive — your instructor assesses your demonstrated skills with reduced intervention. You demonstrate buoyancy control, navigation, mask and regulator skills independently. More time exploring the reef — clownfish in their anemones, moray eels in crevices, parrotfish grazing on coral, and the extraordinary light filtering down through 20+ metres of visibility. Surface interval and lunch onboard the dive boat.
14:00 PM — Open Water Dive 4 (Red Sea · 12–18 metres)
The final certification dive — the deepest of the four, to a maximum of 18 metres (the limit of Open Water certification). Your instructor makes final skill assessments; by this point most students are diving with genuine confidence. More of the Red Sea reef at depth: larger fish, denser coral formations, and the extraordinary sensation of neutral buoyancy at 15 metres. When you surface from Dive 4, you are a PADI Open Water Diver .
Certification · Celebration · Return to Hurghada
Debrief with your instructor and formal completion of PADI paperwork. Your PADI Open Water Diver certification card is issued digitally immediately (physical card mailed within 2 weeks). Celebratory photos on the boat — many students immediately book their first post-certification fun dive. Transfer back to your Hurghada hotel.
Begin with diving knowledge and instructor briefing.
Develop skills before open-water training.
Complete the required Red Sea certification dives.
03.Why the Red Sea Hurghada Is the Best Place to Learn to Dive
Hurghada is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top five locations to complete a PADI Open Water course — and the reasons are straightforward. No other easily accessible dive destination combines warm water, exceptional visibility, calm conditions, a mature and well-regulated dive industry, and a price point that makes quality instruction genuinely affordable.
22–29°C year-round. Learning to dive in warm water is dramatically more comfortable than cold-water training. Buoyancy is easier, equalisation is more comfortable, and the entire experience is more enjoyable. You will wear a thin wetsuit rather than the thick dry suits required in European waters.
Crystal-clear water means you can see your instructor clearly at all times, the reef is spectacular even on training dives, and the confidence that comes from being able to see clearly cannot be overstated. UK open-water training quarries average 3–5m visibility.
Your four open water certification dives take place on actual Red Sea coral reefs — with clownfish, sea turtles, moray eels, parrotfish, and reef sharks visible from the training sites. Training dives become genuine exploration dives.
€350 all-inclusive in Hurghada vs €450–€600 in the UK or Europe — same PADI certification, dramatically better conditions. The price difference more than covers your flights to Egypt.
| PADI Course Location | Average Price | Water Temp | Visibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurghada, Egypt (our course) | €350 | 22–29°C | 20–30m |
| UK (indoor pool + sea) | €450–€600 | 8–16°C | 3–8m |
| Maldives | €500–€700 | 28–30°C | 15–30m |
| Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt | €320–€400 | 22–28°C | 20–30m |
04.3-Day PADI Open Water Course Prices — All Included
| Course / pricing | Price & conditions |
|---|---|
| PADI Open Water Diver · 3 days | €350 per person — all-inclusive |
| Junior Open Water · ages 10–14 | Reduced rate mentioned; exact amount not specified |
| Minimum participant age | 10 years |
+ What’s Included in the €350 Course
- All PADI study materials — digital course manual, knowledge review quizzes, final examination
- All diving equipment — BCD, regulator, wetsuit (3mm), mask, fins, tank, weight belt, dive computer
- PADI-certified instructor — dedicated to your small group (maximum 4 students per instructor) for all 3 days
- 5 confined water (pool) sessions — all pool entry and equipment use included
- 4 open water certification dives in the Red Sea — boat transport to the reef included
- PADI Open Water Diver certification card — digital immediately, physical card by mail within 2 weeks
- Hotel transfers in Hurghada (all 3 days) · bottled water · free cancellation 24 hours before
− Optional Costs (Not Included)
- PADI eLearning — approximately €50, optional and purchased separately from PADI
- Instructor tip — approximately €15–€20 for three days, voluntary
05.Requirements — Who Can Take the PADI Open Water Course?
Basic Requirements
- Minimum age: 10 years (10–14: Junior Open Water, depth limit 12m)
- Swimming ability: Must be able to swim 200 metres continuously (or 300m with mask and fins). Pool-quality swimming is sufficient — no open water experience needed
- Medical: Complete a PADI Medical Questionnaire. Most healthy people have no issues
- No prior diving experience needed
Medical Conditions — Check Before Booking
- Asthma (currently active — consult doctor)
- Heart conditions or high blood pressure
- Epilepsy or seizure disorders
- Ear or sinus surgery within last 12 months
- Pregnancy
If any of these apply, complete the PADI Medical Questionnaire and consult a doctor before booking. Most conditions are manageable — contact our team for guidance.
06.PADI eLearning — Complete Theory Before You Arrive & Save Time
The PADI eLearning system allows you to complete all five knowledge development modules online before you arrive in Hurghada — at home, on your phone or laptop, at your own pace. The eLearning includes videos, interactive quizzes, and digital versions of all course materials. Cost: approximately €50, purchased directly through the PADI website.
Benefits of Completing PADI eLearning Before Arriving in Hurghada
- Save 4–6 hours of classroom time — Day 1 morning theory sessions are eliminated
- More pool time on Day 1 — start confined water training earlier, finish earlier
- Potentially complete in 2 days — if eLearning is done in advance, the course can be compressed into 2 intensive days (discuss with our team)
- Learn at your own pace — rewind videos, re-read sections, take the quizzes multiple times
- Arrive more confident — having studied the theory, the pool sessions feel more natural
Ask our team for the PADI eLearning link and course code when booking.
07.What Can You Do After Your PADI Open Water Certification?
Your PADI Open Water Diver certification is the gateway to a lifetime of diving. The card is recognised worldwide and entitles you to dive to 18 metres depth with any PADI-affiliated dive centre on Earth. Here is what becomes available to you immediately after certification:
SS Thistlegorm Wreck — now fully accessible to you. The world’s greatest wreck dive, 30 minutes from Hurghada. Book as a fun dive the day after certification.
Dolphin House Dive — dive with the resident spinner dolphin pod. The most beloved encounter in Hurghada diving.
PADI Advanced Open Water — 2-day course extending your depth to 30 metres. Opens up the deeper dive sites including dramatic wall dives.
Red Sea Diving Safari — liveaboard trips to the Brothers Islands, Elphinstone, and the far southern Red Sea. Now open to you.
Dive Worldwide — Great Barrier Reef, Maldives, Galápagos, Caribbean, South-East Asia. Your PADI card opens all of these.
Fun Diving Anywhere — join guided fun dives at dive centres worldwide. Present your PADI card and you are in the water within the hour.
08.3-Day PADI Open Water Course Reviews — Hurghada Red Sea
“I was genuinely nervous about learning to dive. Our instructor was extraordinary — patient, encouraging, and made every skill feel achievable. By Day 2’s first open water dive I was completely at ease. The Red Sea visibility is unlike anything I imagined — you can see 25 metres in every direction. The 3-day PADI Open Water course cost at €350 is outstanding value. I booked the Thistlegorm wreck dive the morning after certification.”
“I completed the PADI eLearning before arriving which meant Day 1 went straight into the pool — no classroom time at all. By Day 2 afternoon I was doing my first open water dive. The visibility in the Red Sea is extraordinary — I saw a sea turtle on Open Water Dive 2. The 3-day PADI Open Water diving course reviews I read online were all positive and my experience matched every one of them. Booked through Hurghada To Go — perfectly organised.”
“My 14-year-old son and I did the course together — the best decision of our holiday. He took to diving immediately; by Day 3 he was more confident underwater than me. Our instructor was brilliant with both age groups simultaneously. The certification dive on Day 3 was genuinely emotional — we’re already planning a liveaboard safari together next year. The Red Sea is the perfect place to learn. The price is extraordinary — I paid more than double this for my Open Water course in the UK 15 years ago.”
09.10 Insider Tips for Your PADI Open Water Course in Hurghada
Complete the PADI eLearning before you arrive
The single most effective way to improve your PADI Open Water course experience is to complete the theory online before arrival. It saves 4–6 hours of classroom time, allows more pool and water time, and means you arrive at the dive centre already familiar with the concepts your instructor will demonstrate. Ask our team for the course code and link when booking.
Book your course at the beginning of your Hurghada holiday
Don’t leave the PADI course for the last 3 days of your trip. Book it at the start — so that you have the rest of your holiday to use your new certification on fun dives, Thistlegorm wreck trips, and Dolphin House visits. Many guests complete the course in the first 3 days and spend the remaining days of their holiday as certified divers.
Don’t worry if pool sessions feel difficult at first
Almost everyone finds the mask-clearing skill uncomfortable the first time they try it. The sensation of water flooding your mask while underwater triggers a natural reflex. Your instructor has taught this skill hundreds of times — they know exactly how to guide you through it. Practise it slowly, breathe steadily, and trust the process.
Equalise early and often on descent
Ear equalisation (the same as clearing your ears on an aeroplane) is the most common source of difficulty for new divers. The technique is to equalise — pinch your nose and gently blow — every 50 cm of descent, before any discomfort begins. Your instructor teaches this on Day 1, but practising the technique (Valsalva manoeuvre) before you arrive is highly beneficial.
Breathe slowly, deeply, and continuously
The most important rule in scuba diving — never hold your breath — is the foundation of everything. Slow, deep breathing also improves buoyancy control dramatically: a full breath raises you; a partial exhale lowers you. By Day 2, most students are achieving genuine neutral buoyancy simply through breath control.
A 3mm wetsuit is provided but bring your own rashguard if you have one
The dive centre provides a 3mm wetsuit — perfectly appropriate for Hurghada’s water temperatures year-round. A personal rashguard (lycra thermal undersuit) worn beneath the wetsuit adds warmth on longer dives and is comfortable if you are sensitive to cold. Available in Hurghada dive shops if needed.
The open water certification dives feel easier than the pool
Most students find that the open water dives on Days 2 and 3 feel more natural than the confined water pool sessions. The clarity of the water, the presence of marine life, and the natural environment make the skills feel more purposeful. The pool is where you learn — the reef is where you realise you have learned.
Drink plenty of water on diving days
Diving is dehydrating — the compressed air you breathe is extremely dry, and the physical effort of diving (even at the relaxed pace of training) uses energy. Drink 1–2 litres of water before your diving day and keep a water bottle at hand between dives. Avoid alcohol the night before and during diving days.
Book the Thistlegorm dive for the day after certification
Many students who complete the PADI Open Water course immediately book the SS Thistlegorm wreck dive for the following morning. This is the ideal progression: you have your new certification, your confidence is high, and the Thistlegorm is one of the world’s greatest dives. Ask our team to book it simultaneously with your PADI course.
Seasickness on the boat — take prevention seriously
The dive boat ride to open water training sites (approximately 30 minutes each way) crosses open water. If you are prone to seasickness, take Stugeron or Kwells the night before diving days. Once underwater, seasickness disappears entirely — but it can affect the surface intervals between dives.
10.Frequently Asked Questions — 3-Day PADI Open Water Course
How much does a 3-day PADI Open Water diving course cost in Hurghada?
The 3-day PADI Open Water diving course price through Hurghada To Go is €350 per person — all inclusive. This covers all PADI study materials, all diving equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank), pool sessions, 4 open water certification dives in the Red Sea, hotel transfers, and the PADI Open Water Diver certification card. The PADI eLearning theory component (~€50) is optional and purchased separately from PADI directly — ask our team for the link. There are no hidden extras in the €350 price.
Can you really learn to dive in 3 days?
Yes — the PADI Open Water course is specifically designed to be completable in 3 days. It is the world’s most popular diving course precisely because it makes certification achievable during a holiday. Day 1: theory and pool sessions. Day 2: final pool sessions + first 2 open water dives. Day 3: final 2 certification dives in the Red Sea + certification. By completing PADI eLearning before arrival, it can be completed in as little as 2 days. At the end of Day 3, you are a certified diver with a worldwide-recognised qualification.
Do I need to know how to swim to do a PADI Open Water course?
Yes — a basic swimming ability is required for the PADI Open Water course. PADI requires you to be able to swim 200 metres continuously without stopping (or 300 metres with mask and fins), and to tread water or float for 10 minutes. Pool-quality swimming is entirely sufficient — you do not need open water swimming experience. If you can swim a few pool lengths without stopping, you meet the PADI swimming requirement.
What is the minimum age for the PADI Open Water course?
The minimum age for the standard PADI Open Water course is 15 years . Students aged 10–14 can complete the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course — identical content and skills, but with a depth limit of 12 metres and a requirement to dive with a certified adult. The Junior certification can be upgraded to standard Open Water upon reaching 15 years of age. Contact our team to discuss the appropriate course format for younger students.
Is the PADI Open Water certification valid worldwide?
Yes — the PADI Open Water Diver certification is globally recognised. PADI is the world’s largest recreational diving training organisation, with over 6,600 dive shops and resorts in 186 countries. Your PADI card from Hurghada is accepted at every PADI dive centre in the world — Great Barrier Reef, Maldives, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Thailand, and everywhere else. The certification does not expire, though PADI recommends refresher dives (PADI ReActivate) if you haven’t dived for more than 6 months.
What happens after the PADI Open Water course — what dive sites can I access?
After completing your PADI Open Water certification in Hurghada, you can immediately join guided fun dives at all Hurghada dive sites to 18 metres depth — including the SS Thistlegorm wreck, Dolphin House, Giftun Island, and Abu Nuhas. The next step is the PADI Advanced Open Water course (2 days, from €220) which extends your depth to 30 metres and opens the deeper wall dives. For liveaboard Red Sea diving safaris to the Brothers Islands and Elphinstone, Advanced Open Water certification is strongly recommended.
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