We invite you to review some of the most frequently asked questions about PADI products and services. If you would like more specific information about PADI or if the list below doesn’t answer your question, ask a scuba expert.
We want to hear from you
General Questions
Technical Support for PADI.com
Technical Support for PADI Products
Jobs At PADI
Contact PADI
PADI eLearning
PADI Diving Society F.A.Q
Specialty of the Month F.A.Q
- Q: How do I replace my certification card if it was lost or stolen?
A: Contact your local PADI Dive Shop or Resort directly or you may replace your card online
- Q: How do I obtain a letter saying that I am certified?
A: PADI can provide you with a letter of certification via FAX or email. There is a $10US fee. Please contact the PADI Customer Service Department to request this service.
- Q: How much is the Master Scuba Diver Application?
A: $44US
- Q: How can I get college credit for my certification?
A: View PADI courses for college credit information.
Q: How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
A: PADI courses are performance-based, which means that you earn your certification when you demonstrate that you've mastered the required skills and knowledge. Because some learn faster than others, course duration varies. Typically, the PADI Open Water Diver course is split into five or six sessions over as little as three days or as long as six weeks.
- Q: How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?
A: PADI offers junior scuba certifications. You must be at least ten years old (this may vary in some countries) to receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification.
- Ten and eleven-year-old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional and are eligible to dive to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet.
- Twelve to fourteen-year-olds must dive with a certified adult. At age fifteen, the diver may upgrade to a regular PADI Open Water Diver certification without further training.
- Q: Scuba diving sounds exciting, but I'm not sure if it's for me. Can I try it without signing up for a course?
A: Absolutely. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience allows you to make a shallow scuba dive in a pool or shallow open water site supervised by a PADI Professional.
Q: I'm a certified diver through another training organization. How can I become a PADI Diver?
A: Start by visiting an authorized PADI Dive Shop or Resort and present your certification card. After an assessment of dive skills and knowledge, a PADI Instructor will guide you to the appropriate course. You must take a PADI course to obtain a PADI certification. Here are some general course prerequisites:
- For the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and most PADI Specialty courses – an entry level scuba certification and documentation of at least four open water scuba training dives as part of the certification course completed.
- For the PADI Rescue Diver course - certification beyond entry level and documentation of at least 20 open water scuba dives that include experience in deep diving and navigation.
- For the PADI Divemaster course - certification from a recognized training organization specific to scuba rescue and documentation of at least 20 logged open water scuba dives that include experience in deep diving, night diving, and underwater navigation. Additionally, you'll need a CPR and first aid certification within the past 24 months and need to be at least 18 years old.
- Q: I'm a scuba instructor certified through another training organization. How can I become a PADI Instructor?
A: Contact an authorized PADI Dive Shop or Resort or PADI Course Director to determine where your instructor rating fits in the PADI System of diver education. You’ll complete initial training based on your current qualifications, followed by the PADI Instructor Examination (IE). The IE is a two-day evaluation of teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, water skill level, understanding of the PADI System, attitude and professionalism. Success at the IE qualifies you as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.
Return to top
- I am having problems navigating the site.
padi.com has been developed to comply with current WC3 specification for XHTML 1.0, JavaScript, etc. Browsers, such as Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 1.5 and Netscape 8.0 that comply with these standards can view the site. Some browsers may have problems due to non compliance.
We recommend using Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Firefox 1.5 or higher, or Netscape 8.0 or higher. If you are using another browser and are having problems, feel free to contact us; however, if the browser you are using does not render or behave according to WC3 specifications then we recommend using one of the three browsers listed prior.
Please check for the latest version of your browser.
- I cannot see the movies and/or animations.
The movies and animation on padi.com are rendered in Flash. Make sure you have the latest Flash plug-in on your browser. To download the latest version of Flash plug-in from Macromedia, visit www.macromedia.com
- The site is slow to load.
The site has been optimized to run with a high speed connection. If you are using the site on a dial-up connection, the site may run a little slow.
- I need to report an error on the website.
Send the error that you are receiving to the PADI Webmaster. To help us best understand the problem that you may be experiencing, please include the following information:1. Web browser type and build (e.g. Internet Explorer IE 6.0)
2. Operating System type and build (e.g. Microsoft XP Professional Edition)
3. Connection speed (dial-up, high speed, etc).
4. Are you browsing from a business or home?
5. Are you behind a proxy server, firewall, etc?
Return to top
Technical Support for PADI Products
Open Water Diver CD-ROM
- I can't get the past login screen.
This problem has two possible causes:
- Unsupported browser – the software is designed to work with Firefox, Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 6.0 or later, and Safari (limited use).
- Windows Service Pack 2 installed – to correct this problem open Internet Explorer and proceed as follows:
- Select Internet options from the "tools" menu.
- Select the “advanced” tab and then scroll down to the security section.
- Check the two lines stating: 'Allow active content from CDs to run on My Computer' & 'Allow active content to run in files on My Computer.
- I sign into the program and all it shows is the word 'true'.
This is caused by an unresolved programming glitch. Please create a new user account and resume where you left off.
- The videos don't play.
You may not have QuickTime installed. To find out if you have QuickTime, and/or to install the most current version, visit www.apple.com/trailers.
Click on one of the trailers.
- If it plays, you have QuickTime installed.
- If the trailers will not play, please follow the instructions to download and install the QuickTime software.
Once you have confirmed you have the QuickTime software, please confirm you have the Open Water Diver disc both installed and in your CD-ROM drive when attempting to access the videos.
Still having problems? Please email us at: techsupport@padi.com
- The computer doesn’t remember my user name.
Cookies need to be enabled for the user names to be remembered.
- By default, browsers allow cookies; however, the settings may have been changed on your computer.
- Use the "help" or "preferences" feature of your browser to allow cookies.
- I can’t view or I can’t print the knowledge reviews.
- Please check your applications folder to ensure you have Adobe Reader. To download Adobe Reader, please visit www.adobe.com
- If you are using Adobe Reader 7.0, you may require a patch.
Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving CD-ROM version 1.4 1999 - 2005
- The videos don't play.
You may need to install on older version of QuickTime
- I have a Mac and the CD doesn’t seem to work.
Unfortunately, the 1.4 version of The Encyclopedia of Recreational Diving is only compatible with PCs.
Return to top