Open Water Course
If you want to take scuba diving lessons and get your open water diver certification, then Gili Trawangan is the place. During the Open Water Diver course with Gili Divers, you will learn how to scuba dive to 18 meters deep. This open water diver certification is valid for life and accepted worldwide in every scuba dive center.
How to become a certified scuba diver on Gili Trawangan
This world’s most popular dive course, often referred to as ‘PADI’, allows you to dive to 18 meters deep with a certified dive buddy. Our 2,5 day course is designed for complete beginners and taught by our experienced multilingual instructors. Our groups are kept small, with a maximum of 4, allowing our instructors to focus on your individual needs and ensure a safe and enjoyable learning environment.
The Open Water Diver course consists of three main parts:
Theory
This is where we explain to you the important aspects of diving; in person and through theory lessons on the SSI app. We will make every effort to break it up to keep things interesting.
Confined water training
We start out in our swimming pool at standing depth to get used to breathing underwater. Through the gradual introduction of basic skills, your confidence will increase surprisingly quickly. By the end of the confined water session you will find you can control your position and depth with confidence and have mastered the basic equipment skills.
Open Water dives
To complete the course we take you on 4 reef dives to the top dive sites on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Your first two open water dives will be to a maximum of 12 meters. You will not only learn how to scuba dive, but you will also so a variety of amazing marine life during the open water diver course.
Open Water Course Schedule
Day 1
11.30 - Basic dive theory lesson
12.00 - Swimming pool practice
13.45 - Break
14.00 - Pre-dive briefing
14.30 - Boat departs to the dive site for dive 1
16.00 - Boat returns to Gili Divers
16.30 - Dive-debriefing and round up of day 1
Day 2
09.00 - Swimming pool practice
11.30 - Break
13.45 - Pre-dive briefing
14.30 - Boat departs to dive site for dive 2
16.00 - Boat returns to Gili Divers
16.30 - Dive-debriefing and round up of day 2
Day 3
08.00 - Equipment set up and theory
08.30 - Pre-Dive briefing
09.00 - Boat departs to dive site for dive 3
10.30 - Boat returns to Gili Divers
11.00 - Theory and Exam
12.00 - Break
13.45 - Equipment set up and Pre-dive briefing
14.30 - Boat departs to the dive site for dive 4
16.00 - Boat returns to Gili Divers
16.30 - Dive-debriefing and celebration!
Why the Gili Divers Open Water diver course?
In Gili Divers we make sure you will become a confident diver, get to enjoy the dive sites around the Gili Islands, and not unimportant; Gili Trawangan itself. No endless theory lessons, but short and engaging lectures spread throughout the course. Should you wish to get a head start on the theory; you can access the materials free of charge in advance, so you can fully enjoy Gili T after the dives without any extra reading to do. Pre-book and receive a free fun dive or an exclusive discount!
During our Open Water Diver Course you will get to scuba dive in the ocean on day 1. This way you get to experience right away if scuba diving is something for you (trust us, it is). On day two, you continue with the same instructor, who will get you more comfortable with the diving equipment before returning to the ocean for the second dive. The last two dives will be on the last day, where you will get to see the deeper parts of the Gili Trawangan dive sites.
The course materials are available in 30 different languages, and we have instructors who speak English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian, Danish and Indonesian. Furthermore, if you have any time constraints, we are more than happy to tailor the schedule to accommodate your needs.
Open Water Course
Meet Bethany
Bethany became an Ocean Quest Coral Propagation trainer, teaching scuba divers how to propagate and manage coral nurseries to preserve this fragile ecosystem for years to come! Climbing the SSI Pathway, Bethany is now an SSI Ecology speciality Instructor, teaching Marine Ecology, Fish identification, coral identification, turtle ecology, shark ecology and Invertebrate ecology.
With a huge passion for marine life and environmental sustainability, Bethany is on a mission to educate scuba divers on the complexity and importance of marine animals and their ecosystems.
Meet Ovan
Why dive with us?
A Friendly & Certified Team
Our team of certified instructors and guides is passionate about marine conservation and sharing the wonders of the Gili Islands Marine Park with you.
Tailored Courses for Every Level
From beginner courses to professional programs, we tailor each experience to your skill level and interests.
Dive in Comfort & Safety
Our state-of-the-art equipment and well-maintained boats ensure comfort and reliability throughout your dive.
Prime beach front location
Our prime beachfront location offers direct and easy access to dive sites around the Gili Islands.
What is Tech Diving?
Beyond its technical aspects, technical diving is an adventure that unlocks access to rare and uncharted sites, offering an unparalleled experience for marine discovery enthusiasts and those seeking personal challenges.
Why Choose Technical Diving?
Meet Clem, our Technical Diving Instructor
From there, she expanded her teaching range with numerous specialties, alongside regularly leading fun and challenging technical dives. Over the years, she has gained invaluable experience teaching and diving in a wide variety of environments; from the cold, murky waters of the English Channel to the deep wrecks of the Maltese islands, and the vibrant marine life of Oman.
She joined Gili Divers in 2021 where she has taken on the task of growing a dedicated technical diving department. With a focus on personalised training, her main drive is always to create a safe and supportive teaching environment to encourage all divers to progress toward pushing their limits.
With a strong passion for deep diving and mentoring, she aims to empower students by giving them the confidence to achieve their diving goals. As a JJ-CCR Mod2 Mixed Gas diver, she enjoys exploring deep reefs and has a special love for historical wrecks.
The minimum age to become certified as an Open Water Diver is ten years old.
The course typically takes two and a half days to complete, including theory sessions, confined water sessions, and open water dives.
Yes, SSI certifications are recognised globally, allowing you to dive at dive centers and resorts around the world.
Yes, on the SSI App you can read the first three sections of the theory in advance. This allows you to complete the theory portion of the course online at your own pace before attending practical sessions. The full course material can be unlocked with a prepayment.
No prior experience is necessary. The course is designed for beginners who want to learn scuba diving from scratch.
