Perhaps you’ve enjoyed a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience and can’t wait to get fully certified. Or maybe you’ve already been diving for a while and want to share your passion with others. Either way, it might seem like a no-brainer to skip PADI’s free scuba diving courses and sign straight up for your first (or next) PADI course.

On the other hand, committing to a whole new course might feel like a huge decision. Indeed, you may be thinking, “How will I know scuba diving is really for me?” or “How do I know if l will like eLearning?

Enter PADI’s two free scuba diving courses, which offer the chance to ‘try before you buy’ for brand new divers and aspiring PADI Professionals:

In this blog, we share more about these two free scuba diving courses, as well as the benefits of completing them on PADI eLearning.


A diver accessing the PADI Open Water Diver course on PADI eLearning, one of the best PADI courses for learning to scuba dive

What is PADI eLearning?

PADI eLearning is a digital platform for scuba diving courses. First, start with PADI Open Water Diver, then expand your skills with a PADI Specialty course or kick-start a PADI Professional career. Whatever your diving goals, you can review the theory portion of your chosen course independently while progressing at a pace that suits your schedule and learning style.

There are several perks to learning online. With 24/7 access from your computer or mobile device, PADI eLearning lets you choose when, where, and how you study—whether that’s from the comfort of your home or during a flight to your dream destination.


Two divers completing PADI Open Water Diver after first starting out by taking one of PADI's free scuba diving courses online

Why take one of PADI’s free scuba diving courses?

At this time, two free online scuba training courses are available on PADI eLearning: Introduction to Open Water Diver and Introduction to Divemaster.

In both cases, and without any cost or commitment, you’ll get a taster of…

  • What each certification entails
  • What topics you can expect to study during the course
  • How easy it is to flex your lessons around your schedule
  • How adaptable the course is to your style and pace of learning
  • The interactive PADI eLearning experience—from text and videos to quizzes
  • Whether you prefer digital or classroom learning

Keep reading for a closer look at these two free scuba diving courses.


Introduction to Open Water Diver

Learning to scuba dive is your passport to underwater adventure as well as a lifetime of unfiltered experiences. In the free Introduction to Open Water Diver course, you can preview the benefits of PADI eLearning firsthand while learning more about the PADI Open Water Diver certification.

From reading and watching videos to interactive assessments, you’ll also cover topics such as:

If you choose to continue (and we’re sure you’ll want to), you can keep going with PADI eLearning until you’re ready to complete your in-water lessons with a PADI Professional.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up and try PADI eLearning for free today!


Introduction to Divemaster

Without a doubt, there are many reasons to become a PADI Divemaster: to work and travel, to share your love of the underwater world with others, or simply for the personal challenge.

Introduction to Divemaster is a free PADI eLearning course that gives you a flavor of the concepts, skills, and knowledge you’ll need to achieve PADI’s most popular, professional-level rating.

Using PADI eLearning and an interactive mix of dive theory, quizzes, and even case studies, you’ll cover topics such as:

  • An overview of the PADI Divemaster course
  • Why being a role model is important
  • The characteristics of a PADI Divemaster
  • How PADI Divemasters help other divers
  • Developing demonstration-quality skills
  • The 24 basic dive skills from PADI Open Water Diver
  • PADI Divemaster-conducted Specialty courses
  • About the business of diving — and the ‘Four E’s’
  • Why you should care for the underwater world

After getting a sneak peek into PADI Divemaster, it’s easy to keep going; just contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort to enroll in the full course.

So, whether you want to hone your skills and dive like a pro or turn your passion into a career, start your journey toward PADI Divemaster now—for free!


A female diver signing up for a free PADI eLearning Introduction to Divemaster, one of two free scuba diving courses online

Get started with PADI’s free scuba diving courses

In just two simple steps, you can start right now with either of these free scuba diving courses—no credit card or PADI course promo code required:

  1. Firstly, sign in or create a PADI account
  2. From your Training dashboard, choose your preferred Introduction course, then select your language to get started!

Don’t forget; you can sign up for your full certification anytime. Head to PADI eLearning to start or continue your training online, or contact a PADI Dive Center or Resort if you’d prefer to complete your course in person.

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