What to Expect from Your First PADI Scuba Diving Course in London

• Post author By Mark Murphy
• Post date June 4, 2025

Thinking about learning to dive? Fantastic! Taking your first PADI scuba diving course in London is a great way to begin your underwater adventure. Whether you’re planning to dive on holiday or stay closer to home and explore UK waters, building a solid foundation is key.

Our diving school in London offers expert PADI-certified instructors, great facilities, and flexible course options, perfect for beginners. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to expect: the beginner courses available, the equipment you’ll use, how the training works, and why Oyster Diving is one of the best places in the UK to learn.

Why Take a Scuba Diving Course in London?

You don’t need to travel far to start your scuba diving journey. You can start here in London with Oyster Diving, one of the best places in the UK to learn. Training in London means you can build your confidence in familiar surroundings before diving in open water.

Starting locally gives you the skills, safety knowledge, and hands-on experience you need. Plus, with leading Central London dive centres like us, you’ll benefit from award-winning instruction, small group sizes, and ongoing support, even after you qualify.

Prerequisites for Learning to Dive

Learning to dive is pretty easy for most people. As long as you…

• Are over 10 years old
• Are in good health
• Can swim 200m using any stroke
• Can float/tread water for 10 minutes

… then you are generally able to learn.

What Beginner Diving Courses Are Available?

If you’re new to scuba diving, there are two fantastic options to help you get started: the PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience and the PADI Open Water Diver course.

Both are entry-level and are taught by our experienced, PADI-certified instructors in high-quality facilities in London and at other locations in the South East.

PADI Discover Scuba Diving

The Discover Scuba Diving session is a non-certification trial dive. It’s perfect if you’re curious about scuba diving but not quite ready to commit to a full course.

You’ll learn basic dive skills, try out real scuba diving equipment like the regulator, mask, and buoyancy control device (BCD), and experience the incredible sensation of breathing underwater. Even better, if you decide to continue, you’ll get half your money back if you complete your Open Water course with us!

PADI Open Water Diving Course

If you’re ready to become a certified scuba diver, the PADI Open Water Diver course is the gold standard. Recognised at almost every dive centre worldwide, it qualifies you to dive to 18 metres (or 12 metres if you’re under 13).

The course is split into two parts:

• Part A – Theory and Pool Training: Complete your e-learning at your own pace, then join pool sessions to learn core skills like buoyancy control, underwater navigation, and using a dive computer.
• Part B – Open Water Dives: Put your skills into practice over four open water dives at Oyster Diving’s exclusive freshwater lake, Mercers Lake, or a PADI centre abroad.

Whether you choose the trial session or go straight into full certification, both courses offer an enjoyable, structured way to learn and gain confidence right here in London.

What’s Included in Your Beginner PADI Scuba Diving Course?

When you sign up for a PADI scuba diving course with Oyster Diving, all the essential equipment is included, so there’s no need to invest in your own kit right away – although we do recommend having your own mask and snorkel if possible.

You’ll train using high-quality gear from trusted, industry-leading manufacturers, helping you feel comfortable and confident in the water from day one.

Your course kit includes:

• Fins
• Wetsuit (for warmth and comfort)
• Buoyancy Control Device (BCD)
• Regulator and octopus (alternate air source)
• Weights and weight belt
• Dive computer (to monitor depth and dive time)

You’ll receive full guidance from your PADI-certified instructor, who will help you get fitted correctly and understand how each piece of equipment works. To find out more about what’s included and each piece of equipment, read our guide on beginner scuba diving gear.

Step-by-Step: What to Expect from Day One of Your PADI Open Water

Your PADI Open Water scuba diving course with Oyster Diving is designed to build your skills, safety awareness, and confidence step by step. Here’s how the training unfolds:

Step 1: E-Learning (Theory at Your Own Pace)

Before your first pool session, you’ll begin the PADI e-learning programme, which takes around 10–12 hours to complete. It’s flexible and easy to follow, with videos, slides, diagrams, and quizzes after each of the five sections. You can stop and start the e-learning programme whenever you complete a section.

You’ll need to score 75% or more on a final 50-question, multiple-choice exam, but don’t worry – you can review and retake it as needed. It’s designed for learners aged 10+, and most aim to complete it before their first or second pool session – our best advice is not to leave it until the last minute!

Step 2: Pool Sessions (Building Skills and Confidence)

Pool training takes place in a heated pool, either over a 5-hour session or spread across three consecutive Tuesday evenings on our London course. Class sizes are kept small – typically six students per instructor – for close support.

You can expect to learn the key, foundational skills of scuba diving:

• How to set up and use your equipment
• How to breathe underwater
• What to do if your regulator comes out
• How to avoid running out of air, and what to do if you do
• What to do if water gets in your mask
• How to master buoyancy control (a skill used to train astronauts, too!)

If, after your pool session, you or your instructor don’t feel you’re quite ready to dive in open water, our ‘Pass Guarantee’ means you can come back to the pool as many times as needed to feel safe to progress.

Step 3: Open Water Dives (Real Life Practice)

Next, you’ll complete four open water dives over two days, usually over a weekend at our own spot, Mercers Lake. Alternatively, you can choose to complete these at any other PADI centre around the world, which is called a ‘Referral’.

Dives 1–3 focus on repeating and refining the 28 core skills you learned in the pool, as well as additional training, such as using a compass.

Dive 4 is a chance to enjoy the experience and explore. Instructors assess each student individually based on their demonstration of all the key skills.

A Typical Weekend at Mercers Lake

• We’ll usually meet at the lake at 9 am and aim to do two dives a day.
• With a break and debrief in between the dives and some paperwork at the end, we aim to finish around 2:30 pm both days.
• Once you’ve passed, we’ll process your certification card.
• You’ll receive a temporary card by email the next day, and your official card will arrive by post within a couple of weeks.

Booking Your Course: What to Expect

Signing up for your PADI beginner diving course in London is easy. You can book online or contact us via phone or email. For the PADI Open Water course, you’ll need to book Part A and Part B separately.

• Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive your booking confirmation and receipt by email, showing the location, date, and time.
• Scroll down to find a link for the course details, which will provide all the information you require.
• You’ll have to fill in some PADI forms, including a medical. If you answer “yes” to any of the medical questions, you’ll need to get sign-off from your doctor to say you’re fit to dive.
• Shortly after receiving your booking confirmation, PADI will send you an email with a voucher for the online learning section, which works on PCs, Macs, and tablets. Then you’re on your way!

My Top Tips for New Divers

Starting your first PADI scuba diving course can feel a little daunting, but don’t worry, no one expects you to be perfect on day one. Learning to dive is a step-by-step process, and your instructor will guide you through everything at a pace that suits you.

Everyone starts as a beginner, and mistakes are part of learning. The goal is to build confidence and enjoy the experience. You’ll be surprised how quickly things start to feel natural once you’re in the water!

Here are our simple tips to help you get the most out of your training:

• Arrive prepared with your swimwear, towel, mask and snorkel, and a bottle of water. We’ll handle the rest.
• Try to stay relaxed. Nerves are completely normal, and our experienced, friendly instructors are there to help you feel at ease.
• Ask questions whenever you’re unsure. We’re here to help, and no question is too small.

And, my very top tip is: start as soon as you can! Scuba diving is a skill that can take you around the world, opening up experiences you wouldn’t have otherwise. Don’t wait to get started.

Why Choose Oyster Diving?

If you’re looking for the best place to learn scuba diving in London, Oyster Diving offers the perfect combination of expert instruction, flexible learning, and outstanding facilities. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• 5-Star PADI Dive Centre: We’re recognised for excellence in diver training and safety.
• Award-Winning Instructors: We’re friendly, professional, and passionate about helping beginners succeed.
• Central London Location: You’ll train in the heart of Soho at a modern, heated 30m pool (Marshall Street Leisure Centre).
• Private Lake Access: Enjoy your Open Water dives in a peaceful freshwater lake exclusive to Oyster Diving.
• Flexible Learning Options: Evening sessions, e-learning, and weekend dives are all available (location dependent).
• Glowing Reviews: We have the highest Google rating of any UK dive centre.

Dive Into Your First Scuba Diving Adventure

Ready to take the plunge? Whether you’re starting with a trial dive or jumping straight into your PADI Open Water scuba diving course in London, our friendly team is here to guide you every step of the way. Join the Oyster Diving community and start your underwater adventure with confidence.