PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience
Never dived before? Not a problem!
If you want to try scuba diving but aren't quite ready to take the plunge into a full certification course, PADI Discover Scuba Diving at the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is for you.
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course has been designed to provide scuba diving novices with an enjoyable and closely supervised experience. Although this is not a scuba certification course, you'll learn what it takes to be a PADI-certified diver. As with any PADI course or programme, diver safety is the first priority when planning and conducting Discover Scuba Diving.
Upon successful completion of a half-day PADI Discover Scuba Diving Course, you can do a single dive in the Aquarium’s I&J Ocean Exhibit on the same day!
If you’re interested in scuba diving, but unsure if you want to enrol in a scuba certification class, PADI Discover Scuba Diving is the perfect way to test the waters. In a very short time, you’ll learn basic scuba skills and take your first breaths underwater.
How to take part
The PADI Discover Scuba Diving course at the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School costs R2 205 per person. This includes everything you need for the course.
Participant information
Age restrictions
Participants must be aged 10 years or older to enrol in the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course.
Important medical information
To do the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course, you need to be reasonably healthy. You will need to complete a medical questionnaire before being allowed to dive – download it here. Have a look through the questions on Page 1. If you answered YES to questions 3, 5 or 10 OR to any of the questions on page 2, please read and agree to the statement provided by signing and dating it AND take all three pages of this form (Participant Questionnaire and the Physician’s Evaluation Form) to your physician for a medical evaluation. Participation in a diving course requires your physician’s approval.
Should there be an answer that concerns us, we reserve the right to ask for a referral to a diving physician. When answering these questions, honesty is paramount to your safety and ours.
Flying after diving
Please be advised that you may not do this course and dive if you are planning to fly within 12 hours after the dive.
Course information
Course duration
The course takes 3 hours to complete.
You can choose between a morning session and an afternoon session.
Did you know?
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is a certified PADI Dive Centre! This means we meet all the stringent health, safety and quality requirements as set out by PADI.
In addition to Discover Scuba Diving, the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School also offers Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses, as well as refresher courses.
After successfully completing your PADI Discover Scuba Diving course, you can complete a PADI Open Water Diver certification with our Dive School at a discounted rate! Your completed Discover Scuba Diving course will count towards that qualification.
Frequently asked questions
- You will watch a 20-minute PADI instructional video before you dive.
- A PADI Professional will fit you with scuba gear and explain how to use it.
- In a pool or calm water environment, you’ll practice basic diving skills such as hand signals.
- Then, you will have 30 minutes to dive and experience the underwater world in the I&J Ocean Exhibit!
To do the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course, you need to be reasonably healthy. In addition to completing the downloadable health questionnaire, you will also need to be relatively fit and able to swim.
Please be advised that you may not do this course and dive if you are planning to fly within 24 hours after the dive.
All you need to bring along is a swimsuit, a reusable water bottle, and a towel.
We provide everything you will need on the day, including all gear, study materials, and hot showers.
Please arrive at the Two Oceans Aquarium 30 minutes before your scheduled diving slot. You may report to our Visitor Centre just inside the main entrance and the Dive School team will meet you.
After successfully completing a PADI Discover Scuba Diving course, you can complete a PADI Open Water Diver certification!
Should you wish to progress onto a PADI Open Water certification at the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School, your completed Discover Scuba Diving course will count towards that qualification and relevant savings will apply.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is a certified PADI Dive Centre and your one-stop shop for all things scuba diving in Cape Town.
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation. As a certified PADI Five-star Dive Centre, the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School meets all the stringent health, safety and quality requirements as set out by PADI.
Please read our terms and conditions and make sure you are eligible to dive before making your dive booking:
In line with recognised diving practice, dives may not occur if divers are to FLY less than 12 hours after the dive time (or 24 hours for the PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water courses). Please do not book if you are not sure about the exact time of your flight, especially if it is within 24 hours after your dive. This will result in forfeiting the entire dive fee.
For safety reasons, divers must be at least 10 years old to dive in our exhibits.
Divers under 18 must have their indemnity form signed by their legal guardian. If the legal guardian will not be present on the day of the dive, they must request a copy of the indemnity form at the time of booking the dive so that it is signed in advance of the dive.
The Aquarium entrance fee is included in the rate for the diver/s on the day/s of their dive/s.
Cancellation policy
Should you cancel your dive 24 hours before the dive time, 90% of the fee will be refunded. Please be advised that the refund process may take 5 to 10 working days.
If you cancel your dive on the dive day, you will forfeit the entire dive fee. No refund will be given unless it’s due to medical reasons and you can provide proof, e.g. a medical certificate.
Should you wish to postpone your dive for another day, please do so at least 24 hours in advance. If you postpone on the day of the dive, you will be charged a penalty fee of 50% of the dive fee. If the reason to postpone is medical and happened on the day of the dive, there will be no penalty fee provided you have proof, e.g. medical certificate or letter from the doctor.