PADI Open Water Scuba Certification Course in Wailea, Maui

If you complete your eLearning before arrival, plan on 3 mornings for the pool training and ocean dives. If you haven't started yet, we also offer the full course with online and in-person components, which takes 3–4 mornings to complete.

Complete your online coursework at home through padi.com before your trip. When you sign up, choose our dive center in Wailea at checkout. Once you arrive on Maui, you'll head straight into the pool sessions and ocean dives — saving valuable vacation time.

You'll earn the PADI Open Water Diver certification — the industry standard for new divers, recognized worldwide and valid for life.

Our instructors specialize in working with new divers and nervous swimmers. We'll move at your pace, and safety is always our top priority.

The reef just off Polo Beach is known for colorful coral formations, turtle cleaning stations where green sea turtles stop to have small fish groom their shells, and a variety of endemic Hawaiian reef fish. Eels, octopus, and rays are common sightings, and manta rays occasionally pass through. From December through April, you may even hear humpback whales singing while you're underwater.

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 18 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 24 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sickness. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.

You can dive with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before diving. If you'd prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.

You can't wear glasses with a dive mask, but contacts are totally fine and often the best option for seeing clearly underwater. If you have a prescription mask, feel free to bring it — rental shops typically don't carry them. Fun fact: everything appears about 25% larger and closer underwater, which helps visibility a bit even without correction, but for the sharpest view, contacts or a custom mask will give you the best results.

Diving with a cold, significant nasal congestion, an ear infection, or difficulty equalizing pressure can increase your risk of ear and sinus injuries. Even if you feel well enough for other vacation activities, you may not be fit to dive. Never force your ears to equalize or rely on decongestants simply to push through a dive. If you're experiencing symptoms, contact the outfitter before your scheduled experience and seek medical guidance when appropriate.

Certain medical conditions require additional evaluation before scuba diving because changes in underwater pressure can affect your lungs, ears, sinuses, and other parts of your body. Conditions that may require medical clearance include asthma or other breathing difficulties, heart conditions, a history of seizures, certain ear or sinus problems, previous lung injuries, and some recent surgeries. Certain medications and other health concerns may also need to be reviewed. Having one of these conditions does not automatically mean you cannot scuba dive. However, you may need a physician to confirm that diving is appropriate for you. Always answer the medical questionnaire accurately, even if your condition is well controlled or hasn't caused problems recently.

All of our experiences check in at the Ocean Experience Center at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea, HI 96753. Our paddle, kayak, and scuba activities launch directly from Polo Beach, just steps from check-in. Surf lessons include a shuttle from the resort to the surf break in Kihei, so please always check in with us at the resort rather than meeting at the beach.

You can valet your vehicle at the Fairmont Kea Lani for a fee (we do not validate parking), or park for free at the public Polo Beach Park lot and walk to your right along the beachfront path to reach us.

No — our experiences are open to everyone. Fairmont Kea Lani guests do have a shorter cancellation window, which is noted in the Cancellation Policy on each listing.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled start time to check in, sign waivers, and get fitted for gear. Activities begin promptly so you get your full time on the water.

Our team includes PADI-certified dive professionals and experienced local watermen, and our guides and instructors are trained in CPR and first aid. We keep high training standards, run safety checks, and maintain careful instructor-to-guest ratios.

Time on the ocean can trigger motion sickness for some people. If you're prone to it, consider taking your preferred motion sickness medication about 30 minutes before your activity.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled 'non-nano.'