PADI Open Water diving course in Sharm El Sheikh
PADI Open Water diving course in Sharm El Sheikh: the international certification in 3-4 days in the Red Sea. Price €330-360 with verified local centres.
Escursioni Sharm connects you with verified local diving centres for the PADI Open Water course in Sharm El Sheikh: the international diving certification in 3-4 days, in the Red Sea, booking with no prepayment and paying on site. Sharm is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive: warm water all year round, visibility often exceeding 20-30 metres and reefs reachable straight from the beach.
What the PADI Open Water certification is
The Open Water Diver is the first full diving certification: it qualifies you to dive to 18 metres independently with a buddy, it is recognised worldwide and it never expires. The course has three parts:
- Theory — basics of physics, equipment and safety; many diving centres have you do it online (e-learning) before you arrive, so on holiday only the in-water part remains.
- Confined water — skills practice in a pool or in shallow, sheltered sea to learn the basic techniques.
- 4 open-water dives — on Sharm's reefs, where you repeat the skills and start genuinely enjoying the sea.
Why do it in Sharm El Sheikh
Three concrete reasons. First: the conditions — calm sea, manageable currents and seabeds that reward you from the very first metres. Second: the cost — the full course here costs less than at most diving centres in the UK or Northern Europe. Third: the setting — your course dives happen on the same reefs that certified divers fly back to from all over Europe. The ideal season is October to April, but courses start all year round.
How much the PADI course costs in Sharm
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | €330-360 at local diving centres (indicative) |
| Same course via OTA | €350-500 |
| Duration | 3-4 days |
| Generally included | Instructor, equipment, 4 dives, learning materials |
| To verify | PADI certification fee, e-learning, dive insurance |
Indicative prices verified in October 2026: they vary by season and diving centre. Some centres quote the certification fee and materials separately: always ask for the "all-inclusive" price before confirming. For a full comparison between centres see the diving price comparison.
How to choose the diving centre
Dozens of centres operate in Sharm, concentrated between Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Hadaba. The criteria that really matter: instructors with valid certification and small classes, recent well-maintained equipment, a maximum ratio of 4 students per instructor in the water, and the option of open-water dives from a boat or from shore depending on your comfort. The area's long-established centres — including well-known names like Camel Dive Club in Naama Bay and the Sharks Bay operators — publish price lists, but real prices are only confirmed by direct enquiry: which is exactly why this site exists.
PADI or another agency? And what comes next
In Sharm you will find PADI, SSI and other international training agencies: the Open Water syllabus is very similar everywhere and is valid worldwide regardless of the acronym. PADI remains the most widespread and recognisable, but the quality of the course depends far more on the instructor than on the logo on the door. After the Open Water, the natural next step is the Advanced Open Water (5 specialisation dives): many students who certify in Sharm come back the following year to continue, because learning here costs less and the underwater scenery does the rest. If you want to alternate course and relaxation during the week, the typical rhythm is a morning session and a free afternoon: the course fits easily into the holiday.
Prerequisites and documents
You need: to be at least 10 years old (ages 10-14: Junior certification), to be able to swim, and a fit-to-dive certificate (medical questionnaire; in case of doubts a doctor is required). No previous experience is needed: if you would first like to try a single dive with a dedicated instructor, see the try dive (€25-53). If you are already certified, ask us about daily trips to the reefs of Ras Mohammed and Tiran.
How to book the course
Message us on WhatsApp with the dates of your stay: we connect you with a verified diving centre that confirms the programme, what is included and the final price. No deposit: you pay on site. Practical tip: if you can, complete the e-learning from home before travelling — on holiday you will only do the fun part.
Book with no prepayment — we connect you with verified local operators in Sharm El Sheikh and you pay on site on the day of the excursion.