PADI courses

Learn to dive in Dauin

New to diving, or ready to learn something new? Tell us where you are now and what you’d like to do next, and we’ll help you choose the right course.

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Scuba students and an instructor preparing equipment beside the training pool at Bongo Bongo Divers

Why learn to dive in Dauin

One of the best places in the world to learn to dive

Dauin is one of very few places where learning to dive fits around you, not around a boat timetable. We teach from the shore, so our instructors aren’t tied to boat departures or to other groups. They work with you individually and at your pace, so there’s never a reason to rush.

The swimming pool at Bongo Bongo Divers in Dauin, seen from above, where PADI course students practise their skills

Your pace, your schedule

You plan your sessions together with your instructor, so the course fits how you learn and how you like to spend your day. It’s more flexible, more enjoyable and a better way to learn.

Start in our pool

You practise each new skill first in our swimming pool, a calm and safe place where your instructor can take all the time you need before you head into the sea.

A house reef made for training

Your first open water dives are on Dauin North, our house reef and Dauin’s first marine protected area. It’s calm on most days of the year, with live corals and more than 560 fish species recorded in the Biodives fish survey. The reef starts in just a few metres of water, drops to a gentle slope at around five to six metres, then deepens slowly to about 25 metres. It’s the perfect profile for training, so our courses from Open Water to Rescue Diver can all be taught right here.

More time learning, less time waiting

There’s no boat to catch, no waiting for other groups and no long rides out and back. Less time spent getting to the dive site means more time underwater, and more energy for learning.

With small classes too, usually two or three students per instructor, it’s an ideal place to learn to dive properly and with confidence.

Find your next step

As a PADI 5 Star Career Development Center, we teach divers from their very first breath underwater through to instructor level. Our classes are small, usually two or three students per instructor.

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Try diving

Discover Scuba Diving

Never dived before? Discover Scuba Diving is a supervised introduction for people who want to try breathing underwater before committing to a full course. It takes about three hours. It isn’t a certification, but it’s a relaxed way to find out whether diving is for you. PHP 3,500, including equipment, your instructor and sanctuary fees.

Get certified

Open Water Diver

Your first full certification, with five pool sessions and four ocean dives. Plan on three to four days with us, and finish the first two sections of PADI eLearning before your first day so more of your time here is spent in the water. PHP 22,500, including rental equipment, PADI eLearning, your certification and sanctuary fees on the Dauin coast.

Everyone learns at their own pace, so we plan the time with you rather than promising a fixed finishing date. If you’re learning to dive, around seven days in Dauin gives you room to enjoy it.

Keep learning

Advanced Open Water Diver

Five adventure dives over two to three days, including a deep dive and underwater navigation. A good way to build confidence and try different kinds of diving. PHP 16,500, including equipment, PADI eLearning, your certification and sanctuary fees on the Dauin coast.

Look after your buddy

Rescue Diver & Emergency First Response

Learn to prevent and manage problems in and out of the water. Rescue Diver is usually taken together with Emergency First Response (EFR) training, which is valid for 24 months. PHP 28,000 for both courses, including training, materials and both certifications.

Specialties

Enriched Air (Nitrox) and more

Learn to dive with Nitrox, or focus on a skill that interests you. Enriched Air (Nitrox) costs PHP 10,000, or PHP 12,000 with a Nitrox dive. Peak Performance Buoyancy is PHP 10,000 and Sidemount PHP 17,500. Ask us which specialties we can run during your dates.

Going pro

Divemaster & instructor training

Thinking about becoming a dive professional? We run PADI Divemaster training and the PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) here in Dauin.

Explore Go ProBuild My Career: estimate your course package

Course prices

Prices are per person and include rental equipment, your instructor and standard sanctuary fees on the Dauin coast. Certification courses also include PADI eLearning and your certification.

  • Discover Scuba DivingPHP 3,500
  • Scuba RefresherPHP 3,500
  • Open Water DiverPHP 22,500
  • Advanced Open Water DiverPHP 16,500
  • Open Water + Advanced Open WaterPHP 39,000
  • Rescue Diver + Emergency First ResponsePHP 28,000
  • Enriched Air (Nitrox), without a divePHP 10,000
  • Enriched Air (Nitrox), with a Nitrox divePHP 12,000
  • Peak Performance BuoyancyPHP 10,000
  • Sidemount DiverPHP 17,500
  • Deep DiverPHP 16,000
  • Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV)PHP 16,000

For Open Water, Advanced and Rescue, we ask for a PHP 5,000 deposit before we send your PADI eLearning, and you pay the rest when you arrive. For Rescue with EFR the deposit is PHP 7,500, because we send your EFR materials too. You can finish Open Water with dives at Apo Island for PHP 5,500 more, or add an Apo Island day to your Advanced course for PHP 4,500 more, plus the temporary fuel surcharge. A night dive on the Advanced course adds PHP 460 for torch hire and the night-dive sanctuary fee. Prices can change if marine park fees, fuel costs or government charges change. Booking terms

Staying with us makes learning easier: your room, the dive centre and our restaurant are all in one place, with home-roasted coffee for the breaks between sessions.

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Course questions

Is Dauin a good place to learn to dive?

Yes, it’s one of the best. We teach from the shore, so your instructor isn’t tied to boat times or other groups and can go at your pace. You practise new skills in our pool first, then make your open water dives on our calm house reef, which slopes gently from a few metres to about 25 metres. Our courses from Open Water to Rescue Diver can all be taught there.

I’ve never dived. Where do I start?

Start with Discover Scuba Diving if you’d like to try it first, or go straight to the Open Water course if you already know you want to get certified. We’re happy to talk it through with you.

How long should I stay if I’m learning to dive?

The Open Water course usually takes three to four days. Around seven days in Dauin gives you time to finish comfortably and enjoy some diving afterwards.

What should I do before I arrive?

For Open Water, complete the first two sections of PADI eLearning before your first day. For other courses, ask us and we’ll tell you what to prepare.

How much does a course cost?

Open Water costs PHP 22,500, Advanced Open Water PHP 16,500 and Rescue Diver with EFR PHP 28,000, including rental equipment, PADI eLearning, certification and standard sanctuary fees. You’ll find every course price above.