If you’ve been out of the water for a while or did your PADI Open Water Course but haven’t been diving since your knowledge and skills are likely to be somewhat rusty. You might even be lacking the confidence to go diving again at all! If the thought of starting from scratch is making you consider saying goodbye to the underwater world, think again because you don’t have to redo your Open Water Course. Instead, there’s a fantastic refresher course available that will enable you to feel confident enough to dive back in (and it’s cheaper than redoing the whole course)!

While PADI certification doesn’t actually expire if you haven’t been diving in the last 12 months (or don’t remember how long it’s been!), it’s highly recommended that you re-certify via the PADI ReActivate program. Or, maybe you’re about to embark on a diving holiday and want to feel that bit more prepared. Either way, as the old adage goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. You can never be armed with too much information when it comes to diving. If re-learning the essentials means your next dive is more relaxing, fun and safe, it’s well worth giving up just a few hours of your day!

You’ll only need to cover the gaps in your current knowledge – you’re not required to re-learn the entire manual! Prior to coming into the dive centre, you’ll refresh what you need do online or using a tablet at your own pace. Once the theory is taken care of, you’ll be back in the pool with your PADI instructor to review necessary scuba skills – and you’ll find it’s just like riding a bike! If you’re keen, there’s an optional open-water dive where you can regain even more confidence.

Chances are, if you haven’t been diving in quite some time, you’ve probably lost your PADI Dive Card. Not to worry, because those who complete both the knowledge and in-water components of the ReActivation course receive a new card with a ReActivation date, enabling dive centres around the world to see how recently you’ve refreshed your skills.