The PADI or SSI Open Water Diver course is the standard entry-level scuba certification, qualifying you to dive to 18 metres with a buddy. At the five centres compared here — two on Malta, three on Gozo — it takes 3–4 days and costs €460–€560 per person. Atlantis Dive Centre on Gozo says diving is good year-round thanks to the clear water and mild temperatures. This guide compares the five centres' prices, what is and is not inside the price, group-size discounts and the practical details you need before booking.
- What the course involves and how long it takes
- Price comparison across five centres
- What is included — and what is not
- Malta vs Gozo: which island to choose
- When to dive
- How to book
- FAQ
What the Open Water course involves
PADI and SSI Open Water courses follow the same structure: an academic part (e-learning you complete before arrival or on-site), confined-water skill sessions (pool or sheltered bay), and open-water training dives in the sea. After the course you receive a certification card that lets you dive to 18 metres with a buddy.
Doing the theory online before you arrive shortens the on-site time: Atlantis Dive Centre on Gozo notes that completing PADI eLearning before your holiday makes the course 3 days instead of 4. At Utina Diving and Atlantis the water-based part is 5 confined-water skill sessions and 4 open-water dives; Malta Blue lists 6 pool sessions and 4 open-water dives for its course. Minimum age is 10 at Utina Diving, Scuba Life Malta, Paradise Diving and Blue Waters Dive Cove.
Price comparison: five dive centres
Prices below are per person, in euros.
| Dive centre | Island | System | Duration | Price (1 person) | Group discount | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utina Diving | Gozo (Xlendi) | PADI | 3 days | €560 | €530 (2 pers.) / €490 (3–4 pers.) | Included |
| Scuba Life Malta | Malta (Mellieħa) | PADI | 3 days | €540 | — | — |
| Paradise Diving | Malta (Cirkewwa) | PADI | — | €540 | — | Included, boat costs too |
| Gozo Dive St Andrew's | Gozo (Xlendi) | SSI / RAID | — | €470 | — | Included (excl. computer & torch) |
| Blue Waters Dive Cove | Gozo (Qala) | PADI | 3 days | €460 | — | Included |
Tip
Group discounts at Utina Diving: booking as a pair saves €30 each; a group of 3–4 saves €70 each compared to the solo price.
Among these five centres, the lowest price is €460 at Blue Waters Dive Cove on Gozo; the two Malta centres both charge €540. Utina Diving's €560 solo rate drops to €490 per person for groups of 3 or 4.
You can book the PADI Open Water course at Utina Diving in Xlendi, Gozo online — from €490 per person (group of 3–4) to €560 solo, 3 days, all equipment and certification included.
What is included — and what is not
Inclusions vary between centres. The table below summarises the key items.
| Item | Utina Diving | Scuba Life Malta | Paradise Diving | Gozo Dive St Andrew's | Blue Waters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-learning / manual | Included | — | — | Included | Included |
| Certification fee | Included | — | — | Included | Included |
| Full dive equipment | Included | — | Included | Included (excl. computer & torch) | Included |
| Transport to dive site | Included | — | — | — | — |
| Dive computer | Included | — | — | Not included | — |
| Boat supplement | — | — | Included | Not included | — |
Utina Diving states that its course prices include PADI eLearning, certification fees and all required diving equipment — no hidden costs. At Gozo Dive St Andrew's, the price covers equipment excluding computer and torch, and night, nitrox and boat supplements are extra.
At Blue Waters Dive Cove the price includes tuition, online manual, certification and full equipment for the course. At Paradise Diving, all course prices include full equipment and boat costs; on eLearning the centre's page says both that its costs are covered by the course price and that PADI charges a separate fee — confirm when booking.
Tip
E-Learning before you fly: at Atlantis Dive Centre, finishing PADI eLearning before arrival cuts the course from 4 days to 3. At Paradise Diving, doing PADI E-Learning and nominating the centre earns you 10% off the Open Water course fee.
Malta vs Gozo: which island for your Open Water?
The choice depends mostly on where you are staying and how you want to dive.
Malta (Scuba Life Malta, Paradise Diving): Scuba Life Malta is based in Mellieħa, five minutes from Cirkewwa, which it calls the country's most-dived shore site. Paradise Diving sits right at Cirkewwa with its own private Blue Flag beach and jetty, with boat access to Malta, Gozo, Comino and Cominotto. Training facilities at Paradise include a sheltered bay, 3 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool and an onsite classroom.
Gozo (Utina Diving, Gozo Dive St Andrew's, Blue Waters Dive Cove): Utina Diving and Gozo Dive St Andrew's are both in Xlendi Bay on Gozo's south coast; Blue Waters Dive Cove in Qala is a 5–10 minute drive from Mġarr Harbour. Blue Waters describes Gozo diving as a mix of caves, reefs, tunnels and wrecks, with shore entry the most popular method, every site within 20 minutes by car, and depths of 40 m+ quickly reached from shore in some parts of the island.
Getting to Gozo adds travel time: the Gozo Channel Line ferry runs 24 hours a day, and the Gozo High Speed Ferry operates from May to September. If your holiday is based on Malta, a Malta centre saves you the daily crossing; if you are staying on Gozo, the three Gozo centres are on your doorstep.
When to dive in Malta and Gozo
Diving is possible year-round. Utina Diving on Gozo gives water temperatures of 24–28°C from June to October and 14–16°C from December to March, when sites are less busy. Atlantis Dive Centre names the warmer months from April to November as the best time to dive Gozo, and Scuba Life Malta recommends May to November for warm water and calm crossings on its Gozo dive days. Dive Systems Malta in Sliema reports visibility of up to 30 metres year-round.
Stepping stones: before and after the Open Water
Not ready for the full course? The Scuba Diver course is a shorter alternative — 1.5–2 days, certifying you to dive to 12 metres under professional supervision. It costs €310 at Gozo Dive St Andrew's, €330 at Blue Waters, €345 at Scuba Life Malta and €350 at Utina Diving and Paradise Diving. You can upgrade to the full Open Water later: €235 at Paradise Diving, €275 at Blue Waters, €310 at Gozo Dive St Andrew's.
Want a taster first? A Discover Scuba Diving / Try Dive session costs €70–€110 depending on the centre and requires no experience. At Blue Waters it is €70 for 3 hours; at Scuba Life Malta €110 for a half day; at Utina Diving a single try dive is €90 for 2.5–3 hours. At Ritual Dive on Gozo, the try dive can be credited towards the Open Water course (in the two-dive option, one of the two dives).
After the Open Water: the Advanced Open Water course takes 2–3 days and certifies you to 30 metres. It costs €300 at Blue Waters, €370 at Gozo Dive St Andrew's, €435 at Paradise Diving, €445 at Scuba Life Malta and €480 at Utina Diving (solo price). Utina notes that most wrecks in Malta lie deeper than 18 metres, so you need at least Advanced Open Water for them.
Practical details
What to bring
Utina Diving, Paradise Diving and Blue Waters include full dive equipment in the course price; Gozo Dive St Andrew's includes equipment except a computer and torch. Utina Diving and Blue Waters ask every student to complete a diver medical questionnaire — if a condition on the form applies to you, you will need a doctor's clearance to dive.
Age requirements
Minimum age is 10 at Utina Diving, Scuba Life Malta, Paradise Diving and Blue Waters. Paradise Diving explains that children receive a junior version of the certification, which converts to adult status on their 15th birthday without further action. You need adequate swimming skills and to feel comfortable in the water.
After diving — flying
Dive Systems Malta advises leaving a minimum of 12 hours between your last dive and your flight. Plan your course so the last dive is not on your departure day.
Booking
Scuba Life Malta takes enquiries by WhatsApp, e-mail or contact form and confirms dates, kit sizes and pickup within a few hours. You can book the Utina Diving Open Water course online.
