3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

The best part of this three-day SSI course is its clear progression from classroom work to pool practice and then real sea sessions around Madeira. You learn in a small group of no more than five, with instructors such as Lupii, Esmeralda, Rafa, Sara, and Nico providing patient, hands-on coaching.

I like the pool training for building confidence before entering the sea, and I like that equipment, taxes, and certification fees are included. The main drawback is the full schedule: this is an intensive course, with study often extending into the evenings, and lunch and private transport are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Three stages in about three days: Study the basics, practise skills in a pool, then complete three sea sessions.
• Small groups: The maximum group size is five, which leaves more room for personal coaching.
• SSI certification: Completion allows you to join buddy-based scuba outings worldwide to a maximum depth of 18 metres, or 60 feet.
• Patient instruction: Lupii, Esmeralda, Tomas, Rafa, Sara, and Nico have all been praised for calm support and confidence-building.
• Madeira’s sea conditions matter: The course depends on suitable weather, and sessions may be rearranged if conditions are poor.
• Good value for a serious course: The $527.44 price includes scuba equipment, taxes, and certification-related fees, but not meals or private transport.

From first lesson to SSI certification in Funchal

Learning to use scuba equipment is very different from trying a single introductory session. This course gives you enough time to understand the equipment, practise essential skills, and repeat them in the sea before certification.

You begin at Azul Diving Madeira, an SSI and PADI centre at the Hotel Penha França Mar in Funchal. The scheduled start is 9:30 a.m., and the activity returns to this meeting point at the end. It is close to public transport, so you do not need to arrange a private vehicle just to reach the centre.

The course is designed as a concentrated block of training. You should expect academic work, pool instruction, and several hours of practical training across the three days. One recent course took about two and a half days, with one pool session and three sea sessions, plus study in the evening. Your exact timing may vary with sea conditions, instructor planning, and group progress.

I see this structure as a strength. You do not have to wait weeks between lessons and forget what you learned. At the same time, the schedule is not light. You should arrive ready to focus, listen carefully, and spend a fair amount of your holiday on the course.

Why the pool session matters

The pool is where the course becomes practical. Instead of meeting open water immediately, you first learn how the equipment feels and how to respond when something is unfamiliar.

You can expect instruction in basic scuba procedures and controlled practice before moving to sea sessions. The centre’s pool gives you a calmer place to work on breathing, fin movement, and confidence. Sara was specifically praised for helping a nervous student concentrate on breathing and finning, which is exactly the sort of support that can make or break a first course.

This step is especially valuable if you are uneasy in the water. You do not need to arrive as a natural swimmer or an experienced scuba user, but you do need to be willing to practise. A patient instructor can help you settle down, yet no course can remove the need to stay calm and follow instructions.

The pool also gives the instructor a chance to see how quickly you understand each skill. That personal feedback is easier to provide in a group of five than in a large class. Tomas, Lupii, Rafa, Sara, Esmeralda, and Nico have each been singled out for adjusting their explanations and giving students time to build confidence.

Moving from the pool to Madeira’s sea

Once you are ready, the training moves into the sea. The course includes three sea sessions, giving you repeated chances to apply the skills in a real setting rather than completing one short test and leaving.

Madeira’s water is not necessarily warm for everyone. A 7mm wetsuit and a shortie were used by one participant who found the water cold, and the team helped with the extra layers. That is useful practical information: even if you are comfortable in warm-water resorts, you may want to discuss exposure protection with the centre before starting.

Sea conditions can also affect the timetable. A night outing was rearranged when conditions were judged unsuitable, showing the sensible side of the operation. If weather prevents the course from running, you are offered another date or a full refund. You should still keep some flexibility in your Madeira plans.

The setting around Funchal gives the course more interest than a purely confined-water qualification. After certification, one student went on to a Garajau Marine Reserve outing and saw a large grouper, barracuda, large parrot fish, and many smaller fish. Those sightings are not guaranteed during your course, but they show the kind of marine life you might find around Madeira.

You should keep expectations sensible. The purpose of the three sea sessions is to learn safe skills, not to guarantee a wildlife spectacle. Conditions, visibility, currents, and the location chosen by the instructor all affect what you see.

Instructors who focus on confidence

For a beginner, the instructor matters more than the scenery. Equipment can be replaced, and a course manual can be reread. A calm teacher who notices when you are anxious is much harder to replace.

Lupii received especially strong praise for helping a nervous student work through anxiety. The result was not simply passing the course, but feeling ready to continue with future scuba outings. Tomas was also praised for changing his communication style to suit the student in front of him and for taking the time needed at each stage.

Rafa has been described as attentive with young students. In one case, a 15-year-old student completed the course with his family nearby. When a piece of personal equipment failed, Rafa returned the student safely to shore and replaced it with equipment from the centre. That example says more about the centre’s practical approach than a polished sales claim ever could.

You may not be assigned one of these particular instructors. Staff named in connection with the centre include Anthony, Guadalupe, Esmeralda, Theo, Sam, Rafa, Roberto, Tony, Scott, Sara, Nico, Tomas, and Lupii. The important point is that the centre appears to have a broad team, so the quality of your experience will depend partly on the instructor assigned to your group.

What the small group size changes

The maximum of five participants is one of the strongest features here. A small class gives the instructor more time to watch your body position, breathing, equipment checks, and response to instructions.

That matters most during the first pool session. If you are nervous, you may need an explanation repeated or a skill broken into smaller steps. In a crowded class, that can feel rushed. With five or fewer people, you have a better chance of receiving direct feedback without holding up a large group.

Small groups also make the course feel more personal. The centre is not presenting this as a large, anonymous training factory. You will still need to share time with the other participants, and a small group does not guarantee instant friendship, but it should make communication easier.

The tradeoff is that the course may depend more heavily on group pace. If one person needs extra practice, the schedule may shift. That is not a flaw in a safety-focused course. It is simply something to remember if you have tightly booked the rest of your Madeira holiday.

What the $527.44 price includes

At $527.44 per person, this is not a casual add-on to a day of sightseeing. It is a proper training course with several sessions and a recognized qualification.

The price includes the use of scuba equipment and all fees and taxes. That reduces the number of extra charges you need to calculate before booking. It also means you do not need to arrive with your own regulator, buoyancy equipment, tanks, or other core gear.

The SSI certification is the main value. Once you finish, it entitles you to take part in scuba outings with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 metres, or 60 feet, around the world. You are not simply paying for three days of instruction in Madeira. You are gaining a qualification that can be used when arranging future scuba activities elsewhere.

Still, budget for the costs that are left out. Lunch is not included, and private transportation is not provided. Since the centre is near public transport, getting there may be straightforward, but you should plan your own route and food for each training day.

The price makes the most sense if you already want a proper certification. If you only want to try breathing underwater once, a shorter introductory activity may suit you better. This course asks for time and concentration, but it gives you something useful at the end.

Equipment, safety, and the pace of learning

The centre supplies the scuba equipment used during training. Equipment has been described as being in good condition, and the team helps carry gear, set it up, and prepare participants before entering the water.

That support is particularly useful for beginners. Scuba equipment can seem like a pile of unfamiliar hoses, straps, gauges, and valves at first. Having staff guide you through setup reduces confusion and lets you spend more attention on the actual lesson.

You should still take responsibility for checking your own equipment and listening during every briefing. A professional instructor can support you, but safe scuba travel depends on following procedures rather than relying on someone else to notice everything.

The team has also shown a willingness to change plans when conditions are not safe. That includes rearranging a night session and helping when personal equipment failed. In Madeira, where sea conditions can change the plan, this is reassuring.

The course requires good weather. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 9:30 a.m. start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, so keep an eye on the local cut-off time.

Who will get the most from this course

This course is a good fit if you want a serious first qualification and can give three days to training. It suits beginners who want patient instruction, people who prefer a small group, and anyone hoping to continue scuba activities after leaving Madeira.

It may also suit families with older teenagers. The centre has supported a 15-year-old through the course, although you should confirm current age requirements and availability before booking because those details are not specified here.

You should be comfortable with a full schedule. The course can include several hours of instruction each day and study in the evening. I would not pair it with a demanding sightseeing plan or late nights.

If you are worried about confidence in the water, tell the instructor early. Sara and Lupii have been praised for helping anxious students settle into the process. You do not need to pretend to be fearless. Honest communication gives the instructor a better chance to help.

This is less suitable if you want guaranteed warm water, a relaxed timetable, or a wildlife-focused outing. The course may include enjoyable sea sessions, but its first job is training and certification.

A practical three-day plan

Your first day will likely focus on academic material and pool work. You will learn the principles behind scuba use, become familiar with the equipment, and practise basic skills in a controlled setting.

The later sessions move into the sea. You will repeat skills in open water and gain experience handling the equipment outside the pool. The exact order and timing are set by the instructor and may change with weather or group needs.

A useful approach is to keep your evenings free. You may need to study after the practical sessions, and trying to squeeze in another major activity could leave you tired for the next morning.

Bring a simple plan for meals and transport. Lunch is not included, and private transport is not supplied. The meeting point is at Hotel Penha França Mar in Funchal, near public transportation, so you can organize your own arrival without paying for a private transfer.

Should you book the Azul Diving Madeira course?

I would choose this course if you want to leave Madeira with a genuine SSI qualification rather than a one-time underwater introduction. The small group limit, pool-to-sea progression, included equipment, and repeated reports of patient instruction give it a strong practical foundation.

The course is especially appealing if you are nervous but motivated. Instructors such as Lupii, Tomas, Sara, Rafa, and Esmeralda have shown the kind of calm, personal approach beginners need.

Think twice if your holiday schedule is tight, you dislike structured study, or you are counting on warm water and perfect sea conditions every day. At $527.44, the course offers solid value for a recognized qualification, but only if you are ready to commit three focused days to learning.

FAQ

Where does the course start?

The course starts at Azul Diving Madeira, located at Hotel Penha França Mar, R. Carvalho Araújo, São Martinho, 9000-022 Funchal, Portugal.

What time does the course begin?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the course last?

The course lasts approximately three days. The training includes academic work, pool instruction, and sea sessions.

What certification do I receive?

You receive an SSI certification. It allows you to take part in scuba outings with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 metres, or 60 feet, worldwide.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. The use of scuba equipment is included, along with all fees and taxes.

What happens if bad weather cancels the course?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund.