PADI eLearning courses
PADI eLearning – Learn Scuba Diving Theory Online
PADI eLearning lets you complete the knowledge development portion of your scuba certification online, at your own pace, before heading into the water for the practical sessions. Each course is delivered through PADI’s own interactive platform, giving you 12 months’ access to the material, including video, quizzes, and a digital version of the course manual. Once you’ve finished the theory, you can complete the confined and open water training with any PADI dive centre in the world, making it a genuinely flexible way to start your diving journey wherever you are.
✓ 12 months course access ✓ Study on any device ✓Complete practicals worldwide ✓ Available as a gift
Theory online. Diving in the water.
PADI eLearning separates the knowledge component of your course from the practical training, so you can get the theory done in your own time before you arrive at the dive centre.
Buy your eLearning
Purchase your chosen course through the PADI store. You’ll get 12 months’ access to the interactive online material, including videos, quizzes, and a digital course manual.
Study at your own pace
Work through the material on any device — desktop, tablet, or phone. There’s no time limit per session, so you can fit it around work, travel, or family life.
Complete your certification
Once you’ve finished the theory, present your completion certificate to a PADI instructor and complete the confined water and open water dives to earn your full certification.
Browse PADI eLearning Courses
Every course below covers the theory portion only. The confined water and open water training is completed separately with a PADI instructor.
Beginner & Core Courses
Complete Beginner
Open Water Diver
The most popular PADI eLearning course and the starting point for most divers. Covers the fundamental principles and concepts you’ll need for your first certification, including dive physics, equipment, and safety procedures. Takes roughly 8–10 hours to complete.
Lapsed Divers
ReActivate
Ideal if you’re a certified diver who hasn’t been in the water for a while. Covers 20 sections including dive preparation, equipment, dive computers, and aquatic life to bring your knowledge back up to speed before a skills refresher in the water.
Certified Open Water divers
Advanced Open Water Diver
For certified divers ready to extend their skills and dive to 30 metres. The online program covers seven sections including deep diving techniques and underwater navigation, preparing you for more challenging and rewarding dives.
Advanced Open Water Divers
Rescue Diver
A significant step in any diver’s development. The theory covers the psychology of rescue, recognising and managing diver stress, and accident management across five in-depth sections. Widely regarded as one of the most rewarding PADI courses.
Any Certified Diver
Dive Theory Online
A dedicated course for divers who want to deepen their understanding of the science behind diving — physics, physiology, decompression theory, and more. Particularly useful preparation for the Divemaster and Instructor pathways.
Professional Courses
Divemaster
The first step into the PADI professional pathway. The eLearning covers dive theory, physics, physiology, and the skills you’ll need to assist and lead certified divers. The practical component involves supervised work alongside a PADI instructor.
Instructor Development Course (IDC)
The online portion of the IDC covers nine sections of foundational knowledge preparing candidates to teach the PADI system of diver education. Please get in touch with us directly for details on this course.
Speciality Courses
Enriched Air Nitrox
Covers the benefits, safety considerations, and procedures for diving with nitrox — a gas blend with a higher oxygen content that allows for longer bottom times. The most popular PADI speciality course worldwide.
Any certified diver
Equipment Specialist
Learn how your equipment functions and how to handle common issues in the field — from missing O-rings to wetsuit tears. Covers care, maintenance, storage, and configuration to help you get more from your gear.
Any certified diver
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Mastering buoyancy is what separates good divers from great ones. This course covers how to hover effortlessly, reduce air consumption, calculate correct weighting, and move through the water with precision.
Advanced Open Water divers
Deep Diver
Covers deep-diving planning, specialist equipment, buddy procedures, managing gas supply, and dealing with narcosis. Essential preparation for anyone regularly diving at the limits of recreational depth.
Cold-water divers
Drysuit Diver
Covers drysuit types, undergarments, buoyancy control with a suit, and how to don and doff with minimal assistance. Especially useful for diving in UK and northern European waters.
Advanced Open Water divers
Wreck Diver
Covers wreck research, safety considerations, navigation and mapping, penetration line techniques, and how to avoid disturbing silt. Essential reading for anyone interested in exploring shipwrecks.
Any certified diver
Night Diver
Covers light-handling, communication, entry and exit in the dark, and how marine life behaviour changes after sunset. Night diving opens up a completely different underwater world.
Any certified diver
Underwater Navigator
Learn to use natural cues, estimate distances, navigate by compass through multiple turns, and create underwater maps. One of the most practically useful specialities for any diver.
Any certified diver
Search and Recovery
Covers search patterns, locating objects of different sizes, lift bag use, and planning a search operation. A satisfying and practical speciality with real-world applications.
Any certified diver
Drift Diver
Learn how to use currents to your advantage, deploy surface marker buoys, stay with your buddy in moving water, and plan successful drift dives. Excellent preparation for tropical reef and channel diving.
Any certified diver
Boat Diver
Much of the world’s best diving is only accessible by boat. This course covers boat terminology, safety procedures, current considerations, and entry and exit techniques from different types of vessel.
Any certified diver
Digital Underwater Photography
Covers the SEA method (shoot, examine, adjust), composition, lighting, and an overview of underwater videography. Practical and immediately applicable on any dive trip.
Any certified diver
Diver Propulsion Vehicle
Covers DPV maintenance, dive planning, buddy procedures, handling skills, and dealing with potential problems. Covers the knowledge needed to cover more ground underwater efficiently and safely.
First Aid Courses
Anyone — no prior experience needed
Emergency First Response – Primary & Secondary Care
Builds confidence and practical knowledge for responding to medical emergencies. Covers primary care, secondary care, injury assessment, and illness assessment in a clear, structured format. Required for Rescue Diver certification.
Questions about PADI eLearning
What is PADI eLearning and how does it work?
PADI eLearning is the online theory component of PADI scuba diving courses. You work through interactive study materials, including video, reading, and quizzes, at your own pace, on any device with an internet connection. When you’re ready, you complete the practical elements with a PADI dive centre near you.
Does completing PADI eLearning mean I’m certified?
No. eLearning covers the knowledge development portion of your course only. To earn your PADI certification you’ll also need to complete confined water training (usually a pool) and open water dives with a qualified PADI instructor.
How long does PADI eLearning take to complete?
It varies by course. The Open Water Diver eLearning typically takes around 8–10 hours to work through, though you can spread this across multiple sessions. You have 12 months from purchase to complete the online portion.
Can I do PADI eLearning on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The PADI eLearning platform works on desktop, tablet, and mobile, so you can study at home or on the go.
Can I buy PADI eLearning as a gift?
Yes, PADI eLearning courses can be purchased as gifts. The recipient receives access to the course when they’re ready to start.
Which PADI courses are available as eLearning?
Most popular PADI courses have an eLearning option, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and a wide range of speciality courses. The theory only, online portion is the same regardless of which dive centre you eventually complete your training with.
Do I need to buy eLearning separately from my course fee?
That depends on your dive centre. Some include eLearning in the course price; others ask you to purchase it separately through the PADI store. Check with your chosen dive centre before buying.
What happens after I complete my PADI eLearning?
You’ll receive a completion certificate from PADI which you present to your instructor when you begin the practical part of your course. From there, your instructor takes you through the confined water and open water sessions needed to complete your certification. You can complete these with any PADI dive centre worldwide, use the PADI Instructor Search to find one near you, or if you’re in the UK, Big Squid’s instructors in London are here to help.