The Different Types of PADI Courses Offered at Beaver Dam® Dive Shop & Resort

Kathy Shaw • September 5, 2023

Open Water

Experience the world beneath the waves with the world's most popular and widely recognized scuba course.


Have you always wanted to learn to scuba dive and explore the world under the water? The instructors at Beaver Dam® Dive Shop and Resort can open the door with a PADI Open Water Dive Course.


What will you learn?


The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:

  1. Knowledge Development to understand the basic principles of scuba diving
  2. Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
  3. Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore!


You can start your learning now with PADI's home-study e-learning materials allowing you to complete at your own pace. Then just schedule a weekend (that’s right – ONE weekend!), to complete your pool and lake dives. Are you visiting from out of town? Stay with us! We have a motel on site, along with hostel and bunk rooms for rent. We also have RV hook-ups if you want to camp with us for the weekend. 


Enjoy beautiful Beaver Lake while learning to scuba dive! Contact us today to find out how to get started!

Advanced Open Water

Exploration, Exhilaration & Experience.



That's what the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course is all about. This course aims to advance your confidence and scuba skills through different Adventure Dives.


If you are already Open Water Certified, this class is for you! Try out different specialities on your custom learning path while gaining valuable diving experience. There are two required dives - Deep and Underwater Navigation - and you choose the other three, for a total of five dives. 


Are you interested in Photography? Sharlene is our resident expert (check out her photos in the shop!). She can guide you on what equipment to purchase, as well as how to get that perfect shot!


Do you like shipwrecks? We have several small wrecks in Beaver Lake. Our instructors can show you the safe way to explore a wreck and get ready for that vacation adventure you have been craving!


What about DPV’s? Would you like to explore our Dive Park on an underwater scooter – I mean, who doesn’t? We have units available for rent and purchase if you try this dive and get hooked!


Maybe Search and Recovery is your style. Learn search patterns and how to rig a lift bag during this fun underwater dive!


We have so many specialties that can make up your Advanced Open Water Class. Call us today to dive into your next adventure!

Rescue Diver

Challenge yourself and take a leap into the PADI Rescue Diver Course!


The PADI Rescue Diver Course prepares you to deal with dive emergencies, both minor and major. Through knowledge development and rescue exercises, you learn what to look for and how to respond. During the scenarios, you put into practice your knowledge and skills.


You will learn:

  • Self-rescue
  • Recognizing and managing stress in other divers
  • Emergency management and equipment
  • Rescuing panicked divers
  • Rescuing unresponsive divers



Many divers describe the PADI Rescue Diver Course as the most challenging, yet most rewarding course they've ever taken. We offer this class a couple times throughout the summer season or upon request. Emergency First Responder (CPR/First Aid) is a pre-requisite to this class, current in the last 2 years. 

Contact us today to find out how to get started!

Enriched Air

Have you ever surfaced from a dive and couldn’t wait to be done with your surface interval?

Diving on Enriched Air can help you extend your dive time and return to the water faster!


The PADI Enriched Air Diver Course is PADI's most popular specialty, and it's easy to see why. Scuba diving with enriched air nitrox gives you more no decompression dive time. This means more time underwater, especially on repetitive scuba dives.


You can typically stay down longer and get back underwater sooner. No wonder many divers choose this as their first specialty!


We offer this class with e-learning and then an afternoon of classroom time. Once certified, we have nitrox tanks ready to check out for your first enriched air dive in Beave Lake. 


Contact us today to find out how to get started! Don’t plan your next diving vacation without this certification! 

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