3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

Funchal is a fine place to learn scuba skills, and this three-day SSI course gives you more than a quick tryout. You study the basics, practice in a pool, then complete sea sessions with an instructor before earning a certificate valid around the world to a maximum of 18 meters, or 60 feet.

I like two things right away: the small group size, capped at five people, and the close attention from instructors such as Lupii, Rafa, Tomas, Sara, and Nico. I also like that the course includes equipment and all fees, so you are not assembling a pile of costly extras before you begin.

The main consideration is the pace. This is a full course, not a relaxed holiday outing. Expect multi-hour sessions across about three days, with some study time outside the water. Lunch and private transport are not included, and sea conditions can affect the schedule.

Key points to know before you book

• Pool practice comes before the sea sessions: You get a controlled place to work on breathing, equipment, and basic skills before moving into open water.
• The group is limited to five people: That makes it easier to ask questions and receive individual help.
• The course can take about two and a half to three days: One detailed schedule included a pool session, three sea sessions, and evening study.
• SSI certification is included: Once qualified, you can scuba with a buddy to 18 meters, or 60 feet, worldwide.
• Madeira’s Garajau area may be available after qualification: Extra outings there can include large grouper, barracuda, parrot fish, and many smaller fish.
• Equipment and fees are covered: You still need to arrange lunch and your own way to the meeting point.

What this SSI course actually gives you

This is a proper entry-level qualification rather than a brief look below the surface. Your three days combine academic work, pool training, and sea practice under the care of a professional instructor.

The goal is not simply to get you underwater. You learn how the equipment works, how to control your breathing, how to move with fins, and how to respond to common problems. Those skills matter far more than ticking off a scenic outing, especially if you plan to scuba again after Madeira.

The finished SSI certification is recognized worldwide. It allows you to join scuba outings with a buddy down to 18 meters, or 60 feet, subject to the rules of the operator and local conditions. That gives the course lasting value. You are paying for a qualification you can use beyond this island.

The format also helps if you feel uncertain in the water. Sara has been especially attentive with students who needed help with breathing and finning, while Lupii has been praised for giving nervous beginners time to build confidence. Tomas is another instructor who adjusts his explanations to suit the person in front of him.

That personal approach is important. Learning to scuba involves unfamiliar equipment, unusual breathing, and a new way to judge your position in the water. A calm instructor can make the difference between a tense course and a rewarding one.

Day one in Funchal: study and controlled practice

You meet at 9:30 am at Azul Diving Madeira, based at Hotel Penha França Mar on Rua Carvalho Araújo in Funchal. The center is near public transport, which helps if you are staying in town and do not have a car.

Your first work usually combines academic material with pool exercises. The pool gives you a calm setting to learn the basic routines before currents, visibility, and sea movement enter the picture.

This is where you should ask every question that comes to mind. If you are unsure about clearing your mask, controlling your breathing, or using a particular part of the equipment, speak up early. The instructors are used to working with beginners and can repeat a skill until it makes sense.

The pool portion is one of the strongest parts of the setup. It offers a safer place to get familiar with the equipment, and the center has close access to the sea for later training. You are not expected to master everything at once.

Expect the course to take real concentration. A three-day qualification includes more than time in the water. You may need to review material in the evening, and one schedule described the course as about two and a half days with a pool session and three sea sessions.

Moving from the pool to Madeira’s sea

Once you have worked through the basic exercises, you begin the open-water portion. The change from pool to sea is a meaningful step, not just a change of scenery.

You now need to manage your equipment while dealing with natural water movement and changing conditions. Your instructor remains nearby, checks your progress, and helps you apply the skills you learned in the pool.

The instructors place strong emphasis on calm, steady progress. Rafa has helped keep young students relaxed, while Sara has supported adults who lacked confidence in the water. That makes this course suitable for a first-time student who wants guidance rather than a rushed, one-size-fits-all lesson.

The sea portion may feel demanding. The water can be cold for some people, and one experienced participant needed a 7mm suit plus a shorty to stay comfortable. Your equipment needs depend on conditions and fit, but you should not assume Madeira’s water will feel warm simply because you are on a sunny Atlantic island.

Azul provides the scuba equipment for the course. Staff also help carry and prepare gear for boat outings, according to the course experience described by returning customers. That support is useful when you are still learning how to assemble and check everything yourself.

What the final sea sessions are like

The final sessions are where your new skills begin to feel practical. You repeat the essential routines in the sea, gain more comfort with your equipment, and show that you can manage the basics under normal open-water conditions.

The detailed course schedule described three sea sessions and one pool session. The exact order and timing may change, since the activity depends on weather and sea conditions, but you should plan for several hours of training each day.

Do not book this course as if it were a spare half-day between sightseeing plans. The three days are the main event. You will need energy, attention, and enough flexibility to handle changes in the schedule.

After qualification, you may want to add an extra outing if your holiday schedule allows. The Garajau Marine Reserve has produced sightings of a large grouper, barracuda, large parrot fish, and many smaller colorful fish. Those outings are not part of the stated course price, but they can be a useful next step once you hold your certificate.

A wreck outing is another possibility mentioned by the center’s customers, though it is not included in this entry-level program. If you hope to explore wrecks or take a night outing, treat those as separate plans and ask Azul what qualification and conditions apply.

Why the group limit matters

A maximum of five people is a real advantage for a beginner course. You have fewer students competing for attention, and the instructor can notice small problems with your breathing, position, or equipment.

That matters even more during the pool session. If you are struggling with one skill, you do not want to wait while a large class rotates through an exercise. A small class also makes it easier to explain anxiety or ask for a pause.

The center has several instructors, including Lupii, Rafa, Tomas, Sara, Nico, Esmeralda, Guadalupe, Tony, and others. The exact instructor depends on availability, but the personal teaching style is a consistent strength of this experience.

Students have also continued with the center after qualifying, taking relaxed shore outings, evening sessions, and further certification. That suggests Azul can work well if you want a local base rather than a single tourist activity.

Still, a small group does not mean the course is effortless. You must complete the required learning and water skills. The instructor can support you, but cannot remove the need for practice.

The cost of $527.44: a fair value for a qualification

At $527.44 per person, this is a significant purchase, but the price includes scuba equipment plus all fees and taxes. You are also paying for several days of instruction, pool training, sea sessions, and the SSI certification process.

That compares differently with a short introductory outing. A brief session may cost less and take less time, but it does not give you the same independent qualification. If you expect to scuba again on future trips, the SSI certificate makes this course a more sensible investment.

The price does not include lunch or private transportation. You should budget for food across the three days and plan how you will reach the Funchal meeting point. Since the center is near public transport, you may not need a private vehicle, but that depends on where you are staying.

The best value comes when you use the certificate later. If you only want one underwater experience and do not expect to scuba again, the time commitment and price may feel high. If you have wanted to learn properly, the included gear and small group make the cost easier to justify.

The center also appears to have rental equipment available for later outings at a reasonable cost, but extra outings are not included in this course. Ask about those prices separately before adding them to your plans.

Safety, confidence, and changing conditions

The strongest practical benefit here is the attention given to confidence. Scuba can feel strange at first, and nervousness is common. The right instructor helps you slow down, focus on breathing, and build control rather than pushing you through a routine.

The team has also changed plans when conditions were not suitable. A night outing was rearranged for a safer day when the conditions were poor. That is the sort of judgment you want from a center operating in the sea, where a fixed schedule should never matter more than safety.

Equipment has generally been well maintained, but any scuba operator can encounter a faulty item. On one occasion, an instructor returned to shore with a student after a buoyancy control device failed and replaced it with school equipment. The useful lesson for you is simple: report anything that feels wrong immediately.

Weather is a formal consideration for this activity. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 9:30 am start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this course most

I would choose this course if you want a recognized qualification and are ready to give three days to learning. It suits first-time scuba students, including people who feel nervous and want close coaching.

It also works for someone who wants to continue in Madeira after certification. The center offers a pathway toward more outings and further qualifications, so you are not necessarily finished after the final required session.

Families should check age and suitability details with the provider before booking, since the supplied information confirms that most people can participate but does not state a minimum age. One 15-year-old completed the course successfully with attentive instruction, but that does not replace checking the current rules for your own group.

This is less suitable if you want a flexible sightseeing activity, dislike structured study, or have only one free morning. The course requires several multi-hour sessions, and weather can alter the plan.

You should also be comfortable with the physical nature of the activity. The information confirms that most people can participate, but it does not provide a detailed medical screening policy. If you have a health concern, ask Azul before booking.

Practical planning for your three days

Keep your schedule light around the course. With a 9:30 am start and multi-hour sessions, you will not want to stack major sightseeing plans on the same days.

Wear something comfortable for moving between the center, pool, and sea. The provider supplies scuba equipment, but you are responsible for lunch and private transport. Since the meeting point is in Funchal and close to public transportation, check your route before the first morning.

English is offered, and the mobile ticket makes arrival simple. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The small five-person limit means you should not leave the reservation until the last minute, especially since the average booking point is about 41 days ahead.

Ask for the planned sequence before your first session. The course may involve study, pool practice, three sea sessions, and a final assessment, but the order can depend on weather and instructor scheduling.

Should you book Azul Diving Madeira?

Book this course if you want to learn scuba properly in Madeira, value patient instruction, and plan to use an SSI certificate beyond this trip. The small class, included equipment, pool practice, and access to experienced instructors make it a strong choice for a focused beginner course.

I would be cautious if your holiday is tightly scheduled or if you only want a quick underwater introduction. At $527.44, the value depends on using the certification later, and lunch, transport, and any extra outings cost more.

For a nervous beginner, Azul’s calm coaching is the biggest reason to consider it. For a returning scuba student, the center’s further outings and instructors such as Lupii, Rafa, Tomas, Sara, and Nico offer a useful local connection after qualification. Give the course three clear days, keep your plans flexible, and you will get far more from it than a one-off underwater photo session.

FAQ

Where does the SSI course begin?

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

What time does the course start?

The stated start time is 9:30 am.

How long does the course last?

The course lasts approximately three days. A detailed schedule described about two and a half days, including a pool session, three sea sessions, and study time.

What certification do I receive?

You receive an SSI certification. It is recognized worldwide and permits scuba with a buddy to a maximum depth of 18 meters, or 60 feet.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Use of scuba equipment is included in the course price.

Are fees and taxes included?

Yes. All fees and taxes are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should plan your own food during the training days.

Is private transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included. The meeting point is near public transportation.

What happens if bad weather cancels the course?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts.