James
Fantastic time!! I’ve been wanting to get my open water license for a while and the team at Oyster Diving were super helpful and supportive! I would fully recommend!
Complete your PADI Open Water Course in the UK by participating in Part B of our scuba diving certification programme. After finishing Part A, you will test your skills in Mercers Lake, a beautiful location with clear water, diverse fish, and unique underwater attractions.
Upon completing Part A of the PADI Open Water Course, which includes theory and confined water training, you will advance to the open water dives in Part B. Over two days at Mercers Lake, you will undertake four open water dives designed to refine your scuba skills in a real-world setting.
On the first day, you will start with a thorough briefing covering dive plans, safety protocols, and the schedule for the day. The initial dive will focus on acclimatising to the lake environment, practising buoyancy control, and performing basic scuba skills. The second dive will build on these skills, introducing underwater navigation exercises and further buoyancy practice. Throughout these dives, you will explore various parts of the lake, encountering fish species like perch, pike, and carp, as well as unique underwater features.
The second day begins with more advanced exercises, including emergency skill assessments and further navigation tasks. You will explore deeper sections of the lake, which will help build your confidence and control underwater. The final dive consolidates all the skills learned, featuring a tour of the lake's attractions such as the front of a Cessna plane and the underwater forest. The day concludes with a debriefing and a review of your certification progress, ensuring you have thoroughly understood and mastered the skills required for open water diving.
Mercers Lake is conveniently situated near the M25 and M23, offering easy access from London and Gatwick Airport. The nearest rail stations are Merstham and Redhill, with direct services from London Victoria.
Local buses from Redhill station provide additional transport options, with a short walk from the bus stop to the lake. The clear waters, friendly staff, and abundance of aquatic life make Mercers Lake an ideal location for learning to dive.
To join the PADI Open Water Course Part B, participants must be at least 10 years old and have completed Part A (theory and confined water training). You need to be able to swim 200 metres and float/tread water for 10 minutes.
All divers must complete a scuba medical questionnaire, and those with certain medical conditions must obtain doctor’s approval. Children under 13 require parental or guardian permission to register for PADI eLearning.
Our centre is dedicated to providing the highest quality scuba training, evidenced by multiple awards, including 'UK Dive Centre of the Year' and 'Instructor of the Year'. As a 5-star PADI IDC and Youth Training Centre, we offer small group sizes for more personalised instruction, ensuring each student receives the attention they need to succeed. Our exclusive access to Mercers Lake provides a unique and undisturbed diving environment, making your experience enjoyable and efficient.
We also offer a PADI Open Water Pass Guarantee with our Bronze package, allowing unlimited return visits until you complete your certification. Our comprehensive training programmes and commitment to safety and enjoyment make us the ideal choice for your scuba diving education.
Basic:
Bronze:
Silver:
Gold:
Platinum:
Our open water dives take place on weekends (Saturday and Sunday from 9am to around 2:30pm) or on weekdays (Thursday and Friday from 12-5pm).
Specific dates can be selected when booking your course below.
Mercers Lake is located near the M25 and M23 junctions. The nearest rail stations are Merstham and Redhill, both with direct services from London Victoria.
Local buses from Redhill bus station (Platform 4) to Mill Lane in Merstham offer a convenient option, followed by a 12-minute walk around the lake.
We provide all necessary scuba diving equipment, including tanks, regulators, buoyancy control devices (BCDs), wetsuits, masks, and fins.
Participants only need to bring their swimwear and towels.
Yes, there are additional costs for lake entry (£18 per day) and air fills (£20).
Participants may also need to cover personal expenses for food and beverages, as well as transport to and from the lake.
Facilities at Mercers Lake include a café, hot showers in both men’s and women’s changing rooms, and ample parking.
The lake offers exclusive diving access, ensuring no large groups from other dive schools are present.
Bring your swimwear, towels, a completed scuba medical questionnaire (if required), and any personal items you may need for the day.
You might also want to bring snacks, drinks, and sunscreen.
All divers must complete a medical questionnaire which will be sent to you after booking.
If you have any medical conditions listed on the form, you will need to obtain clearance from a doctor. Please bring the signed medical form confirming you are fit to dive.
Yes, you can complete your open water dives at any PADI centre around the world.
We can assist with arranging this if you prefer to complete your dives overseas, just contact the adventuro team using the chat feature below.
We offer a PADI Open Water Pass Guarantee with our Bronze package.
This means if you do not complete all the skills or requirements, you can return as many times as needed (subject to availability) until you pass.
Fantastic time!! I’ve been wanting to get my open water license for a while and the team at Oyster Diving were super helpful and supportive! I would fully recommend!
Having not dived for 5 years I was worried that I did not know how to set up the kit and do the dive basics. This course was perfect. I was able to ask all the questions I wanted and the instructor was calm and positive. I completed the course…
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Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
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