3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

Funchal is a fine place to learn scuba skills because this three-day SSI course combines classroom work, pool practice, and real sea sessions around Madeira. You finish with a certification accepted worldwide, allowing you to descend with a buddy to 18 meters.

I like the small maximum group of five, which gives instructors room to help with breathing, finning, and nerves. I also like that equipment, fees, and taxes are included, so the $527.44 price is easier to judge from the start. The drawback is the full schedule: with multi-hour sessions and some study in the evenings, this is not a casual holiday activity.

Key points to know

• Three-part training: Expect academic work, pool exercises, and three open-water sessions.
• Maximum depth of 18 meters: The SSI qualification lets you take part in buddy-based recreational outings around the world.
• Small groups: No more than five people are scheduled for the activity.
• Pool and sea access: You practice skills in a controlled setting before heading into the ocean.
• Patient instruction: Instructors including Lupii, Sara, Nico, Rafa, and Tomas have helped students build confidence at different speeds.
• Funchal base: Meet at Azul Diving Madeira near Hotel Penha França Mar at 9:30 a.m.

What the three-day SSI course actually involves

This is a proper entry-level qualification, not a quick trial session. You spend about three days learning the basics of scuba equipment, safe breathing, underwater movement, and what to do when something does not go as planned.

The schedule is often completed in roughly two and a half days, although the advertised duration is three days. One established pattern includes a pool session and three sea sessions, with some studying in the evening. That makes the course compact, but not light.

You should arrive ready to focus. You will not simply put on a mask, swim around for half an hour, and collect a certificate. The training asks you to absorb safety information, repeat practical skills, and show that you can manage yourself underwater.

That structure is valuable. Pool practice gives you a calmer place to learn basic actions before waves, visibility, and the open sea enter the picture. The sea sessions then let you apply those skills in real conditions, with an instructor close by.

Beginning at Azul Madeira in Funchal

The meeting point is Azul Diving Madeira, located by Hotel Penha França Mar on Rua Carvalho Araújo in São Martinho, Funchal. The start time is 9:30 a.m., and the activity finishes back at the same meeting point.

The center is near public transportation, which helps if you are staying in Funchal without a car. Private transport is not included, so you need to make your own way there. The meeting point is specific enough to plan around, but allow time to arrive early and get settled.

The course has a maximum of five participants. That is one of the most useful details here. A small class gives the instructor more time to watch how you breathe, adjust your buoyancy, and respond to each exercise. It also makes it easier to say that you need a slower explanation or another practice attempt.

Several instructors are associated with the center, including Lupii, Sara, Nico, Rafa, Tomas, Esmeralda, Guadalupe, Tony, and others. Your assigned instructor is not guaranteed in advance, but the teaching approach described across the center’s staff is personal and attentive.

Pool training before the ocean

The pool session is where you learn the basic rhythm of scuba. You get used to the mask, regulator, buoyancy control device, fins, and other equipment before handling those tools in the sea.

This step matters most if you feel uneasy in water. One student arrived with very little confidence and needed extra attention with breathing and finning. Sara worked patiently on those two skills, which shows why a small class can be so useful for beginners who do not feel naturally comfortable underwater.

You can expect repeated practice rather than a single demonstration. The goal is to make important actions feel familiar. An instructor may ask you to clear a mask, manage your breathing, adjust your position, or respond to a problem with your equipment.

The pool is not the glamorous part of the course, but it may be the most important. It lets you make mistakes while the setting remains controlled. If you are nervous, tell the instructor early. Lupii, in particular, has helped students work through anxiety by explaining each step and allowing confidence to build gradually.

Three sea sessions around Madeira

After pool work and the academic portion, you move into open-water training. The course normally includes three sea sessions, where you use the same skills in a less predictable setting.

Madeira’s ocean conditions can vary. Water temperature may feel cold to some people, and one student used a 7 mm wetsuit plus a shortie for extra warmth. The center has helped people choose appropriate exposure protection, but you should still be prepared for the possibility that the water feels cooler than expected.

The sea sessions are where the qualification begins to feel real. You learn how your equipment behaves in open water, how to stay close to your buddy, and how to remain calm when visibility or water movement changes.

The course uses local access points suitable for training, though the exact site can depend on sea conditions. If weather or water conditions are poor, the schedule may change. That is not a flaw in the program. Scuba training should not continue simply to protect a timetable.

The center has also moved activities when conditions were not safe. That practical attitude is worth more than squeezing in a final session on a bad day.

What you may see after qualifying

The course itself is focused on skills, but Madeira also gives you a reason to continue. After qualifying, you may be able to join additional outings in places such as the Garajau Marine Reserve, depending on conditions and availability.

The marine reserve has produced sightings of a large grouper, barracuda, parrotfish, and schools of smaller colorful fish. These are not promised as part of the beginner course, but they show what can await you once you have the basic qualification.

A wreck outing has also been particularly memorable for experienced customers at the center. That is a possible next step rather than part of the three-day course, and you should not expect an entry-level class to include every popular site around Funchal.

The center also offers night outings and further SSI or PADI training. Again, these are separate activities. The useful point is that you can continue locally rather than treating the certificate as a one-off holiday souvenir.

The instructors and the human side of training

Good equipment matters, but beginners often remember the instructor more than the gear. Learning to breathe underwater can feel strange, and a calm explanation can make the difference between enjoyment and panic.

Lupii has helped nervous students become comfortable enough to continue with more outings. Tomas is known for adapting explanations to the person in front of him and allowing extra time when someone needs it. Rafa has worked well with younger students, including a 15-year-old, and has handled equipment problems without fuss.

Sara and Nico have also helped students who began with limited confidence. The pattern is clear: the teaching is not built around rushing everyone through the same steps at the same speed.

That does not mean you should expect private tuition. There can still be several people in the group, and some parts of the schedule need to move forward. But five is a manageable maximum, and instructors appear used to adjusting their approach.

The center’s skippers, including Francisco and Vlad, also help with boat outings. They are not necessarily part of your beginner schedule, but their role becomes relevant if you continue with additional sea trips.

Equipment, comfort, and practical preparation

Use of scuba equipment is included in the price. You should still ask what exposure protection is recommended for your dates, especially if you are sensitive to cold.

The equipment has been described as being in good condition, and the staff help with carrying and setting it up for boat-based outings. That reduces some of the physical and technical strain for a beginner, though you should expect to take part in your own preparation as you learn how the system works.

Bring the basics that are not listed as included: suitable swimwear, a towel, water, and anything you need for a full morning or afternoon around the sea. Lunch is not included, so plan food separately. The course can run for several hours, and you will not want to finish a session hungry.

Because the program requires concentration, avoid treating the training day as something to squeeze between several other appointments. Give yourself space before and after the course. You may be tired after repeated practical sessions, even if the schedule feels relaxed on paper.

Is $527.44 a fair price?

At $527.44 per person, this is not the cheapest way to try scuba for one afternoon. It is also not priced like a short introductory swim. You are paying for a full SSI Open Water qualification, multi-day instruction, pool and sea training, equipment use, and fees and taxes.

The value depends on what you want. If you only want to see what scuba feels like once, this is more commitment than you need. If you want a certification that lets you join recreational outings with a buddy to 18 meters around the world, the price is easier to justify.

The small group strengthens the value. A larger class might cost less, but you could receive less individual attention when practicing safety skills. Here, the chance to work with an instructor on breathing, finning, and anxiety is part of what you are buying.

Remember to add your own transport and meals. Those costs are modest compared with the course fee, but they matter when building a full budget.

Who should book this course?

This course suits adults and older teenagers who want a recognized entry-level certification rather than a brief introduction. It is also a good match if you learn best by doing, since the program moves from theory to pool work and then to the sea.

You do not need to arrive as a confident swimmer, based on the way instructors have supported people with water anxiety. Still, you should be ready to participate actively and follow safety instructions. The course is not designed for someone who wants a passive sightseeing outing.

It works especially well for people staying in Funchal for at least several days. The three-day schedule needs room in your holiday, and you should not book it beside a tightly timed excursion or important travel connection.

A parent and teenager can also find this appealing. A 15-year-old has completed the training with the center, though you should confirm current age requirements before booking because the supplied course details do not state a formal minimum age.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The activity is often reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead of 41 days, so planning early is sensible if your dates are fixed.

You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the 9:30 a.m. start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather forces the center to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

The course is offered in English. Most people can participate, but scuba training is still physically and mentally demanding. If you have a medical concern, check before booking rather than waiting until the first morning.

Should you book the Funchal SSI course?

Book it if you want a real qualification, appreciate patient instruction, and can give three days to steady training. The pool session, small group, included equipment, and repeated sea practice make this a well-shaped starting point for scuba.

Skip it if you only want a quick underwater sample or if your Madeira schedule is too tight for evening study and multi-hour sessions. At this price, the course earns its value through the certification and personal instruction, not through a rushed holiday thrill.

For a beginner who wants to keep going after the first certificate, Azul Madeira offers a useful path from first breathing exercises to local marine reserves, wreck outings, and more advanced training.

FAQ

How long does the SSI Open Water course last?

The advertised duration is three days, with multi-hour training sessions. Some course schedules may finish in about two and a half days, with study work completed during the evenings.

What training is included?

The course includes academic study, pool practice, and open-water training. The usual structure described for the course includes one pool session and three sea sessions.

What depth can I reach after certification?

The SSI certification allows you to join recreational outings with a scuba buddy to a maximum depth of 18 meters, or 60 feet.

Is scuba equipment included?

Yes. Use of scuba equipment, as well as all fees and taxes, is included in the listed price.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you need to arrange your own food during the course.

Is transportation included?

No private transportation is included. The meeting point is near public transportation in Funchal.

Where does the course begin?

You meet at Azul Diving Madeira, near Hotel Penha França Mar on Rua Carvalho Araújo in São Martinho, Funchal. The start time is 9:30 a.m., and the activity ends at the meeting point.

What happens if bad weather cancels the course?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can select another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.