Published
Prices and offers updated November 2026

Open Water Diving Course near Saint-Gilles: Level 1, 2026 price

Get your Level 1 diving certification (the Open Water equivalent) in Reunion Island from €390 with Le Dodo Palmé (Le Port, 8km from Saint-Gilles). 6 half-days, 6 sea dives and an SSI/FFESSM card at the end.

6dives~3 daysFrom age 12From €390

Level 1 (the French FFESSM certification, equivalent to SSI or PADI Open Water Diver) is the first step towards serious diving. Once certified, you can dive on guided exploration dives with a dive leader down to 20 metres, anywhere in the world, for life. It's the logical next step after a discovery dive (see my Discovery Diving page) if you enjoyed it.

The only Level 1 course you can book online on the west coast is run by Le Dodo Palmé in Le Port (8km from Saint-Gilles via the Route des Tamarins), from €390with 6 half-days and 6 open-water dives. For multi-level training (Open Water + PA20 + PE40), see my Multi-Level Training in Saint-Leu page. For exploration diving (once you've got your N1), see my Exploration Diving in Saint-Gilles page.

In brief

The Level 1 course at a glance

Level 1 / Open Water Course (Le Dodo Palmé)
Duration
6 half-days (about 3 days)
Price
€390
For
Travellers staying 5+ days, from age 12
The selection

The Le Dodo Palmé offer

Two scuba divers giving a shaka hand sign underwater near a coral reef wall, diving training in Reunion IslandMy choice

Full Level 1 / Open Water Course (Le Dodo Palmé)

The only Level 1 course you can book online on the west coast: 6 half-days and 6 sea dives with Le Dodo Palmé, plus an €80 training kit.

Duration
6 half-days (~3 days)
Level
Having done a discovery dive is recommended
Cancellation
Flexible (Manawa)
Company
Le Dodo Palmé
Meeting point
Le Dodo Palmé, 20 Rue Berthier, 97420 Le Port (8km from Saint-Gilles via the Route des Tamarins)

6 open-water dives · SSI / FFESSM N1 card

From
€390/person
Book via Manawa
See the full description

This is the most complete Level 1 course (the Open Water equivalent, SSI/FFESSM) you can book online on the west coast: €390 per person with Le Dodo Palmé, based in Le Port (8km from Saint-Gilles via the Route des Tamarins, a 10-minute drive). The course runs over 6 half-days (about 3 days' worth), spread out to suit your schedule, with 6 open-water dives at west-coast sites (Cap La Houssaye, Petit Boucan, sites within the Marine Reserve).

It follows the FFESSM/SSI standard (FFESSM is the French diving federation): theory (breathing, underwater signals, safety rules, buoyancy, safety stops), sea dives down to 20m and skills checks with a state-certified instructor. At the end, you get your certification card (SSI Level 1, equivalent to PADI Open Water Diver), which lets you join guided dives anywhere in the world.

Who it's for: travellers staying 5+ days in Reunion Island who want to turn their discovery dive into a lasting certification, teenagers and adults from age 12 who want to take up diving properly, and divers with a foreign qualification who want a French one too. Who it's not for: travellers on a short stay (the course takes at least 3 days, see my Discovery Diving page for a one-hour experience), and anyone after Advanced or deeper (N2+) courses (see my Multi-Level Training in Saint-Leu page for PA20 and PE40).

Manawa price: €390 per person (includes 6 dives, theory, gear, certification card). Not included: lunches (about €15/day) and the training kit (€80 to pay on site for the personal manual and dive logbook). Flexible Manawa cancellation. Prerequisite: having done a discovery dive is strongly recommended to make the most of the course. An SSI Level 1 card is issued at the end, valid worldwide.

Companies

The west coast's training centres

Le Dodo Palmé

My partner
Le Port (8km from Saint-Gilles)

The long-established dive centre in Le Port harbour, listed on Manawa for Level 1 training. Rated 4.7/5 overall on Manawa (the listing is recent, so there are few individual reviews so far). State-certified instructors, with dives in Reunion Island's protected Marine Reserve. An SSI Level 1 card is issued at the end, valid worldwide.

Excelsus Plongée

Saint-Leu

A competing centre in Saint-Leu, offering multi-level training (Open Water / N1 / PA20 / PE40) at €310, with more flexible 2-7 day courses. See my dedicated Multi-Level Training in Saint-Leu page for details. Worth considering if you're staying in Saint-Leu or want to progress beyond Level 1.

Réunion Diving

Saint-Gilles harbour

My discovery-diving partner in Saint-Gilles (see my Discovery Diving page), 4.9/5 from 36 reviews. There's no Level 1 course listed online at the moment, but they may offer training on site. If you want to stay in Saint-Gilles itself, contact Réunion Diving directly after your discovery dive.

Good to know

Preparing for your Level 1 course

  • Having done a discovery dive is recommended before committing to 3 days of training; the discovery dive is open from age 8, while N1 requires a minimum age of 12.
  • A medical certificate confirming no contraindication to diving is compulsory for under-18s (dated within the last year).
  • Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a water bottle, a snack for breaks.
  • An €80 training kit to pay on site (a personal manual plus dive logbook, required for the course).
  • Lunches aren't included (budget about €15/day if you don't bring a packed lunch).
  • Language: if you'd like the course taught in English, check with the centre when you book.
  • No flying for 24h after your last dive (decompression sickness risk at reduced atmospheric pressure).
  • Weather: if the sea is rough, the course can be spread over more than 3 days for safety, so keep your plans flexible (allow 5-7 days on site).
Traveller reviews

Reviews of the Level 1 course

Overall Manawa rating 4.7/5(based on all the reviews published on the platform for this operator). The Le Dodo Palmé Level 1 listing is recent and doesn't have any individual reviews published yet. Le Dodo Palmé is a long-established operator in Le Port harbour, see also my Dodo Palmé Diving & Snorkelling establishment page. For detailed feedback on the course, contact the centre directly or check the establishment's Google Maps reviews.

See the Manawa listing
Providers

Providers for this activity

These operators have a detailed profile on the site: reviews, catalogue, prices and practical info to book with confidence.

Diving & snorkelling

Réunion Diving

A diving centre in Saint-Gilles. 10,000+ supervised dives, first dives, exploration dives and whale-watching trips.

See the provider's profile
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Frequently asked questions

Your questions about the Level 1 course

What is Level 1 diving certification?
Level 1 (N1) is the first certification level of the French diving federation, FFESSM (Fédération Française d'Études et de Sports Sous-Marins), and the equivalent of SSI or PADI Open Water Diver. It certifies that you can dive with a dive leader down to 20 metres, so you can join guided dives at clubs anywhere in the world without doing a discovery dive each time. The card is valid for life.
What does Level 1 training cost in Reunion Island in 2026?
Expect €390 per person with Le Dodo Palmé on Manawa for the full N1 course (6 half-days, 6 dives, a certification card). The training kit (€80, paid on site) and lunches (about €15/day) are extra. For comparison, the Excelsus course in Saint-Leu is €310 for multi-level Open Water / N1 training (see my dedicated page), with an equivalent SSI certification. Excelsus is cheaper overall because its course is more modular.
How long does the training take?
6 half-days in total (theory plus practice), about 3 full days spread out to suit your schedule. The centre adapts to your trip's timetable (spread over 1 week, or even 2 weeks if combined with other activities). To complete certification within the course, plan for at least 4-5 days on site (a margin for bad weather and compulsory rest days between certain dives).
What are the prerequisites for Level 1 training?
Minimum age 12 (under-18s need a medical certificate confirming they're fit to dive). You must be able to swim 25 metres and float for 5 minutes (checked at the start of the course). Having done a discovery dive is strongly recommended, to make sure you enjoy the activity before committing to 3 days of training. You don't need to be especially fit, but you should be in good general health. The usual medical reasons not to dive are severe asthma, chronic ENT issues, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a slipped disc, recent surgery.
What's included in the price?
Included in the €390: all diving gear (tank, BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins, mask), supervision by a state-certified instructor, full theory (in person or online depending on the centre), 6 open-water dives, an SSI Level 1 certification card at the end, a dive logbook. Not included: the €80 training kit (a personal manual plus logbook, to pay on site), lunches during the course days, transport to the centre in Le Port.
Saint-Gilles or Saint-Leu for training?
Le Port (my partner Le Dodo Palmé, 8km from Saint-Gilles) is more convenient if you're staying in the west coast resorts (L'Hermitage, La Saline, Saint-Paul, Saint-Gilles). Saint-Leu (Excelsus, see my Multi-Level Training page) is better if you're staying further south or want multi-level training (Open Water + PA20 + PE40) in a single course. Both centres operate within Reunion Island's Marine Reserve, so the diving quality is the same. Choose based on where you're staying.
What comes after Level 1?
With your N1 card, you can join guided exploration dives down to 20m anywhere in the world. In Reunion Island, see my Exploration Diving in Saint-Gilles page (Réunion Diving, €45/dive) and Exploration Diving in Saint-Leu page (access to deep N2+ sites via ongoing training). To go further, PA20 (independent diver, 20m, €200-300) then PE40 (supervised diver, 40m, €400-600) open up deep sites such as the Antonio Lorenzo wreck and the Pointe au Sel drop-off (60-71m).
Should you book ahead?
Yes, it's strongly recommended. Groups are limited to 4-6 trainees per instructor, and the centre fills up in high season (July-August, when French schools are on holiday). Book 2-3 weeks ahead in high season, 7-10 days in low season. Remember you can't fly for 24 hours after your last dive (risk of decompression sickness). 2026 prices verified as of the update date. Flexible Manawa cancellation; if the weather is unfavourable, the centre reschedules dives within the course schedule.

Last updated: 6 November 2026. Prices verified at the time of writing. Confirm the exact price when booking.