College Class

[greenmonkey51]

I just discovered this, but my university offers a scuba class. I know zero about it right now. It may look halfway good for my future profession. What kind of questions should I ask about it to get an initial read on it.

 

[JHemdal]

I took SCUBA in college, even though I had first gotten certified 7 years before. If I recall, it counted as a phys ed class. The first consideration is what agency offers the certificate through the university - mine was PADI. The second is how will they handle open water chack out dives? With travel costs and gear rental, the check out dives can be pricey - but less so if the school subsidizes the cost.

Jay

 

[greenmonkey51]

I emailed a couple people and found out some more information about the class. I'm looking at a 150$ initial fee plus the extra charges they mention.

Thanks for your interest in the Scuba I course we offer at UNL. The Scuba I course covers the first two components of the SDI Open Water Diver course – the academics and pool dives. We use the SDI Open Water online course to complete the academic requirements, along with two nights in the classroom. The pool dives are covered in five sessions, each one lasting two hours.

The additional fee paid to the university covers your instruction, pool use, air fills, and use of all the scuba equipment including weights, buoyancy compensation devices, regulators, and computers. You’ll need to provide your own mask, snorkel, wetsuit boots, and scuba fins. If you don’t already own those, we have several options available here at the store, and offer UNL students some special deals when you purchase those through us. You’ll also need to purchase your student kit from us, which includes your online course access code and your logbook.

Upon completion of the Scuba I course, you can finish your certification by completing your open water dives with us or finish by referral to another dive shop. Additional fees are charged for the open water dives or the referral paperwork (the referral paperwork includes your certification fee).

 

[billsreef]

Assuming they don't have outrageous charges to do your open water check out dives, looks to be a good deal. SDI is a widely recognized certification agency, so you'll have no problems with the certification being recognized when traveling. So if it's something you really want to do, I'd go for it

 

[greenmonkey51]

I've done some more reading and a couple more emails and I don't know if I like the attitude of the dive shop that has the class. It sounds like they are already pushing to buy stuff. I checked out another shop and they offer SSI, but they don't require to buy anything other than boots. They seem like not pushing you to buy anything.

 

[billdogg]

IME, most shops are that way. That is, after all, how they make their $$$ Before you buy, I would rent from a couple different places to see what you like best.

 

[billsreef]

Buying mask, fins and booties is the norm. That is what is referred to as personal gear. It's the stuff that is typically not rented. The reason for expecting students to buy that stuff is that fit is highly personal and needs to be rather precise.

If they are pushing you to buy other equipment, than that is indeed being pushy.

 

[Reefugee]

I would rather take a scuba course than at most dive shop. I prefer classes that are spread out rather classes that are done in one weekend. I personally retain information better when the material is spread over a period of time.

I took my first aid/CPR class in college, and it was so much better than one of those weekend courses.