SCUBA Certification

[sam.basye]

Hey guys, I am a college student and my university is offering a class for $395 which includes:

(2) 4 hour classroom sessions and
(2) 4 hour pool sessions

"At the end of this course, students will receive their Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver certificate and will be certified to dive up to 60 feet."

Counts as 1 credit hour - not that I need it.


Is this a fair price for what is offered? Seems a little high to me, but I have no prior knowledge of the process.

Thanks!

 

[billdogg]

As long as it includes the (borrowed) equipment, that is about the going rate. However - you don't mention the open water check out dives - are they included as well?

 

[sam.basye]

Pretty sure it includes the borrowed equipment (regulator, tank) snorkel, mask, fins are not provided. I have my own though.

No mention of an open water dive, just the pool.

 

[St Pete John]

You need a dive to 60 feet in order to pass normally.

Thats an ok deal but ask about the checkout dive, if its in a rock pit or some dark hole i would pass if i were you. I have been certified for years but now try to take classes in the keys or south florida only, that way you get a nice dive and a class.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Price sounds about right, but the class and pool time sounds a bit limited...almost like a "resort" certification. Diving is super safe as long as you know what you're doing. You might want to look into a full length certification.

My college offered a PE credit course/certification for scuba diving as well. Ours was a full semester long and included Advanced CPR, but we got 4 credits for it. I was already certified but took the course anyway because I knew it would be more fun than Golf and other PE courses offered!

Plus there aren't many college classes you can take which include girls in bikinis...

 

[Patchmty]

Make sure it includes the open water dives, otherwise you'll have to do a referral which will cost another 150 to 200 depending on where you do it.

 

[sam.basye]

Lol, girls have to wear a one piece at Liberty University, gotta protect the Christian boundaries..

I'll email the teacher to determine if there is an open water dive and post back.

 

[hogfanreefer]

We paid $125 including equipment for everything up to the 4 open water dives. We drove to Vortex springs to do that. I think that was an additional $95 plus park admission. Included extra tank fills for fun dives after completing certification.

 

[snorvich]

Lol, girls have to wear a one piece at Liberty University, gotta protect the Christian boundaries..

I'll email the teacher to determine if there is an open water dive and post back.

You will find you want to wear a wetsuit as those pools get really cold, really quickly.

 

[Patchmty]

+1 on the wetsuit. 4 hours in a pool is a lot of heat loss

 

[sam.basye]

Thanks everyone for the comments!

The pool was rather cold if I remember correctly anyways.

 

[Deinonych]

You need a dive to 60 feet in order to pass normally.

Thats an ok deal but ask about the checkout dive, if its in a rock pit or some dark hole i would pass if i were you. I have been certified for years but now try to take classes in the keys or south florida only, that way you get a nice dive and a class.

I love diving in blue water. That said, I got certified in a murky quarry with less than 4' viz. The limited visibility forced me to focus on my skills, and I feel that I'm a better diver because of it.

To the OP: That price is about what I paid, including BCD/reg/wetsuit and manuals. Definitely make sure the class includes open water dives, though. You aren't fully certified without them.

 

[sam.basye]

I like the idea of getting a quality dive while getting certified. Dark cold VA lake vs. warm blue water... makes the choice easier. lol

I think I am going to hold off on the class as I feel it is more geared toward the price of a college credit than quality training.

Anyways, thanks everyone for the responses!

 

[r-balljunkie]

"At the end of this course, students will receive their Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Open Water Diver certificate and will be certified to dive up to 60 feet."

actually, you can dive to 130' with just open water cert.....60' is recommended but rarely enforced.

i dont suggest you drop to 130' until you are comfortable doing so.

good luck

 

[AdamNC]

actually, you can dive to 130' with just open water cert.....60' is recommended but rarely enforced.

i dont suggest you drop to 130' until you are comfortable doing so.

good luck

20 years ago I used to teach and 120-125' was the max for recreational diving Open Water 1 PADI. We used to do a week long coarse starting monday night for 2 hours and each night there after 1 hour a night. 3 1 hour pool sessions(I forget the days) and then 2 ow dives at 30 feet and then a 60 foot one on saturday and sunday respectively.

Open Water 2 was 60-125 feet.

 

[robw22]

You need a dive to 60 feet in order to pass normally.

Thats an ok deal but ask about the checkout dive, if its in a rock pit or some dark hole i would pass if i were you. I have been certified for years but now try to take classes in the keys or south florida only, that way you get a nice dive and a class.

You don't actually need to dive to 60 feet to get certified. In fact, quite often instructors will choose quarrys and other bodies of water that are only 20-30 feet deep for the checkout dives. Much easier to deal with a panicking student and get them safely to the surface if need be.

 

[tkeracer619]

I did my open waters in the Molokini crater. It was VERY difficult to focus! :lol:

A murky pit would probably have been better, I have some attention issues

 

[machonachos]

Price wise seems about right

 

[Deinonych]

actually, you can dive to 130' with just open water cert.....60' is recommended but rarely enforced.

i dont suggest you drop to 130' until you are comfortable doing so.

good luck

Yup. There are no SCUBA police. Just know your limits. Frankly, my best dives have been in the 40-60' range. Below that depth, you approach NDL and use air too quickly.

 

[tkeracer619]

Shallow dives are awesome. They last a lot longer.