The Open Water SCUBA Certification Course (entry level) consists of three parts:
• pool sessions,
• classroom sessions and
• open water check out dives.
As pool and classroom sessions are time consuming, it is recommended that they be completed before, not during your vacation. The course meetings last approximately 4 hours: about 1 ½ hour in the pool (conducted in heated pools) and 2 ½ hours in the classroom. The final requirement for certification includes the actual dives in open water, which can be completed any time after successful completion of the pool and classroom sessions during your next vacation.
* "Lecture Course" Meetings:
There are two options available for scheduling your "lecture course" meetings:
1. Weeknight meetings, meet two nights a week from 7:00pm to approximately 10:45pm, for a total of 7 meetings over 3½ weeks. Students decide on which two nights of the week they prefer to meet during the orientation. As there are usually two sets of classes being held simultaneously per week (on alternate nights) you may make-up a missed class by attending an alternate session that week.
2. Weekend meetings, conducted during 3-day holiday weekends or on select 2 consecutive weekend dates throughout the year, meeting from 10:00am to approximately 8:00pm (9:00am to 9:00pm on the first day); with a 1-hour lunch break each day.
* "Self-Study Course" Description:
Our "self-study course" is designed specifically for those individuals whose schedule does not allow them to enroll in a full "lecture course". In this case the student may register, fill out all required forms, pick up the text book as well as the video material (DVD, video, or CD-ROM). All forms, text book, and video materials can also be mailed to the student once the registration payment has been made. After the participant has had a chance to view the video material and study the text book, he/she shall make an appointment to have his/her written quizzes and final exam conducted and to participate in the required pool training. When you pre-register in a self-stuffy course, you MUST select a scheduled course to complete your pool portion of the course.
* "Partial Course" Description:
If an individual's time is so limited that he/she is not even able to participate in the pool training, he/she may register in a "partial course", exactly as described above (as for "self-study course"), complete the written quizzes/final exam and receive a "partial referral certificate", for his/her upcoming dive vacation. During the dive vacation, the student will complete the required pool training prior to participating in the actual open water certification training dives. In this case, the student avoids having to attend any classroom sessions during his/her precious vacation time, yet can still receive a full open water certification by the end of his/her vacation.
* Pre-Registration:
Pre-registration is not necessary (but recommended) for Weeknight Courses; however, Weekend Courses fill quickly and, as dive class size is limited, you must guarantee a space in a Weekend Course by completing a pre-registration form and mailing or submitting by credit card a deposit.
* Orientation:
Learn more about SCUBA diving and training by attending an orientation session. They are free of charge and last 1½ hours. Attendance is not required but highly recommended as:
- students vote on which two nights per week diving classes will be held;
- important information regarding the dive course is presented in detail;
- valuable tips and information are presented regarding Skin diving gear selection (mask, snorkel, fins, fin booties, and weight belt) that is not covered in regular class meetings.
It is not necessary to pre-register for attending the orientation or to bring swimsuits or dive equipment with you.
Please do not purchase any diving equipment before attending the orientation.
As a service ONLY available to our students, a very large selection of all skin diving/SCUBA gear is available for purchase at discount prices at SPE Dive School, LLC
A schedule of future dive course orientation dates is provided for your convenience. You are invited to bring friends and family members with you.
* Locations:
Orientations & class meetings are held in the following locations:
• Chevy Chase (Friendship Heights)
• NW DC Tenley
* Pre-requisites:
Minimum age is 12 and basic swimming ability is required.
* Certification:
Students successfully completing all lectures and water work will qualify to receive PADI, YMCA, and CMAS Open Water SCUBA Diving certifications. These certifications are valid worldwide for buying air, renting dive gear, and participating in group dive expeditions. Your certification card does not expire and needs no renewal.
* Equipment:
All necessary equipment is supplied for the course except personal gear (mask, snorkel, fins, fin booties, and weight belt). Your personal gear must be SCUBA-rated and meet your instructor's approval.
* Open Water Certification Dives:
Required for certification. Three options for completing required open water dives are to:
a. complete the dives locally over two half-days on a weekend;
b. join our Dive Center on a Cayman Island trip at a time suitable to your schedule;
c. complete the dives on your personal vacation at your preferred destination by obtaining a student referral form from your instructor.
Notes:
* Submit by credit card a deposit of $150 per person, applicable to your course fee.
* Your deposit is non-refundable but may be applied to a future diving course if you inform us of your cancellation within 7- days prior to the first class session.
Enrollment Cost:
- $250 for all "lecture courses" and "self-study courses".
- $150 for "partial courses" and $295 for winter season for all "lecture/self-study courses" offered in January, February, and March.
- Includes pool and classroom use and the use of all major SCUBA gear, for the duration of the course: tanks, air fills, regulators, gauges and BCD jackets.
- Payment is due at the first meeting.
- Advance payment may also be made online using a credit card.
As a service ONLY available to our students, a very large selection of all skin diving/SCUBA gear is available for purchase at discount prices at our diving center.
Also see tour packages in:
Scuba diving operators
Central America and Caribbean
Cayman Is.
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