Open Water Certification

The Course

The Open Water Certification Course includes 4 classroom lectures, 3 pool sessions and a total of 4 open water dives (2 tanks each trip) in two separate boat trips as well as a final exam. (About 30 hours total time, including the two-half day boat trips.) The cost of the boat fees are included in the price of the course, as well as all required scuba gear such as buoyancy compensator device with low-pressure inflator hose, tanks, air fills, regulator, alternate air source and submersible pressure gauge.

This will give you an idea of the scheduling/time and how class and pool is divided up:

Lecture # 1 - 1.5 hours
Pool # 1 - 2 hours

Lecture # 2 & 3 - 3 hours
Pool # 2 - 2 hours

Lecture # 4 - 2.5 hours
Pool # 3 - 2 hours

Final Exam - 2.5 hours (I like to do the final after the first two dives)

Dives 1 & 2 - 5+ hours (boat trip)
Dives 3 & 4 - 5+ hours (boat trip)

Gear YOU will be required to purchase which is considered "personal:"

• Mask
• Fins
• Snorkel
• Weight Belt and Weights
• Wet Suit (appropriate exposure protection) if necessary, depending on the time of the year the course is taken.
• PADI Open Water Dive Manual with
• Dive Tables

Please Note:
Pool classes can take place in your own private pool or at the lovely Coral Gables Country Club located at 997 North Greenway Drive in Coral Gables, 33134. Pool fees are included in the class price. Even though the pool is warm in summer, due to extended periods of time in the water and because you are not always moving around, a wet suit or some type of exposure protection is suggested for pool classes, especially in the winter months December through April.

Boat trips are generally from Miami Beach Marina with Deco Divers, a Coast Guard Certified vessel OR Sea Dwellers in Key Largo and are four shallow dives including one shallow wreck dive, which is the first dive of the second boat trip.

For equipment purchases I can recommend two dive shops that I work closely with. Each will give you a discount on your purchase of mask, fins, snorkel, weight belt and weights and a wet suit - just mention you are taking my class. However, you can only purchase the PADI Open Water Dive Manual with Dive Tables at Austin's Diving Center. (Underwater Unlimited teaches the SSI method.)

Austin's Diving Center 10525 South Dixie Highway Miami, FL 33156 305-665-0636

Underwater Unlimited 4689 SW 72 Avenue Miami, FL 33155 305-661-0099