The Basic SCUBA Diving Certification

Our Open Water SCUBA Certification classes allow you to dive all over the world. To get this basic dive certification, you’ll need to:

  • Satisfy written course requirements and pass the exam.
  • Demonstrate pool skills.
  • Complete four open water checkout dives.

Check the calendar for Open Water Certification classes.

You can easily complete all steps with SPE Dive School.

 

Classroom Training

Certification classroom training is fun and interactive, with videos, slides and real diving experiences shared by staff instructors. Our courses give you additional information not found in typical textbooks and videos. We consistently exceed industry standards to ensure our students have the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to be excellent, safe divers.

Pool Training

All pool work is conducted in heated pools with the highest quality diving gear provided for you. Students are divided into small groups to receive personalized instruction from staff members.

Open Water Certification Dives

Once you have completed the classroom and pool work, it’s time to go diving! Four open water checkout dives are required for certification, and we offer three options:

  1. Complete the dives locally on a weekend in a quarry.
  2. Join us on one of our monthly SCUBA open water certification dive trips to Grand Cayman Island – offered at the end of each course in the ultimate diving environment
  3. Complete the dives on your personal vacation at your preferred destination by obtaining a Student Referral Form from your instructor.

Requirements & Notes

  • You’ll first need to attend one of our monthly orientation meetings, which are free of charge.
  • The full lecture course with pool training is offered on either select weekends or weeknights.
  • Several options are available for weekend and weeknight courses, self-study, and private classes. Just ask or check the calendar.

Gear You Need

For our dive course, you’ll need a mask, snorkel, fins, boots, weights and weight belt, plus the course manual/video. We conduct a Gear Selection Mini-Clinic at orientation meetings.

SPE Dive School is not a retail dive shop, but we do offer the best equipment at discount prices as a service ONLY available to our students.

Weekend Course

We offer 2-day intensive weekend courses that meet from 9am to 9pm during those months without a Federal holiday, or 3-day holiday weekend courses from 10am to 8pm (9am on the first day). The course includes classroom sessions during the day with a 1-hour lunch break, followed by pool training in the evening. These fill quickly, so register now. Check the calendar for the next available course.

Weeknight Course

This meets two nights a week from 7pm to about 10:30pm, with 6 meetings over 3 weeks. Students decide together the 2 nights of the week they prefer to meet. The first 2 meetings take place entirely in the classroom, the next 2 in the pool, and the last 2 meetings in the classroom. You can always “mix and match” if you miss any parts of the courses.

Self-Study

Unable to attend the classroom part of certification but want to participate in pool training? You may sign up, fill out the required forms, and get your textbook and video material mailed to you’ve paid your registration. After viewing the video material and studying the textbook, make an appointment to take the written quizzes, final exam and participate in required pool training. To register for pool training, you MUST select and register for a scheduled course listed in our Course Calendar.

If you’re looking for an “open water student referral” certificate for an upcoming dive vacation, you can get a textbook and video material from us (DVD, video, or CD-ROM), then take the required quizzes and final exam. You can make your own arrangements to perform required pool skills during your vacation, as well as the open water training dives. Note that this option greatly increases the required training time during your vacation. Contact us for more information.

Private Dive Classes

Private SCUBA certification classes are also available for individuals, families or groups, conducted at your preferred location and schedule by appointment only. 

Interested in our Open Water SCUBA Certification Classes?

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Contact us for more information.