What could be more fun than getting certified this summer?!
Adventure Outfitters Dive Center is a 5-Star SDI Dive Center and PADI/IANTD Facility and family-run, Veteran-owned, business that prides itself on quality private and small-class sizes with personalized instruction. Our instructors are PADI, SDI/TDI and IANTD Scuba Diver Trainers. By having multiple certifying agencies, leading in safe practices and standards in diving worldwide, we can customize your experience even further. We make sure that each diver receives personalized attention, high-quality rental gear, explores unique dive sites, and has the best experience possible. We devote as much time as it takes to ensure that you not only master each skill, but become a confident, informed diver, ready for today’s high-tech dive scene.
HOW IT WORKS: The open water course is comprised of three sections:
1. INDEPENDENT STUDY: Once you have paid your $250 non-refundable deposit, we email you an eLearning code. Students will complete the eLearning prior to pool and OW sessions. Your deposit goes toward the remaining balance of your course fee. If you prefer a classroom setting instead of eLearning, you can read the Open Water Study Materials prior to attending a privately scheduled classroom session prior to your pool session (classroom session is an additional $75 fee).
2. CONFINED (POOL) SESSION: We have a large, indoor, private pool, making it easy to schedule your pool session on your time. This allows us to review and practice skills in a calm environment without having to dive around others. Since we only have private and semi-private lessons, this is usually accomplished in approximately 6 hours. If you are in the group course and cannot make the group pool session, you may schedule a private pool session based on your schedule for an additional fee of $250. On occasion, divers prefer the private pool and then participate in the group open water course.
3. OPEN WATER SESSIONS: Over the course of two days, we always go to two different dive sites for your four open water dives. On the first day we typically go to either a Florida freshwater spring (Devil’s Den, Blue Grotto, or Hudson Grotto) or a spring-fed lake (Lake Denton). Weather permitting, we will go either on a Gulf boat dive, Gulf shore dive, a drift river dive or a spring dive for the second day. This allows you to experience different types of diving sites our area has to offer. If weather conditions, scheduling, and budget do not permit us to go to the Gulf, we will either go to a freshwater site to complete your dives 3-4.
4. COURSE DATES: Private – you can select your own dates (most of the time we can accommodate your specific dates); Small Group – you will select from the one to two open water courses we hold each month for our group course, unless all the students are in one group (you all know each other – you can select your own dates!). Group dates are posted on our website calendar or just ask us at the shop.
5. OPTIONAL ENRICHED AIR COURSE: To help our students continue their diving education, we offer a discounted rate for taking the Enriched Air Course within one month of their Open Water Course. The most popular specialty class, Nitrox Diver, can combine with your open water course at a discounted rate of $175 (normally $275).
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR COURSE:
1. All rental scuba equipment during entire course (regulator, BCD, tanks, weights, dive computer, compass, wetsuit, etc...) When purchasing your gear with us, we give you a detailed “mini” course on your personal gear.
2. All study materials, pool fees, course instruction and Certification Card Fee
3. Pre-course orientation–this is held prior to your pool session and required for all students – this is the time we will go over your paperwork, class schedule, required personal gear and details of your specific course. At this time, you will receive a Student Checklist to ensure you know what to expect and what to do every step of the way.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR COURSE:
Paperwork: With your e-learning, you will receive online paperwork or digital documents to sign including a liability waiver and a medical form. On the medical questionnaire, if you have a “yes” on any of the questions, you will be required to have a doctor sign off on your medical form. If you have any questions about this, please reach out ASAP. On the medical questionnaire, you must write, “yes” or “no” to the answers. If you are 17 or younger, there are several youth forms that will need to be filled out which can be provided per request.
GEAR - WE HAVE THE BEST SELECTION IN TOWN – WITH THE BEST PRICES! ASK ABOUT OUR STUDENT PACKAGES! Mask, Scrub/DeFog, snorkel, fins, boots, SMB/whistle and Student Logbook: Every diver needs their own personal gear. Prior to your class, we will walk you through the different types of appropriate gear and what you will need for diving. You will have an opportunity to try on different types of gear to ensure a proper and safe fit. Our gear is all competitively priced, and hand selected by our instructors and service technicians to get you the best gear for the best price. You will need to have a well-fitting scuba mask, snorkel, pair of boots and fins, SMB, whistle, logbook and mask scrub/defog to complete the course. These are all personal items you will use during your underwater adventures. We match online prices from verified authorized dealers of our brands! Please consider your local, small business dive shop for your equipment needs.
Transportation – Due to insurance prohibitions, we do not provide transportation to and from dive sites. We do recommend trying to carpool with other students to save on gas.
THINGS TO BRING DURING YOUR POOL AND OPEN WATER SESSIONS: Your personal gear, swimsuit, towel, snack/sack lunch, water and sunscreen. Group open water students are required to pick up their rental gear prior to all sessions of their the course. If you need someone to bring it for you, no problem! We charge $20 for a transport fee. Please arrange with the shop prior to your dives.
RENTAL GEAR: (Your course fees include study materials, all rental gear, tanks, and weights, compass, certification card fee, pool entry fee, and instruction): You never have to pay for rental gear and tanks during any portion of your open water course. We do require you to pick up your rental gear for your course the day prior. We do have a concierge service for a nominal fee if you choose.
COURSE FEES: For kids SCUBA Certificaiton Camp, we charge $690 per person which includes eLearning, two days of classroom and pool, and two days of open water sessions. We also have group courses available every month. We also include lunch each day.
ENTRY FEES: The entry fees for dive sites range from $25 - $65 and the boat charter fees range from $175 - $210. This is a fee that is charged by the operator of the dive site or vessel. Possible shore dive options are free (optimal conditions only). The dive sites we choose for your class will be based on site availability, visibility and weather conditions and are up to the discretion of your instructor. Sorry, we cannot offer transportation to and from the dive sites due to liability and insurance purposes.
WHAT IS NEXT AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR COURSE:
We will always be here for you to answer any questions you may have as you begin your dive life! On the last day of your open water course, we will take a photograph of you for your certification card, teach you how to fill out your logbook, and register your certification with the certifying agency. Our course includes a free digital certification card. If you wish to purchase a physical card (sometimes nice for travelling), we can arrange that for you. The hard card is an additional fee, and you can arrange that with the shop either before or after your course.
Once you have become a certified diver, we will add you to our mailing list so you can be caught up with our current local dive trips, cleanup dives, continuing education courses and sales and free guest speakers!
Like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest events, sales, trips and continuing education courses.
IMPORTANT REASONS TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL DIVE SHOP!
1. Your local dive shop is the only place where you can take courses, see and try on gear, learn about trips, local dives, and learn about your equipment based on your diving needs and budget.
2. Your local dive shops are also where you can get your tanks filled or get tank rentals for your local trips!!!
3. We spend a lot of time researching and educating ourselves on all the latest technologies, safety measures and updates in the dive community – we like sharing our accurate knowledge and latest industry news! We sell what we wear!
4. We can help you select the proper dive gear that fits you and your budget – the internet can’t do that! We also match all legitimate online or sale prices. PLEASE have us be the first place you look for gear – we want you to base your decision with the proper knowledge.
5. Members of the dive community are fun and interesting, just hang out at the shop when you have a little time and get to know us and all our friends and fellow divers – it’s a great place to learn new things and find a dive buddy!
6. We have many local guided trips each month, free guest lecture series every six weeks, clean up dives 6 times a year, and two huge sales, and much more!
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