San Diego Scuba Certifications
Your underwater adventure begins here! Become a certified scuba diver and discover all that’s happening under the sea.
At Dive California, you’ll get to train with an experienced, first-rate instructor with thousands of logged dives in San Diego and around the world.
We keep even our private class sizes capped at 4 so you’ll receive more attention and personalized guidance. Never any “cattle classes” and no rush!
We’re proud to offer both the PADI and SSI open water courses.
What’s Included in Your San Diego Scuba Courses?
We offer the following courses:
- Open Water Diver Course: Private / Semi-Private
- Open Water Referral Training
- Ultimate Refresher Course
Each course fee includes:
- PADI / SSI / RAID Learning Materials
- PADI / SSI /RAID Certification Fees
- Full Rental Gear
- Dive Log
We don’t require you to rent or purchase your own scuba gear for this class. However, we do think your experience will be more comfortable if you own personally-fitted equipment, like:
- Scuba Mask and Snorkel
- Fins
- Boots and Gloves
San Diego Scuba Courses
Open Water Diver Course
(Private / Semi-Private)
Private One-on-One: $1995
Semi-Private (2 Students): $1295 per student
Semi-Private (3-4 Students): $1095 per student
The Open Water Diver course is the jumping-off point of your scuba journey!
Course Includes:
Knowledge Development
Before you get in the water, you’ll study PADI / SSI online academic materials from the comfort of your home and learn the basic principles of scuba diving.
Pool Session
Dive into a pool and practice your scuba diving skills with your instructor. Pool sessions are typically 5 – 6 (depending on the number of students) hours and are completed on a single day.
Open Water Dives
We’ll embark on 4 open water dives where you’ll practice your skills in the ocean and begin exploring the underwater world! Open water dives take 2 days to complete.
Advanced Open Water Diver Course
(Private / Semi-Private)
Private One-on-One: $695 (does not include PADI e-Learning and certification processing fee of $217.)
Semi-Private (2 Students): $495 per student (does not include PADI e-Learning materials and certification processing fee of $217).
The Advanced Open Water Diver course is all about advancing and refining your skills. You can enroll immediately after earning your Open Water Diver Certification, although we do recommend that you first log a minimum of 15 dives.
Open Water Referral Program
(2-Day Course, PADI, SSI, SDI, RAID)
Private One-on-One: $595
NO Group Course, Just you and your Instructor
This is for students who are visiting from out of town. If you’ve completed the classroom and pool sessions in your hometown, or if you’re returning from a vacation course, you can complete your open water dives here in beautiful San Diego.
We accept referrals up to 1-year-old, but referrals older than 6 months will require a complete scuba review, course exam, and additional pool session.
Course Requirements
• Proof of completed academic online self-study and pool/confined water training
• Minimum 13 years of age to participate in ocean checkout dives
• Course paid in full at enrollment
• Complete waivers and medical form
What’s included in the cost?
• 2-Day Open water training (4-ocean dives) with private one-on-one instruction
• All rental gear will be transported by your instructor to the dive site.
• All required scuba equipment
• PADI/SSI/ SDI/RAID open water diver certification processing after successful completion
Dive California’s Ultimate Refresher Course
$350 per student (max. 2 students per course)
Feeling a little rusty? A scuba refresher course is a great way to brush up your skills if you’ve taken a long break from diving. Our Ultimate Refresher Course will bring you back up to speed so you can dive safely with your buddy or group.
We offer both, PADI ReActivate and SSI Scuba Review. Both programs are quick and easy! (PADI and SSI online materials are not included in the course fee and have to be paid separately to the individual training agency.
Prerequisites
• 13 years old, and in reasonable physical health.
• Proof of scuba certification from any other recognized scuba training agency.
• Complete Liability Release
• Complete PADI/SSI Medical Statement
• *Complete ReActive E-Learning (PADI course only)
What is included?
• Experienced Scuba Instructor
• Personalized Instruction – (Max. 2 Divers per Instructor)
• Knowledge Review Session, Equipment Review, In-Water Skills Practice
• 2-Ocean Dives
• All necessary Scuba Rental Gear
What is not included?
• PADI ReActivate E-Learning $69 payable directly to PADI
FAQs
Why take a private scuba course?
Here’s why you might want to take a private or semi-private scuba course:
- You have a busy or complicated schedule
- You want to get certified within a short amount of time (maybe you have an upcoming vacation!)
- You want a more individualized learning experience with more attention from your instructor
- You’re nervous about scuba diving and want the most stress-free training experience possible
Scuba diving is a safe sport when you’re properly trained. Sometimes, beginning scuba divers receive poor training because of:
- Large Class Sizes: When your scuba class has more than 4 students, you’ll receive far less guidance from your instructor and it will be more difficult to master your basic skills.
- Rushed Courses: Some scuba diving instructors want to rush through your training as quickly as possible so they can book the next group of students.
At Dive California, we want you to feel safe and confident when you head off on your dive adventures. That’s why we only offer private and semi-private scuba courses. A small class size ensures that you’re going to get the best scuba training possible.
What are the age requirements for your scuba courses?
The minimum age for each of our scuba courses is:
- Open Water Diver: 13 Years Old
- Referral Training: 13 Years Old
- Ultimate Refresher: 13 Years Old
Minors must have parental consent.
Do I have to be a good swimmer to become a scuba diver?
You’ll be more comfortable in the water if you’re a proficient swimmer. However, the swimming requirements for the PADI / SSI Open Water Course are modest. You must be able to perform a 200-yard swim without stopping, but you may choose any swim style. You must also be able to tread water for 10 minutes (in water that’s too deep for standing).
Will my scuba certification expire?
Your certification will not expire. However, if you don’t go scuba diving for an extended period, you’re highly encouraged to refresh your skills through a scuba refresher course. Some dive operators may not allow you to dive with them if you haven’t been diving in over 6 months.