It’s the first question almost everyone asks, and it’s a fair one. We don’t post a single price, and we want to explain why rather than leave you guessing.
A certification price is not one thing. It’s a bundle, and shops bundle it differently. Two quotes that look $100 apart on paper are often not describing the same course at all, and the cheaper one is frequently the one with more added later. We’d rather tell you upfront exactly what is in our number and what isn’t.
What’s in the number
When you’re quoted a price for PADI Open Water certification, it should cover:
- eLearning and dive theory. Digital learning materials and eLearning access are included in our price.
- Confined-water training. We run a single pool session. Our pool classes are deliberately small, which is what makes it possible to get a student finished in one day rather than spread across several evenings.
- Open-water dives. Four dives, held at Lake Hydra over two days. Three dives on the first day and the final dive on the second.
- Equipment. Our price includes a mask, fins, booties and snorkel, and they are yours to keep. That is your own personal gear, not a rental. On its own that is around $400 of value.
What isn’t in the number
We’d rather you heard this now than at the quarry:
- Lake Hydra day passes. Roughly $60 per day, for the two open-water days.
- Air refill tickets. $10 each, two per person.
- Certification processing. A $25 digital processing certification fee.
Ask any shop you’re considering to do the same. Which items are in their number, and which arrive as a separate line later? The answer tends to be more revealing than the price itself.
Why we quote per student
- Class sizes are capped at three students, so instruction isn’t priced like a conveyor belt.
- Some students want private or semi-private instruction. Others are happy joining a scheduled group.
- Schedules vary. We work around shift work, students, busy professionals and families.
- Some people already own gear. Some need everything.
We include eLearning plus a mask, fins, booties and snorkel that you keep, all in one price, rather than quoting you a lower number and upselling those items afterwards. That is around $400 of value already inside our quote.
None of that resolves into one number that would be honest for everyone. So we talk to you first, then quote you accurately. You’ll get a real figure on that call. We’re not being coy, we just want it to be the right figure.
What to ask when you’re comparing shops
Whoever you end up training with, these are the questions worth asking:
- How many students per instructor in the water?
- Is rental gear included, and which pieces?
- Is the certification fee included, or added at the end?
- Where do the open-water dives happen, and is that cost in the price?
- What happens if I need an extra pool session, is that included?
- Who is actually teaching the course, and how long have they taught it?
We’re happy to answer all six for our courses, on the phone, before you commit to anything.
Get a quote
Call 908-379-8220, or use the contact form. Tell us what you’re after and we’ll give you a straight price, what’s in it, and when we could get you in the water.