Any good instructors around here?

[Spg01]

Hello Pat,

In your opinion is openwater habitat worth the extra money to get certified? I have rough pricing from 7 shops I have looked into for an OW cert, and they are the highest at almost $1,100 where the other end is about $540 (Pacific Wilderness). Which includes personal gear. Openwater also does 2 boat dives, but I think I would like 1 boat and 1 shore just to do both types.

 

[Spg01]

If anybody is interested, I finally decided on a shop. Sea Ventures in Fullerton. I started last night and can't wait to get wet!

One of the deciding factors was the attitude of the shop. I was asking a few shops about the costs of an intro dive for my daughter (12). She want to try scuba in the pool but not in the ocean so I did not want to push her into an OW course.

The shop I was going to get certified through said it basically depends on how much gear you are going to buy her. Then tried to steer me straight into the OW class for her. That set off a few alarms for me, especially since I explained she just wants to get wet in the pool and not take a course.

Sea Ventures had a much better answer. I might end up at the other shop for advanced courses down the road, but I will deal with that when I get to it.