best open water dive class in south bay area?

[northstar]

Hello,

I plan to take a open water class and get certified. Can you recommend a good one? I heard people talking about any water in santa clara and I also found a few from google, like santa clara university scuba dive club etc..

another question is, there are regular 3 weeks class as well as 2 weeken class, which one is better?

Thanks!

 

[humanFish]

Consider Diver Dan's Wet Pleasure in Santa Clara. They are a top notch shop and have always provided me with good advice and quality products....

 

[paulwlee]

Any Water Sports is in San Jose, not Santa Clara.
I have heard good things about them in general.
There are a few other stores, some of which I'm sure are excellent.

I help out in Open Water classes occasionally as a certified assistant at Diver Dan's in Santa Clara, and they have great instructors. (At least the ones I have helped out with or observed teaching.) They also have an on-site indoor pool, which makes the logistics of the class much more simpler than having to drive to a pool somewhere for the pool sessions.

As for the weekday vs. weekend class, I would recommend the weekday class if your schedule allows, as there is just more time in between sessions for the things you learned to sink in.

Disclaimer: I am not an employee at Diver Dan's, and have no financial incentive in promoting Diver Dan's. Helping out at classes as an assistant is strictly for personal enjoyment, as what small amount I am paid does not even cover my expenses.

 

[scubajunkee]

Hello,

I plan to take a open water class and get certified. Can you recommend a good one? I heard people talking about any water in santa clara and I also found a few from google, like santa clara university scuba dive club etc..

another question is, there are regular 3 weeks class as well as 2 weeken class, which one is better?

Thanks!

Hi there,

I got certified at the Central YMCA off The Alameda in San Jose. It's really close to Santa Clara University. The classes are about 5 weeks long with both lecture and pool time. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who isn't in a big rush to get certified. We did lots of decompression theory, training, safety drills and overall had a great time doing it. The instructor to student ratio is pretty good, so they have lots of time for questions and to help you get it right the first time. By the time you hit the ocean, everything is almost second nature. I got my Open Water II certification four years ago, and since then went back to pick up Advanced and Nitrox. In November I plan on taking their Rescue course. If you want more info, PM me.

-eR

 

[Wristshot]

My buddy and I took our training through PODI (Pacific Offshore Divers Incorporated) in South San Jose. However, I have bought gear also at Diver Dan's and Any Watersports.

PODI is at Almaden Expressway and Branham Lane, near 87 and near 85. They have the classroom sessions at the store, and the pools sessions are held at nearby Gunderson High School. There are two pools at the school, one is a lap pool, and the other is a deeper pool.

http://www.podih2o.com/

PODI has some really excellent instructors and a wide variety of classes.

Diver Dan's now has a pool on site at the store, but I have never taken any training from them.

FWIW,



Wristshot

 

[HaoleDiver]

I took Open Water in Chico, but have taken Advanced, Rescue and DMT through Diver Dan's, and I regularly help OW classes, and I would definately recommend it to anyone interested. From a purely logistic standpoint, having the pool right there, and great classrooms, and a great rental area helps greatly.
Also, the teaching staff there is top-notch. They have countless instructors around, but only a select group regularly teach, and they're all selected by the 2 PADI Course Directors at the shop (including the shop's owner Diver Dan). If you're curious though, stop by friday nights for discover scuba, and see what the facility and staff is like, its a great free test drive.

And as a disclaimer, I'm just a DMC there, so there is no benefit for me to promote the shop. I have my own issues with it, but they don't relate to coursework. The instructors there are great people, and having dove with scores of their students, I can verify that they're amply qualified.