Dive Schools

[clouddancerss]

Hi,
I'm considering taking a week or so, and going to Virginia Beach to learn scuba diving.Can anyone tell me anything about the dive schools/shops there? Thanks!

 

[learn-scuba]

clouddancerss once bubbled...
Hi,
I'm considering taking a week or so, and going to Virginia Beach to learn scuba diving.Can anyone tell me anything about the dive schools/shops there? Thanks!

Clouddancers --

I certified with Lynnhaven Dive Center there in Virginia Beach back in 1991 -- it's a great facility and run by a terrific owner (Mike Hillier) I couldn't speak more highly of him... he's concerned both about how his divers are trained and how much fun they're having diving. My only warning would be to be sure you've had plenty of sleep before you try to keep up with him on one of his dive trips... he's a high energy kinda boat captain.

For the record, Lynnhaven has their classrooms and covered pool right there at the shop. Though I haven't been there in ten years now, I do know it was a top notch operation when I was there and given ownership hasn't changed, I would be surprised to learn that it was anything other than that. LDC owns a 60' liveabord (Miss Lindsey) that they run out of Rudy Inlet to dive the east coast wrecks as well as the smaller, but still very nice, Miss Lauren. They also have a 90; liveabord, the Sea Fever that runs out of Lauderdale or Miami I believe.

You can learn more about them at http://www.ldcscuba.com

 

[clouddancerss]

Thanks for the info on Virginia Beach dive schools, Lynnhaven sounds great.I'm wondering, typically, what would it cost to go from Basic Open water to Instructor not counting equipment costs? Just a ballpark figure.

 

[learn-scuba]

Clouddancers --

Well, to be an SSI instructor, you would have to log at least 100 dives before you could begin teaching in addition to the training itself. So, excluding the cost of all of those dives, figure $250 to get your original certification. Then you'll need four advanced specialties at $85 each plus diver stress and rescue for around $175 to get Master Diver (requires fifty logged dives in addition to the specialties and rescue), then you would need to get your Dive Control Specialist certification which costs around $450, plus you'll need to get CPR & First Aid as well as O2 provider certification (figure another $100 or so) and finally your instructor training for another $1250.

All of that is excluding the costs of diving and the requirement for "professional quality" equipment you HAVE to own. Now, once you have all your training and at least 100 dives logged, you'll need to get an instructor certifier to sign you off and that will be another $500. In addition, there are annual fees you pay to keep your certification current and you'll have to carry professional dive insurance.

Help me out everyone... did I miss anything?