Doing the Certification dives, WHERE?

[Fishkiller]

Alrighty with still a little over a week till Zellet goes for his Classroom portion of his education, and a week later till he gets to impress everyone with his underwater experience, I, his soon to be primary dive partner have this delima.

Here in Sunny Arizona you have two choices of dive water:

Freshwater, done at local lakes viz atmost 20 feet what water is there is still cold but come March will be warm enough

driving time anywhere from 20 minutes to 110 minutes depending on which of the 3 most popular local lakes

the closest 2 lakes will require a cost of $169 for shore dives
or $279 for doing boat dives at the furthest lake.


Saltwater: the most popular is San Carlos a 8 hour trip, great viz wonderfull life forms etc...
cost an additional 125 to trip price which runs $429 all inclusive


Draw backs

local lakes: cheap but get what you pay for

SaltWater: we can't dive together for 2 days of the 3 There.

I am thinking of sending him to the local lake for his checkout dives then take a trip together to San Carlos

but then should I splurg and let him boat dive???

or will the clear salt water allow for a higher comfort level???

 

[ScubaBaby]

definitely the lakes! What is the point in spending extra money and not being able to dive together.

Plus, as he'll only just be qualified - whats the point in jumping in the deep end (sorry - pun not intended!) with boat dives!

 

[Jester]

Don't dive in conditions worse than those in which you were certified. If you believe this, then it makes sense to get certified in the worst conditions you can think of (somewhat tongue in cheek). That means the local lake.

I got certified in 4 ft. viz, so I feel pretty confident diving in anything except real mud.

Enjoy!

 

[Rick Murchison]

When I convinced the Lovely Young Kat to get certified, her certification dives were in Lake Travis. I then took her diving on rigs in the Gulf off Texas, and on some artificial reefs and wrecks off Panama City. It was five years before I took her to the Bahamas, on Blackbeard's.
She came up from her first dive in tropical fish filled warm, clear water, looked me right straight in the eye and said... "Why you sonofa****, you've had me diving in those crappy lakes and the **** Gulf for five years while all the time there was this out here?"
I was speechless...
Rick

 

[AzAtty]

With which shop is Zellet getting certified? The package sounds a lot like El Mar, although most of the shops in Mesa (and Phoenix, for that matter) run similar deals. If he is training with El Mar (or any other PADI shop), here's the third option: pay $25 for a referral kit, pack your car, drive over to San Diego, and pay about $150 for the boat certification package. Depending on how much you want to spend, they'll take you just about anywhere, including Coronado. Prices may vary, but when I was calling around a couple months ago, those seemed to be the rates for the referrals. Of course, I was bringing them about 20 people, so I may have been quoted a discount price. However, the people I called seemed to indicate that it was the standard referral rate.

If you are with El Mar, talk to Vic about the referral system. He'll be able to set you up.

If you do the lake package, I'd be tempted to go with the Lake Pleasant dive boat option. Saguaro will be a mud puddle with the drought in full swing and Apache is just too far to drive. Good luck.

 

[jbd]

is to certify at the lakes and you go with to observe--I got to dive with the group when my daughter did her certification dives---one of those proud papa moments

Once thats done set up a trip to some nice saltwater location and let Zellet enjoy that environment without the "stress" of certification.

Whatever you decide---HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!

 

[Fishkiller]

My LDS is now and always shall be Saguaro Diving and Sports 480 507 3988 or 877 837 7637

Zellet did a majority of his Seal Team with Vic Terry and Stacy at El Mar but the instructor quality at Saguaro is Very good as well.

Saguaro Diving has a on going $99 class and pool offer and $169 for diving at either Saguaro or at Canyon on the shore and I could dive with him for free.

Like I told Amy today the $99 is just to good to pass up but since I feel it only proper to share the wealth, I have been considering having Stacy Certify him at lake Pleasant for $249 but that is a long drive.. and ofcourse I would have to pay $39 more each day to dive as well, unless I could convince his mother to drive him there :bonk: as I don't need to dive with him on his checkout dives..but I could pay Stacy or Vic the private cert fee and get him done at Saguaro Lake....

A majority of the dive trips down to San Carlos are almost all the same except Saguaro Diving who offers the only ALL INCLUSIVE package,($529) along with their own 65' and 40' dive boats www.saguarosports.com

so I am leaning towards spending the extra $80 I saved by having Zellet taught at Saguaro, to be certified by El Mar then taking a trip with Saguaro diving to San Carlos.


now your San Diego offer is interesting but I would still need a place to stay at Rental gear etc...Much like going to Rocky Point but that was ruled out due to the Surge Factor...

now Hoover and Rick make a good point as well

of course ScubaBaby :lilangel: always makes a good point

 

[norcaldiver]

Fishkiller once bubbled...
the closest 2 lakes will require a cost of $169 for shore dives

What the...?
Is that $169 for all day parking? I've been to several lakes and other than the about $4 for an entrance fee, it's free. Did I miss something?

 

[Fishkiller]

norcaldiver once bubbled...


What the...?
Is that $169 for all day parking? I've been to several lakes and other than the about $4 for an entrance fee, it's free. Did I miss something?

The $169 is for 2 check out dives a day and rental gear, charged by the Diveshop to pay the instructor.

Yes the parking at the local lakes require an additional $4.

Then there is lunch.

 

[AzAtty]

Wow. Looks like Saguaro dropped their prices on training. And free air fills (according to the web site)? I think I like them more already!

I found my notes on the referral system and the shop I contacted in San Diego. It was $150.00 for the shore dive certification package, which includes the gear rental. $220 will get you out to the Coronados on a boat certification. If I recall correctly, the day trip to Coronado runs about $75 or so for the non-students. PM me if you want additional information on it.