How Much Should Certification Cost?

[ruready7]

My course (PADI) was around $360. Had to purchase mask, snorkel, fins and boots. That was 2 days classroom and 2 days pool. There was a dive master with instructor to help out on the first day and the longest skill day (skills 1 and 2). There were a total of 8 in the class. After both pool sessions our instructor said if you want to play in the water go ahead. This allowed several of us more time in the pool. We were not rushed in the skills. I am not sure how other classes go but our instructor said that we were the best class he had as far as clearing the mask and hovering. He wasnt sure why but we all were able to do the skills fairly quickly. BTW the pool was salt water not fresh water so we get the taste (no pun intended) of the ocean. Our OW dives are included in the cost since the dive shop owner owns the quarry to do the dives.

 

[Dive-aholic]

The actual hours spent in the pool vary, but normally end up exceeding 5 hours in water time. MBT's program is flexible and self paced so that each student progresses on when he or she is ready. A large number of MBT's students are young military, usually fresh out of navy survival swimming schools, many are rescue swimmers. There's no need to do unneccesary training just for the sake of hours. For those students that need it, MBT allows plenty of additional training time, be it classroom, pool, or open water. Students are not pressed to make schedules, and they are welcome to take as much time as it takes to ensure they are comfortable. Training can be completed in as little as 6 days. Some finish that quickly. Some do not. Nobody is ever rushed.

Spending time in confined water to work on buoyancy is not unnecessary training. Navy survival swimming schools and rescue swimmers are fine, but that still doesn't prepare anyone for the feeling of weightlessness underwater. That's what the extra hours are for.