How much should I be spending on PADI training?

[kelemvor]

Looking around at all the places in San Diego, CA. The cheapest I can find is around $500 for everything. I do have gear which is a little old but still works, I am thinking they will not let me dive with it until it is serviced. Is $500 too much for an OW course?

Around here (the bay area, Florida), scuba certification goes for around $350. $500 seems like a lot unless maybe it's a private 1 student and 1 instructor class. I've seen more expensive classes through GUI but they're an outlier. That price usually includes rental/loaner gear except mask booties fins and snorkel. It typically includes all the pool time/sessions but does not include the check-out dives which run $50-75 (paid to the boat, not the instructor). Also there's some books or online system access you have to pay for. Those tend to be around $50.

I've seen classes offered for a lot less, but I'm not sure I'd trust them.

 

[Pressurehead]

If you can find a good instructor that will provide you with the the skills and knowledge to START your progression in scuba diving, $500 is a bargain.
Don't 'skimp' on it.
I spent more than that yesterday on a new cylinder and 'bit and pieces' at a dive shop , I had an another $200 burning a hole in my pocket when I looked at fins and other gear, so I closed my eyes and backed out.
$500. I say again, "Bargain".
Wait to see all the " bright shiny toys" you will want when you progress in diving.

Edit: Over 70 and still want "toys", sad is it not?

 

[hawkdoc60]

I utilized my old fins for my OW cert last year, but bought everything else. In the end, even using some of my own equipment, it still came to around $500. I am pretty sure that it is the ballpark for initial certification.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Looking around at all the places in San Diego, CA. The cheapest I can find is around $500 for everything. I do have gear which is a little old but still works, I am thinking they will not let me dive with it until it is serviced. Is $500 too much for an OW course?

When I took the OW class in San Diego over 20 years ago, the cost was something like $350. If the cost had increased like the cost of housing in SD, you'd be paying a thousand bucks!

 

[Pressurehead]

When I took the OW class in San Diego over 20 years ago, the cost was something like $350. If the cost had increased like the cost of housing in SD, you'd be paying a thousand bucks!

Agreed, and more, If you used the same housing analogy "Down Under" you would be paying more than $1.000, closer to $1.500.
IMHO , Still good value if you are taught right the first time and not turned out in a 'production line', quantity over quality to make up the short fall in $$$.
Just my opinion, I am not an economist.

 

[Esprise Me]

When I took the OW class in San Diego over 20 years ago, the cost was something like $350. If the cost had increased like the cost of housing in SD, you'd be paying a thousand bucks!

According to this inflation calculator, $350 twenty years ago equals $523.77 today: Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2021

So, exponential growth of the SoCal housing market aside, $500 still seems pretty darn reasonable for a course.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Agreed, and more, If you used the same housing analogy "Down Under" you would be paying in access of $1.000.

I was being conservative, but I'm sure the OP gets my point. The dive industry seems reluctant to raise training prices even to keep pace with inflation.

 

[Pressurehead]

I did an edit while you you were typing, sorry, but you are spot on Sir.

 

[Scuba Client]

Looking around at all the places in San Diego, CA. The cheapest I can find is around $500 for everything. I do have gear which is a little old but still works, I am thinking they will not let me dive with it until it is serviced. Is $500 too much for an OW course?

I would go with the cheapest unless the instructor is someone exceptional. Pick up the rest of the tips on YouTube, and always dive with someone more experienced than yourself.

 

[oly5050user]

Looking around at all the places in San Diego, CA. The cheapest I can find is around $500 for everything. I do have gear which is a little old but still works, I am thinking they will not let me dive with it until it is serviced. Is $500 too much for an OW course?

Only person who can answer this is yourself. Here in NY $500 is cheap,even for private class. Where I am open water class is $299, plus $200 for eLearning, plus $350 for training dives which includes rental wetsuit 2 tanks bcd regulator computer total of &850. Student needs to own scuba quality mask fins boots snorkel, so figure in another $200-&250. Pool is 80 degree we recommend owning a 3mm wet suit of student chills easily we do not require it only recommend it . We do not rent suits for use in pool. Suit can cost $200-$259. No one can say this is an inexpensive activity.