OW Instruction Recommendations in CA East Bay?

[resumeman]

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a week or two; first post.

My wife and I are contemplating getting our Open Water certifications this year. We've never tried it, but we've had a blast snorkeling a couple times the in last year, and both feel pretty fired up about it.

We live in Oakland California. I've done some googling, and it seems that there are at least three LDS's offering OW classes that appear credible:

• Nautilus Aquatics
• Cal School of Diving
• Captain Aqua - the Hayward store

Does anyone feel strongly that one of these is better or worse than the others? I searched the forum a bit and found a little info, but nothing concrete. NA and CA are comparably priced, at a little under $300, while Cal School is a good bit more at $375. They all seem to offer about the same thing -- 6 evening sessions over 2 or 3 weeks and a weekend in Monterey doing the OW dives. It appears that for all of them you need to have basic snorkeling gear and they provide the rest.

We went to Nautilus Aquatics to buy some snorkeling gear this winter and had a satisfying experience -- the salesman was helpful and patient, and generally seemed to know what he was talking about. They have an indoor pool, which is appealing Cal School has an outdoor pool; if you're from around here you know it gets pretty chilly in the evenings even in the summer! And Captain Aqua doesn't seem to have any info about where they train.

So if anyone has any particular thoughts on the facilities, approach, and instructor quality at any of these places, I'd appreciate it! Or, a different place in the area if you feel strongly about it. I definitely want to stay in the East Bay given that we'll be doing this after work (especially given what appears to be about to happen to our traffic), so the South Bay, SF, or peninsula won't work.

Thanks!

 

[DandyDon]

If you click Forums on the bar above, then start looking thru all of them - we kinda have everything: California Kelp Divers - NorCal http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=87

 

[ladycute1]

Hi there.... neighbor... I also live in Oakland... I'd love to chat with you about certification... pm me if you would like to talk.

 

[Thalassamania]

Take the reseach diver course at UC Berkeley, it is, I believe, available through extension.

 

[mikej83]

Take the reseach diver course at UC Berkeley, it is, I believe, available through extension.

Do you have any info on this course? I searched the Berkeley Extension Course Catalog but could not find it, perhaps they no longer have it?

 

[Thalassamania]

U.C. Berkeley Research Diving Safety Program