PADI Baseline Course Price List

[BrasingtonScuba]

I'm about to become a PADI Instructor (taking my IE next month) and would like to know if there's a suggested baseline for what to charge students for PADI courses. For example, $399 seems to be typical for a PADI Open Water certification in my area, though it's a wide range from Instructor/shop to shop. Is there a website, spreadsheet, or article somewhere that can give me the current "suggested retail price," so to speak, of each course--especially OW, Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster?

Thanks for your help!

 

[decompression]

No baseline what so ever. Each facility/instructor has different overhead and profit margins. Charge what you want.

 

[yle]

You might find some variation in price because of how each shop breaks down the cost. Some shops charge one price, everything (materials, boat trips, use of rental gear, etc) included. Others charge separately for everything. The shop I was with until recently did this: $149 for "tuition", but a separate charge for materials, rental gear, boat trip, and even the PADI pic fee. The total came to about $400.

Always make sure you know what's included when comparing prices.

 

[tursiops]

It also varies depending on your class size and use of CAs.
Big classes, no CA, means you can charge less, but have difficulty following standards and lots of jeopardy.
Private classes, with a CA helping, will cost a lot more.
Do you have to factor in a pool? Boat? Rental gear? Transportation? Dive fees (like to a quarry)?

No easy answer. Write it all down, see what it REALLY costs you to offer a class, then add on what you would like to get for your time.

 

[Hoyden]

There should have been a section in your IDC called the Business of Diving which covered course pricing. It doesn't tell you what to charge, but does give you guidelines to determine what you should charge.

 

[fraserpenny]

I realize this post is old but, I do ask a similar question.. if an instructor has the student complete the theory portion online, provides rental gear, what other cost is there to the instructor? process the cert card? and obviously their time.. what is the actual cost to certify an OW diver? thanks!

 

[RainPilot]

My costs:

Online theory (includes cert cost)
Gear rental (depreciation and service costs on mine and any I lend out)
Swimming pool rental
Gas fills
Boat fees if needed to operator
Fuel and vehicle to dive site
Time investment

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Open Water Course Cost ... $750
Instructor Overhead ... $800
Students calling you and texting you with questions 24/7 for the rest of their lives ... Priceless!

 

[Scuba Scott]

If you search the PADI Pro site long enough you may find a spreadsheet that allows you to enter all your expenses and it helps you price courses. I couldn't find it now after a quick look but it is probably still there somewhere.

The biggest mistake is just pricing your courses to match or beat your competition. Pretty much a guaranteed way to lose money.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

The biggest mistake is just pricing your courses to match or beat your competition. Pretty much a guaranteed way to lose money.

An instructor just PMed me tonight to ask how I'm getting so many students when my prices are so high. The answer is that most of my students think they have received a bargain after class. If you are going to charge more you have to have something more to offer.