I paid $150CDN for OW class/pool plus $40 for the manual. Have to provide/purchase M/F/S/W, don't have to buy from them, but must be "scuba" quality (no Dolfino PVC masks
). Prices includes extra one on one class or pool if required, example having trouble with mask clearing.
AFTER you've pass the written and pool tests, it was $325 for the certifying dive weekend. Before you scream way too much, it's a 3 to 3 and a half hour drive, so they provide 2 nights accomodation, all your meals, as well as all your gear (wetsuit, BC, regs, etc). They also provide a staff diver for every buddy pair, so that if one person is struggling, they get the attention they need. If someone is really struggling, they'll do their next dive with just the staff diver and their buddy will be paired up with another staff, so that they aren't held back.
They charge separately, so if you don't complete the class/pool, you're not out the $$ for the OW.
Advanced was around $325 for the weekend, also included all food and accomodation, did not include wetsuit etc. Most doing advanced have already bought much of their gear. They insist on a minimum 20 logged dives before you can AOW and prefer to see you in the water (on a group dive) to assess your skills before you sign up. I had 34 dives logged before I went, actually had one of their staff divers ask why I hadn't done advanced yet about 2 weekends before the course. (I had arranged to do my AOW, the same weekend my wife did her OW). Staff ratio for AOW was one instructor overall, plus one divemaster for each student. Most skills were performed by a student buddy pair attended by their staff divers. Night dive and deep dives were buddied with the staff diver, plus support divers. On the deep for example, we had 4 students, buddied with 4 divemasters plus 2 instructors. Night dive was similar, with the addition of a couple of instructors hanging out on the surface for an "overhead" view on proceedings.
Other local stores quote lower "up front" prices, but add in gear rentals, etc. and don't end up any cheaper in the end.
Haven't done nitrox, etc, so don't what they're charging.
