Open Water Courses
Open Water Scuba Diver
Mon – Fri: 6:30 to 10PM at Gigglin’ Marlin (classroom & pool dives)
Sat – Sun: 9:00AM to 4:00PM (lake dives – lake locations vary per weekend)
Cost: $402 + book + cert card fee + $50 Refundable Deposit for DVD.
Includes: rental equipment (buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator with octopus and console, dive computer, tanks and air fills, wet-suits, gloves and hoods, if needed.
Required Personal Gear to be purchased separately: Mask, snorkel, fins, fin boots, weight belt, weights
(read below to find out about our discount gear package!)
Open Water E-Learning
Tues 6:30 pm – Gear Fitting, Swims, Quick Review Test
Wed & Thurs – 6:30pm to 10:30pm – Pool Sessions at Gigglin’ Marlin Pool
Sat – Sun 9:00AM – 4:00PM (Lake dives locations vary)
Cost: $250 + student folder and logbook. Course price: Includes rental equipment: buoyancy control device (BCD), regulator with octo and console, dive computer, tanks and air fills, wet-suits, hoods and gloves, if needed.
Required Personal Gear to be purchased separately: Mask, snorkel, fins, fin boots, weight belt, weights
PADI E-learning text materials cost (paid directly to PADI): $217.00
**You must complete the E-learning online text material through PADI before taking our class, however, you may sign up for the classes at the same time!
Dry Suit Add On Course
Want to stay warm while completing your Open Water Certification this Winter? Want to extend your scuba diving season? Then dive dry. A dry suit seals you off from the water and keeps you comfortable, even in surprisingly cold water. There is incredible diving in the world’s cooler regions and in some areas, conditions are even better in colder months. Becoming a dry suit diver allows you to expand your boundaries and dive more places, more often.
Save some money on your course by completing it in conjunction with your Open Water Certification Course and get it for only $129! Sign up for the Open Water course + Dry Suit Add On Course for an extra $129 plus book, cert card and tax! The Dry Suit Course can be completed during the same time frame as your Open Water Course. Add On Course includes course fee, Dry Suit manual, certification card and Dry Suit Rental.
Gear Package
Save some money on your basic gear and get it for about 50% off! Sign up for the Open Water course + gear package for an extra $299+tax for a total of $323.67! Gear package includes select fins, boots, mask, snorkel, weight belt, and 10 pounds of weight.*
*No refunds available for gear package. This package is only available with the purchase of a course. Some students may need more than 10 pounds of weight. Extra weight must be purchased separately.
ANY OPEN WATER STUDENT CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BASIC GEAR PACKAGE!
SECURE YOUR PRICING NOW:
Paradise Preferred Package
Why complete your course in a cold lake when you could go to the Caribbean? Sign up for the Paradise Preferred Package to complete your checkout dives in beautiful Cozumel!
Next Trip: We will plan this for you depending on your available dates! Or you can join one of our group trips already planned.
Cozumel Packages depending on the Hotel chosen can include: hotel, taxes, meals, drinks, alcohol, airport transfers, 2 tank boat diving, lunch on the dive boat, gear concierge service. We also have contracts at hotel in the downtown area with breakfast only packages, no drinks. dive tips are extra
Course price: $799.00 for the E-course plus crew pack + you will be responsible for your basic gear + trip details
Minimum number of students are required depending on the dates and destination chosen.
The Open Water Certification Course
The Fun Part
Start to learn the skills essential to scuba diving. Gain confidence underwater and get ready to dive on your next vacation!
What You Learn
The PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:
- Knowledge Development to understand the basic principles of scuba diving
- Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills
- Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore
You will learn:
- Safe diving practices
- Dive planning fundamentals
- Problem management
- Breathing air at depth
- Recreational diving and dive tables: basic knowledge
- Recreational diving and dive tables: dive planning
The Scuba Gear You Need
Required Items (not included in course tuition):
- Open heel fins and dive boots
- Mask and snorkel
- Weight belt and weights
- Mask cleaner and defog
Optional Recommended Items (not included in course tuition):
- Mesh gear bag (for transport and rinsing of gear)
- Dive slate (for logging bottom times and communication)
- Wetsuit (in case of extreme temperatures – for purchase or rent)
Fit is very important for many of these items, so it is not recommended to buy them online. Additionally, many online sellers are not authorized dealers of scuba-grade brands, and are likely to be uncooperative if you need to return or exchange any items. All of these items can be purchased in our shop before your course, so make sure you leave time to come in and try on some gear!
Items Provided by Gigglin’ Marlin (rentals included in course tuition):
- Buoyancy control device (BCD)
- Regulator with octo and console
- Dive computer
- Tanks and air fills
- Wetsuits (if necessary due to extreme temperatures)
If you decide to buy any of this major gear after you’re certified, all of these items are available for sale in our shop as well. Feel free to come in and try something on!
The Learning Materials You Need
You will need the Open Water Course Crew Pack, which is available for purchase in our shop. This crew pack includes all the academic material you will need to learn the answers to questions such as:
- What are the five steps in a pre-dive safety check?
- What is the maximum depth limit for all recreational diving?
- What are the signs and symptoms of decompression sickness?
- At 12meters/ 40 feet a diver runs out of air. Her buddy is more than 60 feet away, what should she do?
Correct answers will allow you to complete the book quickly. For incorrect answers, you’ll read a brief explanation to help you understand the concept.
Continued Education Chart
UPDATED – PADI Certifications
The PADI® organization is streamlining business operations and expediting services to members and divers. Starting 11 January 2023, all new PADI Divers and Members will receive their credentials within 24 hours with PADI electronic certification card – the PADI eCard™ instead of a physical card. This new benefit provides faster and more streamlined service to PADI Members and customers alike.
In a digital age where efficiency, sustainability and convenience is key to providing what customers want, the PADI Regional Headquarters have been evaluating members’ and students’ feedback about physical PADI certification cards. In response, all new PADI student divers who complete a certification in Canada, United States, Caribbean or Latin America receive a PADI eCard instead of a plastic certification card. Additionally, all new PADI Members and new professional-level credentials issued will also be issued a PADI eCard. This enables fast, convenient processing, minimizes delays and provides an overall better customer experience. PADI eCards also help protect and preserve our ocean planet by reducing the use of plastics.
Download the New PADI App™ Available Now
The revised PADI App will host, manage and display PADI eCards in 10 languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Korean and Japanese. The revised PADI App is now available to download on both iOS and Android.
To obtain their PADI eCard, PADI Divers first sign in using the same unique email used for certification-card processing, then follow these steps:
– Download the PADI App from Apple App Store or Google Play Store
– Launch the PADI App
– Sign in with PADI username and password
The PADI App has new and improved functions for dive certification verification, and useful divers’ tools such as Hand Signals, Tying Knots, Dive Checklists and Pro Check – all in the palm of their hands via mobile device.
Alternate Certification Access Pathway
Certification credentials may also be viewed via PADI.com by selecting Sign In and Certifications or directly via https://learning.padi.com/certifications
Physical Cards Still Available
In addition to their eCard, divers may want or need a conventional card, which is available through the PADI Replacement Card process. PADI divers can use this process to order a physical certification card at the regular fee. Physical PADI certification cards are made from 70 percent recycled plastic.
eCard for Divers aged 10 to 13 years old
Divers getting certified under 10 will automatically receive a physical certification card. Divers 10 to 13 years of age will be prompted to sign in through the PADI app or through PADI.com and will be prompted to input a guardian email address.
