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Open Water Certification
This is the entry level certification offered by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). This certification gets you in the water at almost every recreational diving location in the world.
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There are two phases: 1) Confined Water and 2) Open Water Checkout Dives
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Confined Water - One 3-hour class a week over four consecutive weeks
During your confined water training, you will have classroom training coupled with in-water skills training and practice. In the classroom you learn the basic fundamentals and principals that every diver must know to dive safely. The in-water training is conducted in the pool (confined). In the pool, you will learn, practice and master the physical skills you'll need to dive safely. At the completion of your confined water training, you will receive a referral form that you will need to book your Open Water Checkout Dives.
Scroll down for information about Open Water Checkout Dives
The base package price is $XXX and includes your PADI learning materials, Scuba Jacket (BCD), tank, air, weights and your Open Water referral. You will have to provide your own mask, fins and snorkel since these are personal items and are best fitted to the individual. We choose to do it this way because there will be a delay of time between your Confined Water phase and your Open Water phase. This allows you to complete your Open Water phase in some delightful tropical location of your choosing within one year of your Confined Water phase.
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If you choose to complete your certification with Y-City Scuba, you will book your Open Water checkout dives separately and you will need your Open Water referral letter that you received from us when you completed your Confined Water Phase. Y-City Scuba holds Open Water Checkout Dives periodically throughout the summer at an Ohio quarry dedicated to scuba diving.
Open Water Checkout Dives - one weekend at Gilboa Quarry
Open water checkout dives are conducted in an open body of water such as a lake, quarry, spring or ocean. You must complete four (4) checkout dives to finish your certification. During these checkout dives you will demonstrate your mastery of the same skills you learned in the pool during your confined water training. These four checkout dives are typically done over a consecutive two day period. In order to complete your certification, you will have to travel to a location where these dives can be conducted.
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Y-City Scuba uses Gilboa quarry near Findlay Ohio as our open water diving location. Your open water checkout dives must be scheduled separately from your confined water classes and there is an additional fee of $50 that covers your PADI registration and certification card and some Y-City Scuba expenses.
Gilboa Quarry - Summer 2016
Just like your Confined Water phase, your gear is still included however, you will have to pay your Gilboa Diving Fees for two days ($50/person), up to 4 tank fills ($10/fill), and your lodging for the weekend. If you're a camper, Gilboa has primitive campsites for $10/night and limited RV sites for the same price. Electricity is an additional $10/night. There are several hotels in the Findlay area for non-campers. The Drury Inn is a popular hotel for Gilboa divers. I believe there is a diver discount available if you mention you are diving at Gilboa but don't take my word for this - please check.
So, if you camp at Gilboa, your weekend class will cost:
Class fee - $50, Diving fees - $90, one night camping - $10 + food & drink.
If you stay at a hotel in Findlay replace the camping fee with your hotel cost.
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Either way you go, your Open Water Checkout Dive Weekend will be fun and exciting and when it's over, you'll be a fully certified PADI Open Water Diver properly trained to safely enter the wonderful underwater world at thousands of diving sites throughout the world.
Circleville Twin Quarries - Spring 2016
There are always OPTIONS - KEEP READING
So what are my options?
To begin with you don't have to be able to string four consecutive classes together in order to get your academic requirements completed. PADI offers elearning online for those who want to tackle the academic portion of their training at their own pace.
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Once you complete your elearning, you can download a course completion document from PADI that proves you completed the academic requirements. Then you bring that referral to Y-City Scuba and we will schedule your confined water skill training. The PADI price for Ohio Open Water elearning currently is $179 (Course price includes: Open Water Online (eLearning), certification card processing fee, eTraining log, eManual, eRDP Desktop, RDP Table (digital), eRecord, Knowledge Reviews, Quizzes, Exam and Videos).
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Our fee for this track is $XXX. Your gear is still included and your confined water skills will
My very first dive ever - Cancun Mexico, April 2008
be completed over two days. You will pay more in total for your certification if you choose elearning, but what you gain is the freedom to take your academic learning at your own pace. If you're interested in PADI elearning please give us a call so we can help you with scheduling your skills training. We will also help you with the academics if you have any questions or want some human interaction.
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I'm afraid your options for Open Water Checkout Dives are more limited. Basically you have the option of scheduling your Open Water Checkout Dives at a PADI training facility anywhere in the world; like Cancun, Bahamas, Florida Keys, Aruba, Egypt, South Pacific, Bonaire, California, you name it. Wherever there is a PADI training facility you can schedule a time to complete your certification. The option is, "where do I go on vacation to finish my certification?"
If you choose to complete your certification with Y-City Scuba, we're here to work with you over the summer to get your certification finished.
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Verde Island Marine Sanctuary - June 2016
"I can mention many moments that were unforgettable and revelatory. But the most single revelatory three minutes was the first time I put on scuba gear and dived on a coral reef."
David Attenborough
