Welcome to the underwater world of scuba diving!

Learn to SCUBA dive with the professionals at Sonoma Coast Divers! We offer the SSI Open Water Certification Course, an internationally recognized diver certification program that we consider to be the finest in the world. We have been teaching in the Bay Area since 1978, in our current location since 1998, and have an unequaled reputation for quality instruction. Our instructors teach courses that are fun, but also stress the techniques needed to become a safe and comfortable diver. If you are in good health and free from heart and lung problems, you can learn to SCUBA dive!

We offer the SSI Open Water Certification Course, an internationally recognized diver certification program that we consider to be the finest in the world.·As the·second largest certification agency, Scuba Schools International offers flexible and comprehensive instruction that will take you·all the way from Open Water Diver to Master Diver and beyond! As an SSI Platinum Facility, we can offer classes all the way from Discover Scuba through Instructor Trainer, the highest level of diving certification.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE WE OFFER DIFFERENT DIVING PROGRAMS:

• Weekend Courses meet Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am to 3pm for the pool and classroom sessions. The ocean dives are conducted the following weekend on the Sonoma Coast; usually at the Salt Point State Park or Stillwater Cove Regional Park. Monterey can usually be done by request.

• Private lessons are available at your convenience. They can be conducted at our facility or in the privacy of your own home and pool. The cost varies with the number of students. Please call for pricing.

GETTING STARTED!

Courses begin with choosing a class that works with your schedule. Next, come on in and get the SSI Student Kit. This kit really is the start of your Scuba Class: It·has everything you need to know to become a·Scuba Diver. Read your book, watch the DVD, and do your homework- now you're ready for the fun to begin!

Depending on the type of course you choose, the dates and times of your pool sessions will vary. But essentially, you'll spend 2-4 days doing pool and classroom work. Here we'll go over all the information you learned in your Student Kit. Now you're starting to become familiar with the terminology and skills from your homework and DVD, this allows us to really focus on the hands-on portion of the course! We'll answer all your questions and you'll get to spend more time IN THE WATER than trying to learn all this information during class. We offer a 2-day pool session because·we believe·spending 2 days in the pool develops your skills and makes you a better, more comfortable diver. On the last day of class, you'll take your written test and have your picture taken. Now you're ready for the ocean!

Our pool and ocean sessions use the finest equipment available. We have a selection of high-end regulators, computers, and buoyancy comensating vests that will offer you the safest, most comfortable experience possible. We even have equipment specialized for the unique needs of women and children. Dive Computers and weight integrated buoyancy compensators are used exclusively to make your training more comprehensive and your dives more enjoyable and safe.

READY TO DIVE!

Our ocean dives are usually conducted at the Salt Point State Park on our beautiful North Coast. Gerstle Cove, in the Salt Point State Park, is a marine sanctuary that is protected from the wind and swell, and brimming with life! If you've never taken a look beneath the California Coast, prepare to be surprised! Our coastline is home to the richest marine environment on the planet! You'll see abalone, lingcod and other rockfish, starfish, sunstars, kelp fish, nudibranchs, snails, crabs, scallops, hard corals and maybe even the resident octopus! For more information on what you'll see and about California diving, check out our California Diving Page! Your Scuba course includes one optional skin dive (snorkel)·and at least 4 open water scuba dives.

WHAT YOU NEED:

The tuition for the Pool and Classroom Sessions is $195.00. This includes your instructor’s time for the pool and classroom, use of the complete SCUBA system in the pool, all paperwork and processing fees, and your certification card. The Tuition for the Ocean Dives is $100. A $50 special student rebate on the ocean dives is available. Please ask us for further information. The SSI Student Kit which contains the manual/workbook, dive tables, DVD, student record folder, carry-bag, and other paperwork is $59.95. If more than one person from the same household is attending the course, a Companion Kit which includes all of the required components, except the DVD, is available for $39.95. An SSI log book is required for the course and they begin at $19.95. Rental of the exact SCUBA equipment you use in the pool session is available for the ocean dives weekend for $106.50.

Because fit and comfort are essential for enjoyment and safety while SCUBA diving, each student must provide their own personal snorkeling equipment – mask, fins, snorkel, boots, and gloves. We sell a variety of most major brands of SCUBA equipment, and our professional staff will be happy to assist you in the proper selection of your equipment. We offer special package pricing on the personal snorkeling equipment to students who are enrolled in our program.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the store or drop by! Our staff will be happy to assist you in all·your diving needs.

A $50 deposit holds your place in the class session of your choice. Do to staffing and equipment logistics there will be a $50 transfer fee if class dates need to be changed less than two weeks before the first session. Please be certain of your dates before you enroll.

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VIEW OUR·OPEN WATER·CLASS SCHEDULE

As with any physical activity, there are certain medical issues that may preclude you from scuba diving. Exercise or stress induced asthma or certain heart and lung conditions can be a problem. Please give us a call if you are not sure about these requirements and we can help you. The Medical Waiver and Doctor's Form are available in the store, they will be posted here as soon as possible. Diving is a fun and easy sport, but we want to make sure our students are safe and healthy enough to enjoy their diving adventures!