Learn to Scuba Dive

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Scuba!

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!

Weekend Group Courses require an orientation at least one week before the course date. The Class/Pool sessions will be on Saturday and Sunday from approximately 9am to 5pm. We offer classes in both Napa and Rohnert Park. The ocean dives are conducted the following weekend on the Sonoma/Mendocino Coasts or Monterey during the Winter. Please see below for pricing and more details.	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 us for pricing.

Getting Started!

Step 1: Sign Up and Attend an Orientation 
Courses begin with choosing a class that works with your schedule. Take a look at our Open Water Course Schedule and find a class that works for you, then give us a call or stop by the shop to sign up for your desired class. Upon registration, you will be asked to come in for your orientation. Come into Sonoma Coast Divers at least one week prior to the start of your course for a 1 to 2 hour orientation and equipment fitting. If you have any of your own personal equipment you plan on using, you must bring it in at orientation to be checked over.

Step 2: SSI Registration and Home Study

All of the required reading is now going to take place online through the SSI website or SSI App found in the GooglePlay store or Apple App store. Once you have signed up for your Open Water Course, please go to www.divessi.com to register with the site and associate yourself with our store. Once you do that, we will receive an email and can then give you access to the Open Water Diver Digital Media. The online course takes 5-6 hours to read and complete the 6 chapter review sections.

Step 3: Class and Pool Session
Your training includes an academic session in the classroom, as well as an in-the-water pool session to practice the skills learned in the classroom. Pool and Classroom sessions are held on a Saturday and Sunday. Classroom sessions in Rohnert Park will be held at Sonoma Coast Divers and a local swim center will be used for the pool sessions. Classroom sessions in Napa will be held at the Napa Valley Community College for both the academic and pool sessions. 

Step 4: Open Water Dives
In order to become certified, you will need to complete at least four open water dives over a two day period (two on Saturday and two on Sunday). Your instructor will evaluate your skills as you apply what you have learned during your academic and pool training to an open water environment. Our ocean dives are usually conducted on our beautiful North Coast. During Winter months, we will take our classes to Monterey.



Our Cancellation Policy
You can change the dates of your course, pool and ocean weekends, up to 3 weeks before the start of the course with no penalty. Within 3 weeks of the start of your course date there is a $50 cancellation or transfer fee. Beginning the Monday prior to your course start date, there are no refunds for cancellations or transfers. All monies paid are forfeit should you choose to move out of the class you signed up for. Please understand that we often have long wait-lists for these classes and the week-of the course we are rarely able to fill cancelled spots. Please give us a call if you have questions about this policy.