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!
We Offer Different Diving Programs
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. The Ocean dives are conducted the following weekend on the Sonoma/Mendocino Coasts or Monterey Coast. Please see below for pricing and more details. |
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The Complete Open Water Diver Course Package Price is just: $295
* Must purchase Complete Open Water Course Package to receive package pricing
Minimum Age: 10 years old (there will be a $50 additional charge for students under the age of 15 due to SSI’s increased young student to
instructor ratios)
Complete Open Water Course Package Includes:
- Open Water Diver Digital Student Kit
- 1-year access to the custom SSI Digital Logbook
- Digital Certification Card
- All paperwork & SSI registration
- Tuition for pool and classroom
- Instruction in the ocean
- Use of SCUBA rental equipment in the pool
*SCUBA rental equipment for the open-water dives on the second weekend, is an additional $129.00.
Because fit and comfort are essential for enjoyment and safety while SCUBA diving, we recommend our students purchase their Personal Snorkeling Equipment – mask, fins, snorkel, boots, and gloves. Although not recommended, personal equipment may be rented for an additional charge for both pool and ocean dives.
We sell a variety of major brands of equipment and our professional staff will be happy to assist you in the proper selection of your gear. We offer special package pricing on personal snorkeling equipment to students who are enrolled in our program; we also allow our students to use the equipment they purchase in the pool and exchange it if they find it isn't fitting as well as they thought it would - we want you to love your new gear!
All students receive 10% off of their purchases while in the course!
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.
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 Calendar 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. Plan on scheduling a time to 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 uploaded into your personal SSI student account that you will create. To create your student account you can go to divessi.com or download SSI App on any device, choose "create student account", then follow the prompts; making sure you have completed all the information including uploading a profile picture of yourself, adding your address and choosing "Sonoma Coast Divers" as your local dive center. Once you have signed up for your Open Water Course, we will load your Open Water Course materials onto your account. The online course takes 6-8 hours to read and complete the 6 chapter review sections. *Please make sure you "sync" your account each time you are done working on a device for that period of time.
Step 3: Class and Pool Session
Your training includes 2 academic sessions in the classroom, and 2 days of in-the-water pool sessions to practice the skills learned in the classroom. Pool and Classroom sessions are held on a Saturday and Sunday.
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 or down in the Monterey Bay.
Once complete your last dive on Sunday, you are a certified diver for life!!
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.
It's Time to Take Your Dive to the Next Level!
The road to being a comfortable, confident diver is paved with Specialty Courses! Now that you've completed your Open Water Certification, you're ready to advance your skills, and learn new ones through SSI's many Specialty Programs. Take a look at all the advanced training programs we offer, and don't forget to take advantage of the specialty bundles and kits to get the most out of your dive education!