Affordable OW Certification Dive Shop near Boston

[phylosopher]

Hi!

My partner and I are looking to do our confined water and classroom education for OW PADI certification near Boston before heading to Cozumel for our open water dives. While I recognize the importance of not going with the cheapest option, we're students and everything we've found seems to be close to ~700!

Does anyone have recommendations for more affordable and safe dive shops that can teach us the basics before we head out? Thanks!

 

[lowwall]

Hi!

My partner and I are looking to do our confined water and classroom education for OW PADI certification near Boston before heading to Cozumel for our open water dives. While I recognize the importance of not going with the cheapest option, we're students and everything we've found seems to be close to ~700!

Does anyone have recommendations for more affordable and safe dive shops that can teach us the basics before we head out? Thanks!

Ever since e-learning became an option for the classwork, I've recommended doing the whole class in Coz. Set it up before you go and do all the e-learning at home. That just leaves the confined water dives as extras to do there versus the traditional referral. This will take 1 or at the most 2 extra days depending on how comfortable you are in the water. You can even speed it up a bit with some practice. The hardest skill for most people is mask clearing which you can learn ahead of time with a mask and snorkel in a pool.

Here's a couple of shops to get things started that I've either used or heard good things about. Folks with more current course experiences will probably chime in as well and you should give more weight to what they say.

Open Water Certification in Cozumel - Dive With Cristina - Cozumel Mexico

Open Water Certification - Learn to dive! Get fully certified in the turquoise water of Cozumel, Mexico! Call 1-928-202-4232 Toll-Free

divewithcristina.com

Open Water Certification - Learn to Dive Today!

Open Water certification available. Start today at home with eLearning and be diving on Palancar reef once you arrive in Cozumel.

cozumelscuba.com

ScubaTony - Cozumel Scuba Diving Services

Cozumel scuba diving at its best. Fast boats (6 divers max), full service from the best crew, and the best scuba diving in Cozumel.

www.scubatony.com

BTW, there's no reason to choose PADI over SSI or NAUI for the certification agency. They are not better, they just have a bigger marketing budget. The reason not to choose them is they tend to be more expensive because they charge a lot more for eLearning. Anyway go with the instructor and total package instead of the agency.

 

[RIHappyDiver]

Hi!

My partner and I are looking to do our confined water and classroom education for OW PADI certification near Boston before heading to Cozumel for our open water dives. While I recognize the importance of not going with the cheapest option, we're students and everything we've found seems to be close to ~700!

Does anyone have recommendations for more affordable and safe dive shops that can teach us the basics before we head out? Thanks!

Yeah, nothing in the Boston/RI area is going to be much less, if any, no matter the agency. Are you willing to drive to NH? Double check the pricing that they are listing, but one of these may be worth the road trip Discover Diving Open Water Course or Open Water Diver 2024 - Divers Den Dive Shop. @lowwall ’s suggestion is good if those don’t work out.

Good luck,
Erik