recommend S.F. open water class ?

raposarose · January 29th, 2005, 07:35 PM

Hello,

I just relocated (well, 4 or 5 months ago) to the S.F. Bay area from San Diego. My wife and I got certifed down there two years ago, and now we are trying to get my father, who lives in San Francisco, certified too!

Every place I have seen up here is really expensive. In San Diego we paid $170 each at the YMCA for good quality classes with a very experienced instructor. The SSI school was $199, and PADI would have been cheapest of all since they had a 2 for 1 deal.

Looking briefly online it seemed like the going rate was $300 or more up here. Can anyone suggest some place that gives good bang for the buck in San Francsico? Of course, less expensive is better, but I want to take into account quality too. I may opt to go through the class again too, just so that he has a dive buddy in it and it would be more fun for him. So I also want to take this into account, I don't want to pay too much for me since I am already certifed (maybe I can work something out with the shop to tag along for a little extra).

Any suggestions of a good place that'll work with me?

Thanks in advance!

CALI68 · January 29th, 2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raposarose

Hello,

I just relocated (well, 4 or 5 months ago) to the S.F. Bay area from San Diego. My wife and I got certifed down there two years ago, and now we are trying to get my father, who lives in San Francisco, certified too!

Every place I have seen up here is really expensive. In San Diego we paid $170 each at the YMCA for good quality classes with a very experienced instructor. The SSI school was $199, and PADI would have been cheapest of all since they had a 2 for 1 deal.

Looking briefly online it seemed like the going rate was $300 or more up here. Can anyone suggest some place that gives good bang for the buck in San Francsico? Of course, less expensive is better, but I want to take into account quality too. I may opt to go through the class again too, just so that he has a dive buddy in it and it would be more fun for him. So I also want to take this into account, I don't want to pay too much for me since I am already certifed (maybe I can work something out with the shop to tag along for a little extra).

Any suggestions of a good place that'll work with me?

Thanks in advance!

Contact Dan Galendar (WileEDiver) He's a great Guy.

http://www.scubaboard.com/member.php?u=11616

dannobee · January 30th, 2005, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raposarose

Hello,

I just relocated (well, 4 or 5 months ago) to the S.F. Bay area from San Diego. My wife and I got certifed down there two years ago, and now we are trying to get my father, who lives in San Francisco, certified too!

Every place I have seen up here is really expensive. In San Diego we paid $170 each at the YMCA for good quality classes with a very experienced instructor. The SSI school was $199, and PADI would have been cheapest of all since they had a 2 for 1 deal.

Looking briefly online it seemed like the going rate was $300 or more up here. Can anyone suggest some place that gives good bang for the buck in San Francsico? Of course, less expensive is better, but I want to take into account quality too. I may opt to go through the class again too, just so that he has a dive buddy in it and it would be more fun for him. So I also want to take this into account, I don't want to pay too much for me since I am already certifed (maybe I can work something out with the shop to tag along for a little extra).

Any suggestions of a good place that'll work with me?

Thanks in advance!

Aren't there Sport Chalet's on that side of the bay too? I think it's about $120 or so for the PADI OW cert.

rjens · January 30th, 2005, 03:28 AM

Will 2nd Dan Galander, took Nitrox with him and had a great time.

Rob

raposarose · January 30th, 2005, 12:42 PM

Hello,

Thanks for the suggestions. I did PM Dan, hopefully something will work out. I haven't seen any Sport Chalets around here. I noticed that there are some YMCA classes in Sa n Jose, but that is too far for us to travel for class.

While I await Dan's response I'll keep shopping around.

WileEDiver · January 30th, 2005, 02:01 PM

Chris and Rob-

Many thanks for the kind words.

We've traded PMs and we'll see what happens.

-Dan

DENNISDIVES · February 1st, 2005, 05:02 PM

Try Anderson Scuba in Pacifica---still about 300.00 but it's quality insrtuction and usually small class with lots of assitance....www.andersonscuba.com......

HaoleDiver · February 1st, 2005, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WileEDiver

Chris and Rob-

Many thanks for the kind words.

We've traded PMs and we'll see what happens.

-Dan

I've worked with Dan many times, and I can tell you, he has some talented - and sexy - divemasters. Two of them in fact, but I think they're dating each other.

Just my 2 cents.