Certification Prices

[kg13]

Hey there!
I'm new to diving, I just got my open water certification through PADI. I really want to continue with more certifications but I want to budget myself for it too.
I was wondering what other people paid for their open water certification and for their advanced cert, and other certs.

Also, side bar, I don't know anyone else that dives so how have you all found dive partners? Is there a forum or another board for that somewhere??

Thanks in advance!

 

[Addicted2H2O]

I think I paid $200-$250 for my OW through NAUI, plus buying my personal gear. AOW was $250 IIRC, again through NAUI. Nitrox through NAUI was $99 I think. Divers First Aid for Proessional Divers (DFA PRO) was I think $300 and then $350 for NASE Rescue, but I ended up getting that AND NAUI Rescue & Advanced Rescue so helluva deal there. The next class I have to take is Master Scuba Diver (NASE) and with the learning materials and everything it's like $610.

As for finding dive buddies, forums are a great place to look. Check with your local dive shop (LDS) and see if they have a forum on their website. I found a buddy to dive with one day doing that. Or just talk to the people at the dive shop. I'm sure they could point you in the right direction.

 

[kg13]

I think I paid $200-$250 for my OW through NAUI, plus buying my personal gear. AOW was $250 IIRC, again through NAUI. Nitrox through NAUI was $99 I think. Divers First Aid for Proessional Divers (DFA PRO) was I think $300 and then $350 for NASE Rescue, but I ended up getting that AND NAUI Rescue & Advanced Rescue so helluva deal there. The next class I have to take is Master Scuba Diver (NASE) and with the learning materials and everything it's like $610.

As for finding dive buddies, forums are a great place to look. Check with your local dive shop (LDS) and see if they have a forum on their website. I found a buddy to dive with one day doing that. Or just talk to the people at the dive shop. I'm sure they could point you in the right direction.

 

[kg13]

yikes, I think I may have been ripped off my local dive shop charged $3000 for both my new gear and for the open water certification and they want $700 just for the advanced certification through PADI

 

[Scuba Scott]

If you try to compare prices on an international forum such as this you will gain nothing but confusion and disappointment. Prices vary by location and I'm sure someone will tell you what they paid but forget to mention that was in 1968. If you trained in NY I am sure you paid more than someone would pay in FL. If you want to budget for the future the only way to do that is contact the shop where you plan on training and ask them the cost.
There are many variables that affect pricing and some things may be included in one price and others may be extras you buy separately.

For buddies try divebuddy.com

 

[Scuba Scott]

yikes, I think I may have been ripped off my local dive shop charged $3000 for both my new gear and for the open water certification and they want $700 just for the advanced certification through PADI

Impossible to tell if you were ripped off or got the deal of the century from what you posted. It depends on the gear you got and what kind of dives were included in your training. $700 is a bit steep for AOW. (I charge much less but maybe I am under charging)

 

[GreggS]

A really great place to find dive buddies close to you is Dive Buddy. Once you put in your location, it will show you other divers within a distance you prefer up to 150 miles. You can search for dive shops, dive ops, dive locations, and other information worldwide. It's a great resource.

As for costs, check if there are dive shops offering other certification agencies such as SDI, SSI, etc. and compare pricing. You may be able to find something for less money that offers an equivalent certification.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

yikes, I think I may have been ripped off my local dive shop charged $3000 for both my new gear and for the open water certification and they want $700 just for the advanced certification through PADI

If you want to include ALL of my gear (not just mask, snorkel, fins), then I've paid about $4000 total. Then add in the cost of the other courses I've taken. But in my experience thus far PADI certifications do seem to be a bit more expensive compared to the other agencies I've certified through (NAUI & NASE).

 

[ScubaJCBS]

Yeah like others have said its hard to tell about your first stuff because gear is such a broad range of pricing. With your advance what is included in that price because where your checkout dives take you matters a lot also.

 

[ScubaJCBS]

I know of a guy that drives from Ohio to NC to do his training just because of the price and attitudes of instructors.