SCUBA Open Water Cert Online?

[Bookmon]

a friend has found an online instructor, using a couple of pool meets, then open water trip for certification. Being as I’ve been diving twice as long as he’s been alive, he asked me what I thought. Personally, I’m a tad Leary of such. Plus, he wants $500 for certification. Seems a bit too high to basically sit at home, drinking a beer and tapping buttons.
What do y’all have as ponderings on this subject?

 

[CuzzA]

A class as you describe should cost $100 plus dive fees.

 

[northernone]

Is he still doing all 5 pool dives and the 4 open water dives needed?

In addition to the e-learning classroom style?

 

[flyboy08]

If it smells like a fish......

 

[JackD342]

It sounds like that $500 includes the academics and pool. PADI eLearning OW is $185, accompanying crewpack is about $60. And then there is a cost for the pool training. Group or private? I don't know online pricing for other agencies, but if similar then $500 could be a bit high unless this is a private. No idea of what the pool rental cost is contributing here either. He would have to pay you... a lot,,, to get it down to $100.

 

[Bookmon]

Is he still doing all 5 pool dives and the 4 open water dives needed?

In addition to the e-learning classroom style?

Good question to ask my friend. I think yes on the classes. Hmmm?? On open water.
Wow. In the early 80sit was 2 open water dives. Ditto early 90s. Times have changed

 

[g1138]

$500 seems to be the price these days once you add up all the fees.
In 2010 its was $300 for group (up to 6) and $450 for private at the dive shop I originally frequented. That's not including skin gear purchases; but was including scuba gear & wetsuit rental. This was old-fashioned classroom instruction however.

Checking some shop websites now:
Here in Charleston there's a $575 PADI cost w/ elearning and additional classroom sessions.
My hometown shops near Santa Cruz shows a $410 (PADI; elearning w/ classrooms) & $525 (NAUI elearning w/ classrooms).

If the Instructor is independent (not part of a shop), then I'd say $500 even for group is still correct; w/ no classrooms but I'm assuming 3-4 pool sessions and 2-day OW checkout dives (1 snorkel, 4 scuba; split in 2 days by agency standards).

An independent Instructor does not have the overhead that a shop covers w/ multiple instructors and classes going at the same time.