$600 too much for certification??

[k ellis]

Wow here where I got certified it cost about 250 dollars for the course plus what ever you pay for mask fins and snorkle. So around 350 and up would be a very good guess. That includes all the gear for Open Water. Dry suit runs around 180 if I recall (Its been a while since I quoted it so I cant be 100%) but my Dive shop will usually throw it in for free with the purchase of a suit.

All in all with both Open water and dry suit here would be Im guessing about 500 dollars just for the certs.

 

[Dance4God]

Wow...I guess I was blessed with my OW. I paid $299 which included all rentals and dives, about $200 for fins, mask and snorkel. Normal drysuit rental is $100 but the shop owner comp'd us for it to get us to take the class (my friend wanted to wait to take it in warm water).

 

[mbalmr]

$600 is for "The Dive Shop" in Sterling, I live in Soldotna. I haven't found anyone that has ever used this guy before. I just want to make sure i'm not getting hosed.

 

[NudeDiver]

mb: I don't know much about that guy. I know he exists - that's about it. I know he was cheaper on the RD class than other places I checked into as well. Overall, I get the impression that he is cheaper than others because it's just a thing on the side for him, but I don't really know. He does seem to have a full service operation, complete with charters. On the other hand, how many OW students can anyone in Sterling possibly be certifying? I'm guessing not many.

If you don't need the convenience of Sterling and can come to Anchorage for classes, I recommend Dive Alaska! ($900, complete) or Last Frontier Diving ($800, complete). Costs assume do not include purchase of mask, fins, snorkel, which are assumed to be personal items. LFD rents for $50. Dive Alaska doesn't rent them, as far as I know.

You can also go through Sunshine Sports - but the instructor relationship there is different. They're good instructors, but they're not as "tight" with the shop as the instructors at the other two places as far as I can tell.

FWIW, I have no financial relationships or other "personal interest" in any dive shop, but some links for you in case you don't already have:

The Dive Shop (Sterling): http://home.att.net/~akdivers/#IN
Dive Alaska! (Anchorage): http://www.divealaska.net/content/view/31/56/
Last Frontier Diving (Anchorage): http://www.divealaska.net/content/view/31/56/

 

[dpaustex]

Well, it does depend!!!

Was that a private class? Was it one-on-one???

You didn't mention gear. My mask, alone, cost over $100, my fins $169, booties $40, snorkel $30. Books were $60, class was $170. Gear rental was another $50. And this was all in a private group (my 5 family members).

If you add in drysuit class (another $100 or so), plus drysuit, you may be there.

Again, don't know all the circumstances, or what all your price entails.

I've seen some shops low ball the price, then "crank out" the students in large groups. I've also seen those same students give up the sport, because they were not made safe, competent, or comfortable divers.

So it could definitely be worth it, if they make you safe, competent and comfortable.