Around here (the bay area, Florida), scuba certification goes for around $350. $500 seems like a lot unless maybe it's a private 1 student and 1 instructor class. I've seen more expensive classes through GUI but they're an outlier. That price usually includes rental/loaner gear except mask booties fins and snorkel. It typically includes all the pool time/sessions but does not include the check-out dives which run $50-75 (paid to the boat, not the instructor). Also there's some books or online system access you have to pay for. Those tend to be around $50.Looking around at all the places in San Diego, CA. The cheapest I can find is around $500 for everything. I do have gear which is a little old but still works, I am thinking they will not let me dive with it until it is serviced. Is $500 too much for an OW course?
I've seen classes offered for a lot less, but I'm not sure I'd trust them.