WHY DIVE?​

• Escape to a different world with new colors, shapes, textures, and creatures.

• Explore and connect with nature.

• Experience new sensations and new perspectives.

• Embark on adventures and new challenges.

• Become a diver and transform your life forever.

 

Explore the underwater world - from historic shipwrecks and pristine coral reefs to the mysteries of your local quarry. Become a diver, and the opportunities for adventure and discovery are endless.

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WHAT DO I LEARN?​

Your path to Open Water Certification consists of 3 main phases:

1. Knowledge Development: Learn the principles, concepts, and terms that you need to manage and avoid the risks and enjoy diving. Whether you choose to start online, with a tablet, or with a printed manual, this phase is designed to help students understand the basic principles of scuba diving.

2. Confined Water Dives: Develop and practice scuba skills in a pool or water with pool-like conditions under direct instructor supervision. As you master each skill, you integrate them and build the abilities and confidence you need for diving in open water.

3. Open Water Dives: You put everything you've been learning into practice. These are your first open-water dives at a site or sites suited to beginning divers, and you experience your first underwater adventures with your instructor.

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WHAT GEAR DO I NEED?​

We will provide you with all the gear you need for this class, which is included in your enrollment fee. However, when you start the PADI Open Water Diver course, you should consider owning your own mask, fins, and snorkel. These have a personal fit, and we can help you select the equipment best suited to you at our dive center at 3320 North Shields St. 80524.

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Fit, comfort, and suitability are the three most important considerations when choosing gear. Scuba diving equipment allows you to visit the underwater world by letting you breathe, see, and move comfortably while below the surface. It's a good idea to invest in your own equipment because:

• You're more comfortable learning to dive using gear you choose that is fitted for you.

• divers who own their own gear dive more.

• it's part of the fun of diving.

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IS DIVING FOR ME?

If you love nature, adventure, exploration, and interesting new challenges, diving is for you. There's always something new to see, somewhere new to explore, and some new way to enjoy it.

 

1. Physical

For safety, you complete a brief questionnaire about medical conditions that may be a concern, so answer completely and honestly. If a condition applies to you, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't dive. You'll consult with your physician to determine how it may or may not be an issue.

2. Water Skills

You demonstrate basic water skill comfort by swimming 200 meters/yards or 300 meters/yards with a mask, fins, and snorkel. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you wish. You will also float in deep water for 10 minutes using the method you choose.

3. Materials

You'll use the eLearning materials during the course and reference them afterward. Additionally, in our group classes, you will participate in approximately 6 hours of presentation time with one of our instructors. No other dive center provides such comprehensive coverage and attention to knowledge development.

4. Age

You must be at least 10 years old to scuba dive.

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HOW LONG IS THE COURSE?

PADI courses are performance-based, which means you progress and attain certification by demonstrating that you meet certain specific learning objectives. The course length depends upon your learning speed and how often you meet with your instructor. The class and pool are a minimum of 2 full days, and the open water dives are also 2 days at a minimum. Private class & pool is normally done in one day (there is no classroom session; only eLearning is required).

 

Progress at your own pace! The PADI System of diver education is designed to help you become a capable and confident diver. Meeting these objectives is important - not the time it takes to do so (an additional fee may apply if it takes you longer than the allocated time for this class.

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IS IT EXPENSIVE?​

Compared with other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive has similar costs. You can expect to pay about the same as you would for:

• a full day of surf or stand-up paddle boarding lessons.

• a weekend of rock climbing, fly-fishing, or kayaking lessons.

• about three hours of private ski or golf lessons.

From the first day, scuba diving transforms your life with new experiences you can share with friends and family. The PADI system of diver education is the most instructional sound system for diving. Under the guidance of our professional PADI Instructors, you gain confidence while mastering important safety concepts and skills.

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WHAT A TYPICAL WEEKEND ITINERARY LOOKS LIKE?

You will receive an email with the schedule and instructions for the weekend a few days before your class. If you haven't gotten any notice of a schedule change, then your weekend schedule will look something like this.

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Saturday:

• 7:30 am meet at our location: 3320 North Shields Rd. Fort Collins, CO 80524. 

• 11:00 am break for a quick lunch

• 12:00 pm Assemble gear and proceed into the pool

• 4:00 pm disassemble gear. End of day 1

 

Sunday: 

• 7:30 am meet at our location: 3320 North Shields Rd. Fort Collins, CO 80524.

• 11:00 am break for a quick lunch

• 12:00 pm Assemble gear and proceed into the pool

• 3:30 pm disassemble gear, 200-yard swim, and 10-minute float test.

*** If anyone needs extra time, we will stay a bit later and work on your skills with you.***