PADI OPEN WATER CLASS (TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM OPTION)
|
424 Route 46
West (973) 586-1319 (fax) www.elitedivers.com |
 |
General: This class is the entry level certification necessary to SCUBA dive. Don't let the phrase 'entry level' fool you, you will learn a ton and have a ton of fun! Once certified by PADI, an internationally recognized organization, you are qualified to dive in waters of up to 60 ft. deep. Padi Open Water Diver is a prerequisite class for Padi Advanced Open Water, and many other diving education classes.
Before your first class please download and fill out the medical form here. Plenty of people have medical conditions that won't prohibit them from diving. For your safety if you answer Yes to any of the questions you will need to run this form by your Doctor and get their approval. You cannot enter the water without this form filled out.
Who this Class is Intended For: Anyone 10 years or older, who can successfully demonstrate an ability to swim 200yds, and can tread water for 10 minutes.
Class Overview:
During this course, the students will be required to successfully complete a swimming test, numerous SCUBA skills, quizzes, and a final written exam. You will be instructed by a PADI instructor, aided by a divemaster or assistant instructor. Class size varies, but it will be no more than 10 students.
Class/Pool Sessions: Our OW classes are done in 5 nights, one night per week at our Rockaway, NJ location. Saturday classes are from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Weeknight classes are from 7:00pm to 11:00pm. The classes involve approximately one hour of classroom instruction, followed by 3 hours of practical application in our indoor heated 14' deep pool, located on our premises. The majority of the classroom portion is designed as "Home Study" (Yes, that means HOMEWORK!!).. Students wishing to participate in this class must attend all sessions*. Also, the knowledge reviews must be completed and turned in for each class session.
(*If a class is missed, there will be a $100.00 fee for a makeup class, assuming it can be done before the next session. If the makeup class cannot be accomplished, you will be placed in the next available class, starting at the missed session).
You are required to have your own gear:
1. Mask & Snorkel. Please do not show up with a $10 mask & snorkel purchased at Sports Authority or Shop rite. That stuff is ok to give to a kid that will only use it once and lose it. You need diving grade gear made to last more than 10 minutes in water. You don't want a 'one size fits all' that hurts your nose, leaks and with a strap that falls off when you are diving. Just like any sport Skiing, Motorcycles, Golf etc..It's better to spend a few bucks to be comfortable and safe. Many instructors still have their first diving grade mask & snorkel and still use it after years of ownership. I know I do!
2. Fins and Boots. Same as above. Fins and boots are like shoes...if you are wearing an uncomfortable pair you know it and it makes you grumpy. The boots are nice because they fit into the fin and you don't get horrible bunions and blisters from your feet rubbing on the inside of the fin pocket. The boots stay on your feet when you remove your fins and give protection like 'water shoes' when you walk around the pool, beach diving, boat diving etc.. it's not a good day when you step on a sea shell or some knucklehead's broken bottle with your bare feet. Get a nice set of boots and fins that fit you, everyone has different size feet so you need to be fitted properly. Comfort is the name of the game and quality of gear is always primary goal during your purchase.
3. Weight belt and Weights. If you plan on doing your 'checkout dives' (4 dives in open water with an Instructor) in water that you don't need thick exposure protection (7MM wet suit) then just get enough weight for the pool. If you are a good buddy, get a few more pounds because usually there is that 'guy' that always asks for extra weights. Write your name on them so you get them back!! If you plan on being a local diver or want to save vacation time and do your check out dives local, (there is great local diving!) you can complete your Open Water check out dives with Elite at Dutch Springs. You will need more weight to counter act the 'lift' of a thick 7MM wetsuit. Wetsuits have tiny little bubbles that insulate you, the thicker the wetsuit the more weight you need. The 'rule of thumb' for wearing a 7MM wetsuit is 10% of your body weight plus five pounds. But nothing should replace a 'weight check'. Your instructor will review a proper weight check in class.
4. Open Water Crew Pack. This 'Kit' contains educational material to develop your diving skills. It also serves value by having a book to go back and read when it's cold out and you can dream about diving or plan your next trip South! The Crew Pack contains your 'homework' that your instructor will review in class as well as a 'dive table' you will use when you conduct your dives when you are certified. Knowledge is power, read, read, read!
Is your head spinning? Still have more questions? Our staff at Elite Divers will spend all the time required to help you in the selection of the proper equipment for your individual diving needs. If you are enrolled in our class please let the staff member know, you will receive a 10% discount off the already discounted shelf price of your gear purchase. We know it's expensive and to be honest sometimes we can beat internet prices other times we can't. So to bring our customers through the door we give services the internet can't provide like free parts for life if you buy your regulator from us, Free use of the pool to try out your purchase before you buy, free use of rental gear if you buy a regulator from us and its in for service. It's cheaper to buy proper gear first than to buy the wrong gear first and then the proper gear second. So please shop with us!
You can purchase the required equipment at any time prior to the first session. We recommend that you don't wait for the 1st class. It's nice to take your gear home, condition your mask (we will show you how) and write your name on everything. However if you are going to wait until the day of the first class please give yourself ample time to be fitted in the proper equipment (at least a Half Hour Prior to Class).
Session # 1: Students will experience SCUBA Diving in the pool! Be sure to bring your bathing suit and towel, so you don't miss out on the fun. We also recommend you bring an old T-shirt to wear in the water, so the BCD doesn't abrade your skin. Your instructor will show you the proper set-up, the use of all diving equipment, and start off your experience that will change your life.
Session #2: Additional and more complex diving skills will be covered in the pool, and module two and three will be reviewed in class.
Session #3: Students must purchase gloves and compass. Believe it or not but a compass is an awesome tool for diving. We will explain how to use basic compass navigation and will also be required to demonstrate mastery of the compass during your open water training. Module four will be reviewed in class and some more pool skills and fun pool time.
Session #4: Continued Skill building along with preparation for the open water dives. Module five will be reviewed in the class.
Session #5: Review of all material and the final exam will be given on this night. In addition, equipment sizing for the Open Water dives at Dutch Springs will take place. SCUBA skills will be reviewed in the pool and a session as well as give you ample time for any skill you want to practice. Our instructors are very patient and at Elite we don't ever rush the learning experience. We do it because we love diving and we love people that want to learn.
Check Out Dives: Upon completion of the confined water pool dives and classroom sessions, the student is required to participate in 4 open water training dives to obtain certification. Some folks go to the Caribbean to get this done and some folks want to save vacation time or want to dive local and do their check out dives in on one weekend with Elite. You basically perform all the skills that have already learned during the pool sessions in open water. These certification dives will be scheduled by your instructor, with input from the class. To reduce costs and give our customers options to meet their need, we break the tuition into two separate fees. One for Confined Water and one for Open Water Check Out Dives. We go to Dutch Springs near Easton, PA for these training dives (1:15hrs from Elite Divers).
Gear Required For Local Check Out Dives: Mask, fins, snorkel, boots, gloves, weight belt/weights & compass are the absolute minimum personal equipment necessary to get through the class/pool sessions. Elite offers a 10% discount on the personal dive gear needed for the course. The training dives require exposure protection via a 1/4" (aka 7MM) Neoprene wetsuit, hood, a BCD, regulator w/alternate air source & submersible pressure gauge, & tank. Elite's OW class members may rent all this gear, except for personal gear, for the weekend of the training dives..
Costs You Can Expect: Please call Elite Divers Directly at (973) 586-2214 for Class Fee, which includes all your educational material and instruction. There is a $50.00 non-refundable deposit for this class. You will also be required to leave a $50.00 deposit for the DVD supplied, which is fully refundable upon return to ELITE DIVERS. A good budget for your mask, fins, snorkel, boots, gloves, compass is roughly $250-$300. Elite will rent you all other gear necessary for checkout dives for $185 for the weekend, which includes certification card processing and the instructor's fee. Daily Entry into Dutch Springs and incidentals such as transportation, food...and most likely 3 additional tank fills are not included..
Students must supply 2 Wallet-Sized Photos for the processing of your Certification card.
Reminder: You are expected to attend all five classes in succession.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions: Click Here
What's Next? The next class that we recommend is PADI Advanced Open Water.....
Dutch Springs PA! Discover Local Diving!! |
 |
 |
