Getting Starting with SCUBA

Is SCUBA diving right for you?

Come on in and try it out!  With the PADI Discover Scuba program, you can feel the exhilaration of breathing and being "weightless" under water while under the close supervision of a PADI professional, all in our on-site, indoor pool!  It's a very inexpensive way to see if Scuba is right for you.  Once you've found how fun and exciting Scuba really is,  the cost will apply to your PADI Open Water class.  The best part is, if you complete a PADI Open Water class within 90 days, PADI will reimburse you the cost of your Discover Scuba experience!

Learn to dive today. If you want to learn to scuba dive, the first step is to take a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water Diver course, the most widely recognized and respected diving certification in the world. Within a few days, you can be enjoying the underwater world.

Your Freedom to Explore 70% of the Earth

With a PADI Open Water Diver certification, you'll have the freedom to dive with a buddy ... independent of a professional.  And since the Earth is 70% water, why not dive the planet for your own personal gratification?  Because of the rewards, it's no wonder this is the most popular dive program in the world.

What do I need to start?

First, you'll begin by selecting one of SCUBA UTAH's four course options that works for your schedule. Each option takes two weeks, but the class schedules vary to help meet individual needs. You may choose from:

• Weeknight Option 1 (Monday/Wednesday): This option is convenient for people who have weekday evenings free. The class will span four weekday evenings over the course of two weeks, and one weekend: two Mondays and two Wednesdays. Your course will finish with four Open Water dives on the weekend immediately following the final Wednesday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.
   
• Weeknight Option 2 (Tuesday/Thursday): This option is identical to Weeknight Option 2, except the class consists of two Tuesdays and two Thurdays, and one weekend. Your course will finish with four Open Water dives on the weekend immediately following the final Thursday, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.
   
• Weeknight Option 3: This option is great for people who don't want to dive on Sunday! The class consists of four weeknight classes, which, depending on scheduling, may be Monday/Wednesday classes (Option 1), or Tuesday/Thursday classes (Option 2), one Friday, and one Saturday. Your course will finish with four Open Water dives on the Friday and Saturday immediately following the final instruction day (a Wednesday or Thursday).
   
• Weekend Option: This option is designed for people with less time or busy weeknights. The class will span two weekends. All instruction will be given on the first Saturday and Sunday, and your course will finish with four Open Water dives on the second weekend, two on Saturday and two on Sunday.
  

Next, you'll need to call or stop by SCUBA UTAH to sign up for your Open Water Diver course. You may pay for the course all up front, or make a deposit to hold your space in a class. If you choose to make a deposit, you must finish paying for the class in full before the first class session.

Finally you'll need to purchase the required materials for the class. You'll need your personal gear (snorkel, fins, mask, booties), and the PADI Open Water Diver crew pack (book or CD-ROM version). SCUBA UTAH has all these materials avialable and Open Water students receive a 10% discount on snorkels, fins, masks, and booties. 

What do I need to do before the first class session

Besides getting the materials listed above, there are some things you must have completed before the first class session. First and foremost is the PADI Medical Statement (included in the SCUBA UTAH Student Handbook). Look over the Medical Statement and if you can answer "Yes" to ANY of the items, you MUST get a doctor's release (also included in the Handbook) signed by an M.D. BEFORE class begins.

If you chose any of the weeknight options, you must also complete the Knowledge Reviews at the end of chapters 1 through 3 in the PADI Open Water Diver manual. For the weekend option, you must complete all of the Knowledge Reviews (chapters 1 throught 5) prior to the first class session.

What if I'm not sure if Scuba is right for me?

Not sure if a full-blown course is for you? Take a Discover Scuba or Discover Scuba Diving program at a PADI Dive Center or Resort and experience what you're missing. Kids are welcome too. There are a variety of fun and exciting programs available for them as well.