Scuba Diving

Alright, so I'm 14 and looking to sign up for a diving course at a local club—thinking about something like PADI in San Diego. Just wondering how the payment thing works with the levels...
Like, if I want two certifications, do I pay for $567 upfront, or do I have to cover the first $500 and then tack on extra for the second $567? Or can I just pay $567 and be done with it!
Also, any idea if I could go after a deep diving specialty once I hit 15?
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for jumping in, everyone!!! Seriously though—I find it hard to believe that not a single person here has actually taken a scuba certification course. If you have, then you know exactly how much those fees bite

ruggedotter16 said:So, I’m 14 right now, and I’m thinking about signing up for a scuba diving course at the local dive club near San Diego next year. I was wondering how the whole payment thing works—like, if there are different levels or tiers...
Does it mean if I pay for two stars, I get $567 or do I have to pay for the first one $500 and then pay extra for the second $567 or do I just pay $567 and that's it!
Also, I was curious if someone my age, maybe 15, would be allowed to go after a deep diving specialty?
Thanks in advance!

Well, I guess you could always just head down to the club in person and ask them all these questions instead of putting us on the spot here, right?🙂

Think of those stars as levels or stages in a progression.
Basically, you gotta nail that first level—the one-star course—before you can even think about moving up to the advanced two-star stuff.

Once you've got that under your belt, then you can start looking into Nitrox, Trimix, rebreathers... you know, all the specialized advanced gear and courses.

Otherwise, if you follow standard US diving regulations and the rules set by various certifying agencies—like PADI, SSI, or NAUI—you're usually capped at about 60 feet with that first certification. Once you hit the advanced level, you can go down to maybe 130 feet, which is pretty much the limit for recreational diving.

Hope that clears things up!

P.S.

Regarding the cash part, it’s roughly $150 $1067-a 😉
for the first stage plus another $170 for the second. So, to get those two stars, you're looking at two separate courses.

P.S.2.
If you're 15, you might be able to get into deep diving eventually, but man, you really need way more than just two stars for that. It takes serious discipline and a level of maturity that goes way beyond "hobbyist" diving. Those deep dives aren't even covered in the basic courses, and honestly, I wouldn't recommend jumping into that kind of stuff until you've clocked at least a hundred regular dives.

Hey, thanks a ton for the help!
But honestly, regarding those prices—I think it’d be way better if they just laid it out straight from the jump, like "one star is $1,500 and the other is $3,200." No need to make things complicated, you know? But whatever.
Thanks again!

ruggedotter16 said:Man, thanks a ton for the help!
But honestly, regarding those costs? I feel like they should just be upfront about it—like, just state clearly that one certification is $1,500 and the other is $3,200 instead of making everything so complicated. But hey, whatever works.
Thanks again!

So check this out: they set the price based on the current exchange rate. Since people don't always go for that second certification, they often just pay the first rate. Though, let's be real, anyone serious about diving is gonna need at least those first two anyway. So you aren't actually looking at $1,500 plus an extra $1,700.

Still, you're looking at at least 20 dives total. You gotta do 10 per certification level because there's no way you're passing that exam without hitting at least 10 dives under each rate.

steeleagle70 said:And listen, they price it based on the certification level. Not everyone goes for the top-tier advanced stuff right away; some people just stick to the basic level. Though, honestly, anyone actually getting into diving is going to knock out at least those first two levels. So you aren't really looking at 1500 plus 1700.

Still, that’s at least 20 dives for you. You get 10 per level, because there's no way you're passing an exam without putting in at least 10 dives per cert.

What are you even rambling about? First, go check which diving schools or associations—like SSI, CMAS, PADI, etc.—are actually legit, then worry about the cost. The money is secondary.
My personal take is that SSI is the best school out there. As for the price, I don't recall exactly, but it was somewhere around $600 for an open water diver up to 70 feet. The number of required dives just climbs as you aim for higher certifications.

swiftwalker43 said:What are you even yapping about? First, check out which diving schools or associations they use—like SSI, CMAS, PADI, whatever—and then worry about the price. Honestly, the cost is secondary.
I’d personally recommend SSI as the top-tier choice for a school. I can't recall the exact price, but it was around $600 for an open water diver certification—you know, down to about 70 feet. The number of dives goes up every time you grab a new star or level.

Wait, what are you on about? The guy knows exactly where he wants to go and what things cost. He’s just asking if the advanced course is included in the initial price or not.🤷

And as for the association? Man, it's basically all the same. Everyone follows the same dive tables and uses the same hand signals anyway.

steeleagle70 said:What are you even talking about? The guy knows his goals and he knows what things cost. He was just asking if the price includes immediate access to an advanced certification or not. 🤷

And regarding those associations... honestly, it barely matters. Everyone is diving using the exact same charts and following the same standard signals anyway.

Just tell me which association taught you how to dive. Clearly, you haven't earned more than two stars; it sounds like some backyard DIY school where they don't even offer advanced courses for beginners. You really should know, coming off a basic course, whether or not you're actually eligible for an advanced certification yet.

swiftwalker43 said:Just curious, what agency did you learn to dive with? You clearly haven't even hit two stars. It sounds like some wild, backyard diving school if they don't offer advanced courses for beginners. You really ought to know from your basic certification when you're actually eligible for an advanced course.

I honestly don't get why we're getting into this argument right now.🤷
I did all my training through NAUI—that's the organization my local club follows.

I've knocked out Scuba Diver, Advanced Scuba Diver, Nitrox, and Trimix.

Look, regardless of which association you pick, you basically need two specific courses to hit that 40-meter mark. Some places use star ratings, others use names. What SSI calls "two stars," NAUI calls "Advanced Scuba Diver." Both let you dive down to 40 meters.

The material is identical. The rules? Exactly the same.

We're talking gear, buoyancy physics, injury prevention, dive planning, deco vs. no-deco dives, buddy breathing, decompression, nitrogen narcosis... all using air. That's the whole deal. Differences between associations are tiny in that regard, so it's not really a biggie. A lot of schools even hold dual certifications from multiple agencies anyway.

steeleagle70 said:Honestly, I don’t see why we’re even bickering about this now.🤷
Everything I’ve done was strictly through the NAUI association—that's how my club operates.

I've checked off the boxes for scuba diver, advanced diver, nitrox, and trimix courses.

But look, if you want to hit those 40-meter depths, basically every agency requires two specific courses, whether they label them with stars or different titles. What SSI calls "two stars," NAUI just calls "Advanced Scuba Diver." Both get you to that 40-meter mark.

The curriculum is identical. Same material, same methods, same rules.

Gear, buoyancy physics, injury management, dive planning, deco vs. no-deco, buddy breathing, emergency ascents... all of it using air. It’s all there. Any differences between agencies at that level are minor, frankly negligible. In fact, plenty of schools hold dual certifications from multiple agencies anyway.

There is a difference. I hold both CMAS and SSI credentials, and the methodology and actual approach to diving vary significantly.
As for NAUI, I can't speak to their exact teaching philosophy beyond what I've heard—that they follow the SSI model. You go through theory chapter by chapter, take a theory exam during a classroom session, watch some visual presentation on a video or DVD to reinforce the concepts, and finally move to practical drills in the water.
After that, for every subsequent star level or title, you're essentially revisiting everything from the first level and layering on more theory and practice. You're still just scratching the surface.
Technically, dive shops or centers carrying multiple agency affiliations shouldn't really be doing that—they should stick to one. But apparently, the industry turns a blind eye at the regional level because they figure it's better to have a diver with any license than to have no customers at all.

So, did you actually go through with those instructor courses?

steeleagle70 said:So, have you actually finished any instructor training courses yet?

PADI Instructor

Sweet

So, you're an instructor, right? Just curious—do you happen to know if there are actually any real differences in dive technique depending on the school? Like, between SSI and some other agency you’re familiar with?

I’m not even talking about the teaching methodology or how they run their courses, which is what you mentioned earlier. I mean the actual physical stuff—the diving technique itself, the prep work, or how you handle the ascent.

I’ve jumped in the water with folks who got certified all over the map, but honestly, I haven't really noticed a difference... but hey, since you're the pro, maybe you've got a better perspective on it?

swiftwalker43 said:There’s a real difference there. I hold both CMAS and SSI certifications, and the methodology and general approach to diving just aren't the same.
As for NOAA, I can't speak to their specific curriculum, though I've heard whispers they follow an SSI-style model—basically grinding through theory chapter by chapter, testing it during instructional hours, watching some old VHS or DVD presentation to visualize the concepts, and then finally getting into the water for practical drills.
After that, for every new specialty or rating you chase, you end up revisiting everything from the very first level, layering on more theory and skill work. You're essentially back at square one every single time.
Honestly, dive schools or centers that try to juggle multiple affiliations like that... they shouldn't be doing it. They ought to stick to one standard. But I suppose it's tolerated through the regional hubs because they figure it's better to have a few divers with any license at all than to have no customers for the center.

Did you actually read this post? If you did, then answer me.
I’ve dove with people from various agencies, and I've led dives for divers holding different certifications too. So I know the reality of it. Some guys carry "Instructor" titles, yet their actual diving ability is basically that of a complete novice.
Just consider how many dives I put in during a single year—not to mention my total logbook count. It's significant.
Adler, don't go chasing after something where you simply cannot compete with me on any level.
If you can answer one very simple question—aside from basic knowledge, what is the single most important thing that makes a true diver?
Once you provide that answer, I'll be happy to respond to anything else you want to throw at me, whether it's theory, technical expertise, dive medicine, SAR, and so on.

swiftwalker43 said:Man, did you even read this post? If you did, hit me back.
I’ve been diving with guys from all different certification agencies, and I’ve even led dives for folks from other organizations. Trust me, I know how people actually dive. You see plenty of guys holding "Instructor" titles whose skills are basically at a beginner level.
How many dives do you think I pulled off in just one year? Not even counting my lifetime total.
steeleagle70, don't go jumping into a debate where you can't even hold a candle to me.
If you can answer one super simple question—besides the basics—what is it that truly makes someone a real diver?
Once you nail that, I’ll be happy to answer anything else you got, whether it's theory, deep knowledge, dive medicine, SAR, whatever.

Good grief, what is wrong with you??!!!

Look, I'm asking you, as an instructor who supposedly knows more, to teach me if you actually know the thing I'm interested in.

Everything you wrote above is about teaching methods.

What I want to know is the actual difference during the dive itself between the different schools. I don't know, so I'm asking. Why are you getting so defensive over a simple question?

Say, let's take a standard dive: 20 minutes at 100 feet. No decompression stuff involved. Would different schools handle the ascent differently? And if they would, what would they do differently? That's literally all I care about. If you know, tell me. If not, no biggie.

And hey, leave the "arguments" about other topics for other threads. Let's be fair, right?

Hmm, maybe. Generally speaking, you could say PADI tables are always a bit more conservative since their whole vibe is avoiding decompression dives whenever possible. Meanwhile, the CMAS crowd tends to lean on Hahn-Bühlmann or other stuff—like the US Navy tables—which are a little more "relaxed." So, sure, you could argue PADI divers are playing it safer, but—big "but" here—it all comes down to the individual. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter which agency signed your cert; what matters is who your instructor was and what kind of diver you actually are—your buoyancy, whether you freak out under pressure, how much air you guzzle, all that stuff.
The old-school CMAS guys—the so-called "scuba-saurs"—and especially the PADI folks love to bicker about methodology, but honestly? It’s just noise. Both teach basically the same thing, just through a slightly different lens. You still have to master the same skills regardless, so there's really no point in the arguing.

Andrew Moore15 said:Hmmmm. Yes and no. Generally speaking, you could argue that PADI-Jev tables are always a bit more conservative since their whole reputation is built on avoiding decompression dives whenever possible. Meanwhile, those following the CMAS style tend to lean on Hahn-Bühlmann or other models—like the US Navy ones—which are a touch more "relaxed." So, sure, you could say PADI divers are more cautious. But (and it's a massive "but") that’s all very subjective. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter much which organization signed off on your certification; what matters is who your instructor was and what kind of diver you actually are. Can you balance? Do you freak out under pressure? How fast are you burning through your air? That's the real metric.
The old-school CMAS crowd—those "scuba-saurs"—and especially the PADI folks love to bicker over methodology, but if you ask me, it's just noise. Empty talk. Both paths teach essentially the same thing, perhaps just through a different lens, but you still have to master the exact same skills to survive. End of story.

It is a complete falsehood to suggest that training methodology—the theory and the practice—doesn't matter. An instructor needs more than just personal experience; they need a deep reservoir of theoretical knowledge regarding diving physiology. If it didn't matter, we wouldn't have hundreds of pages of professional diving literature; we wouldn't have massive textbooks, just little picture books for beginners. If you want real substance, try finding one of the works by Professor Gošović, a true pioneer in diving science. They can be expensive, certainly, but the knowledge contained within them is priceless.🙂

Gosovic is top-tier, and I actually had Koprivica as an instructor once. Honestly though, I think diver training depends way more on the individual instructor’s skill and their specific teaching style than whatever association you're signed up with. These days, there are tons of people calling themselves instructors who basically just run a "pay to play" scheme—they just check the boxes and call it a day. You see that kind of "get 'em in, get 'em out" mentality most often at PADI centers—I definitely noticed it quite a bit while traveling through Egypt or Thailand. It’s rare for a total newbie to actually be able to dive properly or even grasp the real risks involved after just a three-day course, yet that rushed timeline is pretty much the standard at those types of shops. Not to trash PADI entirely, though—they still have plenty of solid, conscientious instructors who actually give a damn about doing the job right.

swiftwalker43 said:PADI Instructor

Well, what you just wrote is an absolute disaster. You claim that under SSI standards, someone with a single star—an AOWD, in other words—can dive to 21 meters. That is simply incorrect; according to SSI, the maximum depth for an AOWD is 18 meters. These are fundamental facts that any competent instructor should have mastered.