The Underwater World awaits…

Imagine being weightless, floating in tranquility, in a world of visual treasures most people can only imagine. Three quarters of the earth is covered in water, and what lies below provides something for every fantasy. Explore the ghostly remains of a mysterious shipwreck, interact with nature in the vast ecosystem of a coral reef, or just get a fish eye view of the world. Scuba diving is both fun and easy to learn. Nearly everyone can do it. No great swimming skills are required. You need only to be comfortable in the water, and willing to learn.

About Our Courses…

Our courses are taught using one philosophy: Quality. We are not out to be the fastest or the cheapest, simply the best. We have the most experienced staff of Professional Scuba Instructors anywhere, and all of our courses exceed the minimum standards set forth by the training agencies. Our entire staff is made up of diver’s who love diving. We believe that today’s students are tomorrow’s dive buddies, and we want you to enjoy diving safely as much as we do. Our Open Water Diver course is sanctioned by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), the largest certifying agency in the world and IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers). We are proud to be a PADI 5 Star Dive Center, and for earning five awards for excellence in education, but that’s not what sets us apart.

There IS a Difference in Diver Education…

Sure all PADI courses follow the same basic outlines, so what makes us different? To begin with, we do not believe that all divers with the same card are the same. Just like there are many drivers on the road with the same driver’s license, (some better than others), the same holds true for Scuba Certifications. Underwater Dive Center does not believe in “meeting the minimum requirement”. We want you to be comfortable with the skills and knowledge necessary for you to dive safely and have fun. Our Instructors want you to succeed, and to continue diving beyond your classes. Our courses aren’t more difficult, just more complete. Many of our students become customers for life, travel with us, and dive with us. Nothing makes us prouder than that phone call we get from our newly certified divers when they tell us how comfortable they were on their recent dive trip. Diving is fun when it is safe.

How our Open Water Classes Work…

Our scuba course consists of three parts:

• Knowledge development (online and classroom) – to gain an understanding of the principles of scuba diving
• Confined (pool) sessions – for learning basic scuba skills
• Open Water dives – to review skills you learned in the pool but applying them in an open water setting

Scuba education is cumulative and each new lesson builds on previous learning. To truly learn, time is required. Your scuba certification is good for a lifetime and we devote the time required for lifetime learning. Our Open Water classes include the PADI Open Water eLearning code, classroom sessions, pool sessions, and all of the equipment for usage in the pool except for the mask, fins, snorkel, and wet suit boots. 

What’s Required of You…

Do you want to learn to scuba dive? That’s the first step. When enrolling in one of our open water courses, one of our staff will take you step by step through both requirements and our commitment.

Briefly, you will be asked to complete a student file form and medical statement. Because scuba diving is an active sport, we do need to assure your health. Most people in good general health have no difficulty meeting this requirement.

Secondly, you will be given an online pass code. Each student must have their own. You will need to complete the online training prior to your class and pool sessions.

What You Need…

All you need is a bathing suit and your own mask, snorkel, fins and wet suit boots. Now, before you start searching the internet, please know that this equipment needs to be professionally fitted to each person. As one of our students, you will be eligible for our Student Equipment Packages. Scuba equipment is different than snorkeling equipment and must have a proper fit to avoid discomfort. Our knowledgeable staff will show you the differences in each piece of equipment and ensure you have the most comfortable and best fitting equipment.

The Next Step to get Certified…

Once you have completed the eLearning, class and pool sessions, you will need to do what we call the Open Water Dives. These dives will be conducted over two days. You may make these over a weekend here in Ohio, during most of our store scuba excursions or on your own private vacation. For the Ohio dives, we generally travel to the western part of the state and utilize what we consider the best quarries for scuba diving in Ohio. Why learn to dive if it isn’t fun? Once you have completed these dives, you will be certified and be able dive anywhere in the world. You are also certified for life. Because of the various places you can choose to do these dives, they are additional. The cost is $179 total for all 4 dives. This does not include equipment (which may be rented, purchased or borrowed), Log book, RDP Dive Tables, Signal tube or dive watch.

Download Underwater Dive Center’s Open Water Brochure