Scuba Diving Certification Cost, How Much Does It Cost to Get Certified?

You want to know the scuba diving certification cost, but you have doubts. Keep calm and read this article, we will solve them.

Beatriz lives in New York and loves to travel. Now that the pandemic restrictions are relaxed, she is planning several trips. The first trip will be to the Riviera Maya, but there are many more destinations on her itinerary; Corsica, Egypt, maybe even Indonesia. In other words, she wants adventures, and diving is on her bucket list. So, she is planning on getting PADI open water certified in the NYC area in advance of her trips. The investigation starts.

Beatriz opens the internet in the Google search box she types “scuba diving lessons near me.” The first result is a Diving Shop in Manhattan, so she calls the number listed to ask for prices.

• How much does it cost to get scuba certified? – Beatriz asked.
• PADI Certification Cost in NYC is about $185 for the online learning part,

$400 for a one full day pool session, and roughly $600-700 for two days (4 sessions total) open water training.

Beatriz already has her answer. We might think the investigation is over, but no. This is the moment when the doubts really appear.

• Does the PADI open water diving certification cost in the NYC area seem reasonable or too expensive?
• What if I don’t do it with PADI? Which diving certification is the best?
• Should I do eLearning at home and the certification abroad? Or should I do it all in advance of my trip?
• How much does scuba certification cost in the Riviera Maya?
• Is scuba Equipment use included in the PADI Certification cost?
• How much is the price of a scuba diving license with other agencies? is PADI certification worth it?

Do these questions remind you of something? I bet you’re wondering about the same things. Let’s solve all these questions with this content.

1. Is Scuba Diving Certification Worth It?

Of course, the scuba certification cost is worth it. If you get your scuba diving license, you will be able to:

– dive safely. You will know how to prevent and react to problems that can happen to you underwater;

– dive with a buddy independently. In other words, you will not need to be accompanied by an instructor;

– get more value for your money. A dive is cheaper than a Discover Scuba Diver DSD program. If you are not certified, you will need to do a DSD every time you want to dive;

– dive wherever the action is. In a DSD you can’t dive deeper than 12m (which makes you miss out on some great dives);

–  be a diver forever. The certification has no expiration date. It’s for life.

2. Which Scuba Diving Certification Is the Best?

In Dressel Divers, we work with SDI, PADI, CMAS, SSI, NAUI. IDA, NASDS, YMCA, ACUC, CMAS, y PDIC.

We know them well, their quality standards, requirements, and worldwide recognition.

We will tell you that there is no simple answer to that question. The truth is almost all agencies follow the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) training standards. So, you can rest assured about the quality of your training.

Some of the organizations are larger and more experienced. Others have better-known teaching methods.

The 5 best known are:

1. PADI Professional Association of Diving Instructors

The PADI scuba certification is known all over the world, they have a solid educational system. With PADI, the student progresses at his own pace.

2. SDI Scuba Diving International

This agency belongs to International Training, a group of diving organizations where Technical Diving International (TDI) is also included. Many of its instructors are technical divers. It is considered an agency with innovative teaching methods.

3. SSI Scuba Schools International

SSI is also known worldwide, in some locations even more than PADI. It offers training materials in up to 30 languages.

4. CMAS Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques

Jacques Cousteau was one of its founders. It regulates the training of national federations in up to 130 countries.

5. NAUI National Association of Underwater Instructors

NAUI is an American agency.

Its claim is “Diving safety through education”.

3. What does the scuba diving certification cost depend on?

The scuba diving certification price depends on:

1. The certification you want to obtain. Prices vary. It is not the same if you are interested in certifying as an Open Water Diver or if you want to be a Dive Instructor. PADI has 12 certification courses from Zero to Hero. You can know all the PADI certifications by reading the article 12 Scuba Diving Certification Levels From Beginners To Professional.

2. The type of training you want. For the academic part of the training, you can opt for classroom training, or e-learning. This could vary the scuba diving certification cost. Not with Dressel Divers, but yes with other operators. Realize, they have to dedicate an Instructor just to control and correct your exam.

In the same way, there are diving centers with different prices depending on if the scuba diving certification is junior or senior. They assume that the junior scuba diving certification cost is higher than the senior one because children need smaller groups and more Instructor care. This distinction does not affect the certifications imparted by Dressel Divers, our groups are always small, and our students have highly qualified Dive Masters and Dive Instructor caring for them.

3. The place in the world were getting your certification. Taxes are normally passed on to scuba diving certifications. A certification in the Maldives can cost 900 USD, while doing it in the Caribbean with Dressel Divers is less than half.

4. The dive center with which you are going to certify. The scuba diving certification cost varies between one dive center and another. It will depend on aspects such as:

• rental price of the equipment;
• cost for the center which they have to pass on, such as the rental of facilities and swimming pools;
• if they are the owners of their boats or have to rent them,
• own air or nitrox compressors, or if they have to purchase air fills or mixtures, etc. (It is even more expensive if we are talking about helium)
• number of students per certification course.
• staff salaries, etc.

4. The Cost of a Scuba Certification: Should I Do A Scuba Diving Certification Near Me or Abroad? 

The answer to this question is: it depends.

If the cost of scuba certification is the only variable to consider, of course, do it abroad.

The prices Beatriz received in New York are higher than what we offer at Dressel Divers in the Caribbean. The open water certification has three parts:

• Academic learning,
• Confined water training (pool dives),
• Open water training.

As Beatriz wanted to travel to the Riviera Maya anyway, she can save money doing that:

• Contact a Playa del Carmen operator. (Purchasing in New York and then being referred is more expensive).
• E-learning the academic part at home to save time.
• Do the rest of the training in Playa del Carmen.
• Obtain certification with the Playa del Carmen operator.

However, if the only purpose of the Riviera Maya trip is the certification, forget about it. You would have to add flights, transportation, and accommodation to the scuba diving certification cost. Too much.

5. How Much Does It Cost to Get Scuba Certified with Dressel Divers?

The Open Water Diver certification cost (academic part, scuba diving lessons in confined water, and open water training) with Dressel Divers is less than half the price Beatriz got.

Open Water Scuba Diving Certification Cost from $550*.

Included in the price of the diving course is the so-called “Crew Pack” which consists of:

– student file;

– logbook,

– Digital PIC of the certifying agency of your choice and access to the digital services of the same;

– the scuba diving license cost, issuance, and shipment of your certification card to your home,

– photos for certification.

GET A 20% DISCOUNT on the scuba diving certification cost by booking online.

6. Scuba Certification Cost: What is It Included?

*The scuba diving certification price given is to Open Water Course in Bayahibe or Punta Cana.

** The scuba diving certification cost given is dated March 25, 2022. Over time, this price can vary, Check with Dressel Divers for scuba diving certification cost updates!