
	Open Water This is the first step to becoming a scuba diver. The PADI Open Water Diver course gives you the basic knowledge to start your diving experience. There are three parts to this course. You have a class portion, a pool portion that teaches you basics, and an open water portion that puts those skills into a practical environment. This course gives you basic training which will allow you to dive 60 feet. When taking the class through us, the price you are quoted will include the text materials, instruction hours, rental gear, pool fees, and open water fees (unless otherwise specified). Three Options The first is the referral course. This course allows you to take the class and pool portion of the course and head off on vacation to finish up your open water dives. The benefit of this is that you will be able to take your open water dives in warm, clear water. The con is when you go on vacation you usually want to spend the time actually diving, not learning how to dive and holding an instructor's hand. The second option has two sub-options...the first is to take the whole course here in the area. We will set you up with your class, your pool, and we will finish up at the local quarry. The benefit to this is that it's convenient. The con is that the quarry can be colder and darker than tropic waters. The second sub-option is to take the class and pool portion locally, and then roll out to Florida, Mexico, or somewhere tropical to finish up. This option gives you a $30.00 discount for the course. You'll be going on a vacation with other divers, hanging out and making new friends along the way, and the waters will be warm, clear, and beautiful. The third option is for those who want even more convenience. PADI offers an online version of the class to be taken at your leisure. Go to this link and sign in to the site. You will pay PADI $120.00 to take this portion online (and $120 will be credited to your cost by Blue Escapes Diving), but you can do it anywhere with an internet connection. At the end you will be provided with a confirmation of completion and you will be given a short 18 question quiz before taking the pool session with us, and then we will proceed to the open water portion here or someplace warm. Advanced Open Water Advanced Open Water is the next step to open your eyes to the world of diving and all that it has to offer. The purpose of the advanced course is to show you that there are different aspects to diving that may peak your interest and it is necessary and required to advance to the next level - rescue diver. Rescue Diver Rescue Diver is the last non-specialty level on the way to becoming a Master Scuba Diver. Rescue Diver teaches the student how to handle serious situations that may arise while diving. During the class, you will hone your life-saving skills and apply them to scuba diving. There are two prerequisites: You must have completed Advanced Open Water Diver and you must be CPR certified by a recognized organization (Emergency First Response, American Red Cross, etc). Note: Blue Escapes Diving is also certified to teach CPR certification so if you are not certified than it will be an easy fix.	List of Certifications from beginner to expert: (click on each to jump to its description) Open Water Advanced Open Water Rescue Diver Specialty Courses Master Scuba Diver Divemaster Upcoming Class Schedule May Saturday, May 28th Sunday, May 29th June Saturday, June 11th Sunday, June 12th Saturday, June 25th Sunday, June 26th July Saturday, July 2nd Sunday, July 3rd June Saturday, August 13th Sunday, August 14th Saturday, August 27th Sunday, August 28th
	Specialty Courses The purpose of the specialty courses is to get the student acquainted with more specific areas of diving in a specialized manner. Each specialty may take anywhere from four dives to no dives at all. On the path to becoming a Master Scuba Diver, one must complete 5 of these specialties in addition to Rescue Diver. Specialty courses offered at Blue Escapes Diving are as follows: Wreck Diver Deep Diver Enriched Air (Nitrox) Diver Boat Diver Drift Diver Underwater Naturalist Equipment Specialist Night Diver Specialty courses are always being added based on instuctors' experience, and the only prerequisite for any specialty is your Advanced Open Water certification. Master Scuba Diver Congratulations! You have arrived at the highest, non-professional level of scuba diving. Master Scuba Diver is the culmination of completing your Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, and Rescue Diver courses, as well as 5 specialty courses. Training for Master Scuba Diver is based on current levels of certification and costs vary depending on what the student requires. Divemaster Divemaster is the first professional level of training and the final level that an instructor can teach you. It is a very comprehensible course that involves class time and pool time as well as "internships" and open water training. There are five main modules that the student will master in this course: Diving Physiology, Diving Physics, Equipment, Diving and the Environment, and the RDP and the Wheel. The pool sessions will encompass demonstration quality skills that will be necessary to perform in front of classes. It is a very involved class and does take a considerable amount of time. Due to this fact, costs and time periods are determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in the Divemaster program, please feel free to contact Jon by phone or email.

Home | News and Product Reviews | Classes | Build Your Own Trip | Pictures | Videos | FAQ's | Free Estimate