What is included in the Open Water Diver Class? |
The Open Water Diver class tuition includes online training materials, as many pool training dives to make you feel comfortable underwater, four open water certification dives, internationally recognized certification card, rental of the scuba gear that you may need during class including regulators, gauges, dive computer, wetsuit, hood & gloves (if needed).
Also included is your mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit boots, and gear bag. Those items are yours to enjoy after the class and do not need to be purchased separately. If you would like a different gear than what is included, you may apply the value of the gear towards the purchase of other gear from our shop.
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So, you include my personal gear such as mask, fins, & snorkel in the Open Water Diver class tuition? |
Yes. We try to live up to our tagline - "Rochester's Friendliest Dive Shop.' We don't like surprises and we bet you don't either. Rather than advertising a low price and then requiring you to purchase additional items and pay extra for certification dives, we include everything you need in your course tuition.
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I'm the only one who wants to learn to dive. Do I have wait for a class to fill-up before I can start? |
Absolutely not. Unlike other shops, we don't charge for 'executive' or 'private' classes. We like to keep classes small because we believe that students learn better in a smaller group.
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What happens if I need more time in training than the average person? |
The Open Water Diver class is about you becoming comfortable in the water and we know that people learn at different rates. Some people will take longer than others to be comfortable, so we do not charge extra if you need more time in the pool than other people.
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Why do you use e-Learning rather than classroom sessions? |
The online training materials are designed so that you can learn the academics at your own pace when it is convenient for you. You complete the academics online or via an app and we review the material and answer any questions you may have during the pool sessions.
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Do I have to be a strong swimmer? |
Being able to handle yourself in the water comfortably is important, but you do not need to be a strong swimmer in order to dive.
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I have a medical condition. Can I still dive? |
If you have a medical condition, you will need to have a physician approve you to dive. You will need to complete a simple medical history form for your doctor to sign and return to us. Download the medical form.
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Are there any age restrictions for children or seniors? |
The minimum age is 10 and there is no upper age limit. For children under 10, there is the Scuba Rangers – a way cool kids club. Click here for more information.
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Are the academics online or is it printed material and will my certification be recognized internationally? |
All of SSI courses are available in both printed and digital format. With digital you can easily access the program on your PC, tablet or smartphone, anytime, anywhere in both, iOS or Android. At RU4Scuba, we have found that most people enjoy the interactive nature of smartphone apps.
Your Scuba Schools International and PADI certifications are recognized internationally.
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I just became Certfied. What's next? |
Congratulations on beginning your diving career! This is the most frequently asked question. In our opinion, to be a complete diver, your goal should be to become a Master Diver. The Master Diver rating is one of the most elite ratings in diving today. Divers that have completed this level have combined the knowledge, skills and experience to truly call themselves Master Divers. To earn the certification for Master Diver, you must complete 4 specialty courses, Diver Stress & Rescue and have done a total of 50 dives.
So, what's next? Dive. Dive some more. Take a specialty class in an area that interests you. Dive. Dive. Dive.
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What is the most popular Specialty Class? |
By far, the most popular specialty class is Enriched Air Nitrox. Have you ever dreamed of having longer no-decompression limits to take pictures or explore a wreck? Did you ever want to be safer while diving concerning the potential risk of decompression sickness?
"Nitrox for free" is a slogan in a lot of resorts. This means that you do not have to pay a surcharge for Nitrox, but all diving operators will want to see a valid Nitrox certificate before you can dive.
In your Nitrox program you will learn all the necessary rules for planning dives with Nitrox and using Nitrox in a safe way. The program contains optional dives and therefore it is a perfect "Winter Specialty" before your diving holiday starts. This will allow you to go diving immediately and enjoy the advantages of diving with Nitrox.
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How long do I have to complete my class? |
Scuba School International training standards allow for a one year completion time. If you need more time to complete your class, you will need to retake the sections of the class which you have completed more than a year ago. There may be additional charges for this.
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Can I do my open water dives while on vacation? |
Yes. We have a universal referral form which will be accepted by most dive shops regardless of which training organization they use.
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What qualifications do your instructors and staff hold? |
The co-owners, Jim and Don, have over 40 years of diving experience and over 30 years of teaching experience. Combined, Don and Jim have over 10,000 dives.
Jim holds the highest instructor rank, Instructor Training, and is also a Master Instructor with over 1,000 certifications.
Staff members average five years of experience with hundreds of dives under each of their belts.
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