scuba certified

TBRUZZ · 01-20-2004, 05:39 PM

Any rocomendations on getting scuba cerified around here?

Thanks,

Tracy

Crevalle · 01-20-2004, 05:55 PM

I recommend it.

Crevalle · 01-20-2004, 05:57 PM

Seriously though, check out scubacenter.com

They have areas in Eagan and Mpls--good organization.

Sam

Graham · 01-20-2004, 06:01 PM

I went through Adventure Sports SCUBA (Eden Prairie) a few years ago. It took a weekend - about 6 hours each day - one dry day hitting the books and watching videos and the other day in the pool. I did my actual open water certification in Cozumel (unless you wait until summer, you'll have to do it somewhere without ice

).
They were good and they have an on-site pool that you can use at any time after you get your certification through them - as long as you dive every 6 months. Otherwise, you need to pay for a refresher... Most places don't have their own pool if things are the same as they were.

Energy · 01-20-2004, 06:17 PM

I got certified in Cozumel as well. If I did it over again I would try to do it all before going on vacation. That way your options are open and your'e not restricted to a schedule while on vacation. Make sure you use someone that can do a complete open water certification indoors.

Graham · 01-20-2004, 07:08 PM

Stan,

Can you do open water indoors? (that's an oxymoron

)
I've never heard of this and was the reason I ended up doing it in Mexico. You have to do open water training before you can take your open water test. I don't think this can be done indoors...

MERCEDES · 01-20-2004, 07:20 PM

What my husband should have said does anyone know of a place that holds classes on weeknights? We have to work Saturdays

So weekends are out except for Sunday unless its football season gotta watch football on Sundays so that leaves only about 6 months to get it done.

Thanks for the website suggestion Sam.

Graham · 01-20-2004, 08:20 PM

The place I went to does weeknights... or they used to. (see above)

Energy · 01-20-2004, 08:57 PM

Yeah your right Graham. You can't complete the training in a pool.

gamepoint · 01-20-2004, 10:01 PM

ScubaCenter in Eagen does both weekkends and weeknights. Since the weeknights are shorter time periods it last for two weeks instead of one. If you are going to do your open water this weekend, consider waiting until you're at your destination to book. I was on a cruise when I did my open water and prebooked Grand Caymen and waited untill I was on Roaton and Cozumel to book there and got far far better deals.

MERCEDES · 01-20-2004, 10:34 PM

Thanks Graham & Gamepoint, I will look them up tomorrow.

Lars · 01-20-2004, 11:17 PM

Becoming certified for SCUBA is a two step process: The open water training (classroom/pool), and the open water test.

The training is done in a pool, and in a classroom. There are several options for completing this portion. As some have mentioned, you can do it through a local dive shop. Personally, I like Smith Diving (Fridley), and Scuba Center (50th/Penn, and Eagan). I completed my open water training in college, for my PE credit. You can also do this at just about any resort destination.

The second portion is the open water test. You can not complete your open water test in a pool. You have the same options for this portion as the previous portion. If you do it somewhere other than the training you need to get an Open Water Referral which tells the testing instructor that you have passed the training portion. If you complete this here, it will most likely be done at Square Lake, north of Stillwater.

You can also check out MNSCUBA for some local SCUBA info.

Hope this helps!

Lars.

SawCJack00 · 01-21-2004, 08:29 AM

I did my classroom and confined water at SCUBA center in MPLS. Did my OWC dives in Curacao. I was happy with my training. I did it on weeknights - 2 nights a week for 2 weeks about 3 hours each night.

On another note, I just got my birthday presents last week:

A new Sherwood Avid BCD, Sherwood Wisdom computer, and Genesis GS-2000 reg + octopus... (Thanks wifeypoo)

Will all come in very handy in 2 weeks when I'm diving the atolls of Belize

Graham · 01-21-2004, 04:38 PM

Braggart!

**** Bill...Belize has been on my list for a while now.
I'm feeling pretty green right now (with envy, that is.)

Have fun!

By the time I get to go diving again, my equipment will have turned to dust...

Crevalle · 01-21-2004, 04:49 PM

Wow, Bill, that sounds awesome. My wife and I are going on a cruise through the southern Caribbean (San Juan, St. Kitts, Aruba, Grenada, La Guaira (South America?), and St. Thomas) with some family in November, and I'm wondering if there are any particular islands I just listed that are better/nicer than others for diving? Anyone?

I've scuba dived in Jamaica and St. Thomas, and it's a blast, but I still can't see why I would spend cash and time to get certified when I can go anywhere in the world, sit through a 30min Q&A, and then dive for a half-hour. ??????? I'm looking for an excuse to get certified, but I'm coming up blank.

Sam