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First Coast Divers
2777 University Blvd. West
Jacksonville, Florida 32217 | MAP
info[at]FirstCoastDivers.com
Phone (904) 737-0050
Fax number: (904) 737-0053
Store hours:
Monday-Saturday
10am-7pm
Sunday Closed
Learn To Dive
At First Coast Divers, we believe that a new divers initial certification class should be as thorough as possible. That is why we do things a little different in regards to the conduct of the PADI Open Water Diver Course.
In addition to the standard course offered by all PADI Dive Centers we offer the following additions to the course:
Aqua Lung’s & Suunto’s Unique Computers In The Classroom program: In addition to learning the use of traditional dive tables, all of our Open Water Diver students will train with their very own Suunto dive computer on their regulator. Dive computers have pretty much become standard equipment for today’s scuba divers so we feel a new diver should learn to master the use of this essential but uncomplicated piece of equipment from the very beginning.
Additional Peak Performance Buoyancy Adventure Training Dive: In addition to the standard four open water training dives you enjoy with your instructor, here at First Coast Divers we conduct an additional 5th training dive that focuses specifically on learning good buoyancy skills for new divers. Universally within the scuba diving community, good buoyancy control is recognized as the hallmark of a good diver. Without it, divers endanger themselves and our delicate underwater world. Therefore, immediately following your 4th and final open water training dive, your instructor will spend the added time to teach you the finer points of good buoyancy control and then actually practice it on your 5th training dive. Furthermore, this dive can be counted toward your Advanced Open Water Diver certification when you seek to continue your dive training in the future!!!
Class Sizes: Don’t get lost in the crowd!! When you train with First Coast Divers you will enjoy small class sizes with unlimited access to your instructor.
Our Training Gear: All of our training gear is high quality Aqua Lung gear and is standardized for all students. Your training gear will either be new or in like-new condition. Every year, we sell-off our instructional gear and replace it with new gear. Rest assured, you will only train with the latest and best maintained gear available. Furthermore, in keeping with our practice of training our students with the most current dive gear available, all of our training BCD’s are weight integrated. Our students learn to dive with both the traditional weight belt but also the more commonly used weight integrated BCD. Again, we are all about teaching our students to safely dive with a fine selection of modern scuba gear.
Additional Value: Unlike most local scuba centers, we do not insist that our Open Water students provide their own lead weight during their training class. This may sound like a trivial matter but this equates to a $50-$60 savings per student! Here at First Coast Divers, we happily provide the lead weight free for Open Water students to use.
Sure, our PADI Open Water Diver training course isn’t the least expensive here in town. But when you compare our training class with others, you can clearly see the high value our course offers. Rest assured, when you train with First Coast Divers you will definitely get your money’s worth. Please contact us or come visit us if you have any questions and/or concerns.
*Note: Private classes are available for you and your buddy. Please contact us for further information.
Below is a brief description of what the PADI Open Water Diver course involves (click for more info):
PADI Open Water Diver Course Details
If you’ve always wondered what lies beneath the surface, now’s the time to find out. Start the journey of a lifetime with the PADI Open Water Diver course. It will change you forever.
In the PADI Open Water Diver course, your PADI Instructor takes you through the basics of learning how to scuba dive. You start in a pool and progress to the open water (we’ll use one of the beautiful Florida springs) getting the background knowledge along the way.
Earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification is just the beginning. As a certified diver, fabulous dive destinations, exciting people, unparalleled adventure and uncommon tranquility await you. And, as you continue your adventure and gain experience through higher training levels, your opportunities expand.
Course Details
Number of Dives:
Five Confined Water Dives (split up between two afternoon pool sessions) and Five Open Water Dives
Prerequisites:
10 years old for Junior Open Water Diver and 15 years old for Open Water Diver.
(A PADI Jr Open Water Diver between the ages of 10 and 12 years may only dive with a PADI Professional, a certified parent or certified guardian to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet.)
All students need to be in good health, have reasonable fitness and are required to be comfortable in the water.
Study Materials:
All students are required to have their own copy of the PADI Open Water Diver manual. This manual is included in the price of the tuition.
Note: eLearners have lifetime access to the PADI Open Water Diver manual online.
Equipment:
Students are only required to furnish their own basic scuba gear. This includes the mask, fins, snorkel, log book & a Recreational Dive Planner (RDP).
First Coast Divers will provide for use the regulator, BCD, Suunto dive computer, wetsuit, lead weight and all the air tanks necessary.
Schedules:
The PADI Open Water Diver course is incredibly flexible and performance based, which means we can offer the program on a wide variety of schedules, and paced according to how fast you progress. It’s possible to complete your confined and open water dives in as few as three or four days (provided you take care of reading the manual and watching the video ahead of time).
However, many people prefer a more leisurely schedule, which is usually conducted over a two-weekend period. Contact us to find out the schedules or ask about a private or semiprivate course.
