Scuba Certification Part 1
(Pool & Classroom)

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This globally-recognized certification program is the best way to begin your life-long adventure as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with pool-based in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable exploring the underwater world.

East Coast Divers’ scuba certification course is a three-part program: classroom, pool, and open water dives. All of which are required to obtain certification. This course covers the first two, as students commonly complete pool and class training with East Coast Divers and finish the certification dives on one of our group trips or at another dive facility in warmer water.

Once you sign up and have completed the online training, you will complete 2 classroom sessions and a minimum of 4 pool sessions. Next, you will be ready for a referral to a dive resort of your choice or local open water dives to complete your Open Water Diver certification.

Learn how to configure your diving equipment during an in-person workshop session. Attend three web conferences to cover the remaining academic material. Four pool sessions take you from snorkeling fundamentals through emergency management scuba skills.

Unlike most shops, ECD teaches the whole pool program with students maintaining neutral buoyancy, hovering in the diver position. Our divers come out more comfortable and efficient in the water and are better prepared to apply the skills they learned during their real-world dives!

There are a few steps before you can get into the water – including completing the online training, your first classroom, and completing all relevant paperwork. Most of the paperwork can be done during the first classroom session, but it’s usually a good idea to check over the Scuba – Medical Form ahead of time and get a doctors’ sign-off as necessary. Remember, if you answer “YES” to any of the questions on the medical, a physician’s sign off is required.  Once your Pool & Class training is complete you are eligible for the Open Water Certification Dives.

Before Class

Before attending your class you will need to complete some paperwork. The links to the documents are under the required forms section of this page. These forms must be completed prior to your session and contain important information.

Pay close attention to the medical form as you may also require a physician’s approval before we can let you into the water.

This class also has a helpful online training component hosted by SSI. Please complete your online training prior to your classroom session. If you have not already registered with SSI, look for an email from divessi.com. You can access online training materials, certification cards, and more at my.divessi.com or the MySSI app on your iPhone or Android.

If you have any questions give us a call at the store on 617-277-2216 or shoot us an email training@ecdivers.com.

  • 10 years or older.
  • Clear medical history or physician (MD) sign-off if necessary.
  • The student must provide their own Mask, Fins, and Snorkel. Students who sign up for this program are eligible for a $50 discount after spending $150 or more on gear!

Private courses are set up slightly differently than regular open water courses. The beginning process is the same – you’ll still be required to fill out the same paperwork but you won’t be tethered to our schedule. Instead, you can find out whenever works best for you and let us know so we can get the sessions scheduled – we can even schedule your pool training outside our normal pool hours*. Make sure to let us know in advance, as we have to rent the pool and make sure it doesn’t conflict with any other activities going on that day. If you do use the pool when we have it rented that’s perfect! There will be other people in the pool but you (or your group) will be working privately with your instructor.

*Additional fees (such as pool rental fees) may apply

Private Scheduling is done through Kim and Max in our training department at Training@ecdivers.com. They will be in contact within 24 hours of any inquiries. If you need to contact us sooner please call us at 617-277-2217.

Pvt 1 Person: $1355.25 per person Pvt 3 people:  $868.75 per person | $2606.25 total
Pvt 2 people: $1042.5 per person | $2085 total Pvt 4 people:  $729.75 per person | $2919 total

Students are required to own their own mask, fins, snorkel, and booties (if needed for the fins). These basic pieces of equipment should be personally fit for you and your body type. This will create the most enjoyable and productive training experience. If you already own your own and are unsure about fit or are borrowing from a friend we’d be happy to check the fit at the shop for free or at your first pool session. We also personally fit many of our students to their own properly fit gear and keep many different sizes, styles, and prices in stock.

!STUDENT SPECIAL!

Open Water Pool & Class students receive $50 off their first purchase of $150 or more!

We have everything you will need available in the shop!

  • All online training, registration, and certification fees.
  • Access to SSI’s Digital learning system, logbook, and digital certification card archive
  • 3 web-based classroom sessions
  • 1 practical session @ ECD
  • 4 Sunday Pool Sessions - 12pm to 3pm
  • Use of all required gear in the pool (Except Mask, Fins, Snorkel, Booties, Bathing suit, and Towel). Contacts or a corrective mask are recommended for those needing vision correction.
  • Internationally trained/certified instructor.
  • Free gear review sessions with East Coast Divers PRODUCT SPECIALIST
  • Free use of the pool and scuba gear for life after certification. (restrictions apply)

Standard Schedule:

  • Tuesday - Zoom 1 - Introductions/Paperwork/Buoyancy - 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday - Equipment workshop / Gear configuration @ ECD 7pm to 9pm
  • Sunday - Pool 1 - 12pm to 3pm
  • Tuesday - Zoom 2 - Physics/Physiology - 6pm to 8pm
  • Thursday - Zoom 3 - Environment/Exam/Exam Review - 6pm to 8pm
  • Sunday - Pool 2 - 12pm to 3pm
  • Sunday - Pool 3 - 12pm to 3pm
  • Sunday - Pool 4 - 12pm to 3pm

Nitrox Add-On

As a certified diver, you will learn that nitrogen is responsible for limiting the amount of time underwater for each dive. Typically the first course divers take after certification is a Nitrox program, BUT as an ECD student you have the opportunity to complete this dive extending cert before you complete your open water dives.

NITROX GIVES DIVERS MORE TIME UNDERWATER WITH MINIMAL TIME OR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT!

As an open water student of ours, you’re eligible for a $50 discount off of our nitrox program, saving you both money AND extending your bottom time!

We will get you registered for the materials and a class date. As soon as you complete your Nitrox session and your open water dives you’ll officially be both an Open Water and a Nitrox diver, how cool is that!

This $50 discount is just for currently enrolled ECD Open Water students, so don’t miss out on the chance to save some cash and take advantage of Nitrox diving.

Drysuit Add-On

As a certified Drysuit diver, you will learn the ins and outs (literally) of drysuit diving. A drysuit certification can extend your dive significantly by keeping you warmer and more comfortable in cold conditions. As a New England dive establishment, we recommend that any of our students who are interested in cold water diving earn their drysuit certification. As an ECD student, you have the opportunity to complete this dive extending cert before you complete your open water dives.

AS A DRYSUIT DIVER YOU HAVE TO ABILITY TO EXPLORE THE COLDEST ENDS OF THE SEA AND STILL STAY WARM!

As an open water student of ours, you’re eligible for a $50 discount off of our drysuit program, saving you both money AND allowing you to dive in even the coldest temperatures!

We will get you registered for the materials and a class date. You’ll take one additional classroom session and one additional pool session in a DRYSUIT. As soon as you satisfactorily complete those and your open water dives in a DRYSUIT you’ll officially be both an Open Water and a DRYSUIT diver!

This $50 discount is just for currently enrolled ECD Open Water students, so don’t miss out on the chance to save some cash and take advantage of Drysuit diving.