No Experience Needed | Learn to Dive Safely For prospective divers with no experience, ready to breathe underwater for the first time! eLearningBegin your scuba diving journey from home with the PADI eLearning course. Spend 8–10 hours completing interactive modules, quizzes, and knowledge reviews at your own pace. You'll gain a solid foundation in scuba theory, equipment use, and safety procedures. OrientationJoin us Thursday evening (6–8pm) for Orientation Night. Meet your instructors and dive buddies, purchase any necessary gear, complete the water skills assessment and receive essential information to prepare for the upcoming pool and open water sessions. Weekend 1The first weekend includes pool training on Saturday and Sunday, from about 12:00 to 6:00 pm both days. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you'll practice key scuba skills such as equipment handling, buoyancy control, and underwater communication. Weekend 2Weekend two consists of four open water dives! On Saturday, test out the waters with a beach dive at a nearby coastal site- typically Refugio State Beach from 8:00-11:00 am. On Sunday, embark on a dive trip to the Channel Islands on the Spectre Dive Boat out of Ventura Harbor. You will board at 6:00 am and return to shore around 4:00 pm, with breakfast, lunch, beverages, desert, and a hot tub available for your convenience! Instructors will be with you throughout to offer support as you apply your skills in real-world conditions and explore stunning marine environments. Course Cost IncludesThe course fee covers PADI eLearning access, rental scuba gear, PADI certification fees, PADI logbook, and group instruction. Additional CostsAdditional expenses include personal scuba gear (mask, snorkel, fins, boots, and gloves) available for purchase at Santa Barbara Aquatics with a 10% discount. We have a guranteed fit policy for our students, meaning that if you buy something from us for your class and it's not working out when you hop in the pool, we'll set you up with something that suits you better! There is also a $219 boat fee for the Channel Islands dive trip. PrerequisitesParticipants must be at least 15 years old for the standard Open Water class. Students 10-14 years old must take a private class for the PADI Junior Open Water certification. Good physical health and basic swimming skills are required. Students will fill out a medical questionnaire, and may need to get signed off by a doctor to participate. No prior scuba experience is necessary.
