Recreational SCUBA Certification Courses

Are you ready to plunge into the extraordinary world of scuba diving and earn your Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI®) scuba diving certification? Dive into your underwater dreams with the ASI Scuba Dive Center! Our treasure trove of PADI® scuba certifications offers you the gateway to embark on exhilarating diving experiences.

Instructor assisting a student with their scuba gear

How to Sign-Up

Step 1. Choose the diving course that is right for you (listed below).

Step 2. Register for the applicable eLearning

Click here to visit the ASI Portal to register for applicable eLearning.

Step 3. Register for a confined water training session and corresponding open water certification trip

Click here to visit the ASI Portal to register.

Each certification course offered through the ASI Scuba Dive Center encompasses two components: PADI® eLearning (online module lessons) and practicing these learned skills (confined water training sessions in the BRIC pool and open water certification dives in our beautiful southern California waters). Click on each box below to see brief descriptions of each course.

Available Water Diver Courses

Prepare to embark on an extraordinary undersea adventure with us! At the ASI Scuba Dive Center, we unveil the gateway to a whole new world as we introduce you to the captivating PADI® Open Water Diver course. This renowned certification is the most widely recognized scuba certification.

Note: Each part has its own separate registration – completion of all parts is required to be certified.

Course Pricing
Separate registration required for each part
Student BRIC Member Other BRIC Member Non-BRIC Member
Part 1: PADI eLearning $60 $185 $200
Part 2: Confined Water Training Sessions and Open Water Certification Trips $300 $415 $580
Total $360 $600 $780

Already a certified diver? Check out these courses!

Prepare to take your scuba journey to thrilling new depths with the PADI® Advanced Open Water Diver course! In this course, you’ll build confidence and expand your scuba skills including buoyancy and navigation. While experiencing a taste of different specialties under your instructor’s supervision, you will explore and learn new ways to have fun underwater. Get ready to dive into the extraordinary!

Diving insurance is not included in the Advanced Open Water Diver course pricing but is required to participate in Part 2 of the course.

Note: Each part has its own separate registration – completion of all parts is required to be certified.

Course Pricing
Separate registration required for each part
Student BRIC Member Other BRIC Member Non-BRIC Member
Part 1: PADI eLearning $75 $115 $190
Part 2: Confined Water Training Sessions and Open Water Certification Trips $300 $635 $785
Total $375 $750 $975

Get ready to transform your diving experience with the PADI® Rescue Diver course! The skills learned in this course are where adventure meets responsibility in the most exciting way. Upon completion, you’ll uncover the power to spot and resolve minor hiccups before they escalate and increase your self-assurance while diving. It’s a challenge that’s as thrilling as it is rewarding, promising to reshape your underwater experience in new ways!

Diving insurance is not included in the Rescue Diver course pricing but is required to participate in Part 2 of the course.

Note: Each part has separate registration – completion of all parts is required to be certified.

Course Pricing
Separate registration required for each part
Student BRIC Member Other BRIC Member Non-BRIC Member
Part 1: PADI eLearning $60 $185 $200
Part 2: Confined Water Training Sessions and Open Water Certification Trips $300 $425 $595
Total $360 $610 $795

Unlock a world of specialized training that caters to your unique interests! In the Specialty Combo course, you have the power to choose 2 exhilarating specialties that fuel your passion for the underwater world.

Explore an array of thrilling options, including deep diving, digital underwater photography, enriched air nitrox, fish identification, night diving, or recovery diving.

For the full list of additional specialty course options, dive into our FAQ page or consult the course flow chart.

Email scuba@cpp.edu for a complete list of the specialty dive options offered.

Diving insurance is not included in the Specialty Diver course pricing but is required to participate in Part 2 of the course.

Course Pricing
Separate registration required for each part
Student BRIC Member Other BRIC Member Non-BRIC Member
Part 1: PADI eLearning $60 $185 $200
Part 2: Confined Water Training Sessions and Open Water Certification Trips $300 $400 $560
Total $360 $585 $760
scuba diving instructor teaching a student how to use scuba gear in a swimming pool

Professional SCUBA Certifications

Ready to transform your love for scuba diving into an extraordinary adventure as a PADI® Divemaster or Scuba Instructor? When you take the plunge into this incredible journey, you’ll embark on a mission to:

  1. Nurture new divers: Empower new divers as they build and strengthen their underwater skills, becoming their trusted guide into deep water.
  2. Explore the world: Unlock opportunities to travel the globe and explore breathtaking destinations, turning your passion into a profession.
  3. Elevate your dive skills: Elevate your own diving skills to new heights, becoming an expert in your field.

As a Divemaster or Scuba Instructor, you’ll fine-tune your scuba skills and emerge as a leader within the world’s largest community of adventurers, guided by a shared passion for ocean conservation.

Reach out to us at scuba@cpp.edu when you’re ready to start your journey in professional diving. We’ll arrange a one-on-one meeting, connecting you with the ASI Scuba Dive Center Course Director to discuss the course requirements and your personalized schedule.

Available PADI Courses

Become a visionary leader who not only mentors but also ignites the passion of divers worldwide. In the Divemaster course, you’ll gain diving knowledge, supervision skills, and become a role model for divers.

Under the expert guidance of a seasoned PADI Instructor, you’ll embark on perfecting both your diving and leadership skills. As a PADI Divemaster, you will learn, lead others, and guide the next generation of new divers.

Are you a people person with an insatiable passion for scuba diving, ready to lead an extraordinary life? Take the plunge and become a PADI Instructor! Teaching scuba diving is not just a job; it’s a calling that allows you to share your passion for the  underwater world with others.

PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors who successfully completed the program set the gold standard for training dive professionals. Get ready to dive into a career that’s truly life-changing!

CPR and first aid aren’t just vital for scuba divers; they’re crucial for everyone, everywhere. As an Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor, you hold the power to teach these life-saving skills based on internationally recognized emergency care guidelines, and your classes can be open to all, not just divers.

To enroll in the ERF course, you must be at least 18 years old and have had Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care (CPR and First Aid) training within the past 24 months.

Professional Training Pricing

Includes eLearning, practical training, and open water dives
  Student BRIC Member Other BRIC Member Non-BRIC Member
PADI Divemaster $895 $1,485 $1,930
PADI Instructor Development Course $1,562 $2,604 $3,385
PADI Emergency First Response Instructor $435 $726 $945

SCUBA Frequently Asked Questions

For additional questions or more information, please contact scuba@cpp.edu

The course is usually completed in 3-4 days. Learning to dive is skill-based, so the duration of the course is determined by your progress in developing your skill level, comfort, and confidence.

We use PADI eLearning prior to your program to reduce the amount of time needed for the overall course and host in-person training over weekends to reduce overlap with your academics.

You do not need to be a competitive swimmer to learn how to dive, but there are some minimum requirements for safety reasons. You will need to complete a 200-yard swim (any stroke, not timed), tread water or float for 10 minutes, and complete some snorkeling skills taught in class. The most important consideration is that you feel comfortable in the water. If you are not, then it is recommended you take a couple of swim classes with Campus Rec Aquatics to improve your confidence.

No, the ASI Scuba Dive Center provides all the equipment necessary to dive in the coastal California waters. If you do own personal scuba gear, you may be able to use it during the course, as long as it is in good working condition and is approved by the Scuba Dive Coordinator. If you are thinking of investing in your own gear, talk with the Scuba Dive Center Coordinator for recommendations and referrals.

Yes, that is not a problem! You will meet new people, and we will help you find buddies to dive with during the course. We pride ourselves on being inclusive and our staff creates a program that is sociable and welcoming!

One option is to dive in contact lenses (daily disposables are best in case you lose one). If you do not wear contact lenses, then a prescription mask is a great option. It is a good idea to invest in one of your own if this is the case. If you are far-sighted (have difficulty reading but are okay with distances), then you can buy prescription stickers that you apply to the lower section of a regular mask, much like wearing reading glasses. The Scuba Dive Center Coordinator can help you find a solution to this issue.

During your PADI Open Water Diver course, you will be taught how to monitor your air supply frequently and you will learn that we never dive until the tank is empty. We always end the dive before air supply becomes an issue. You will also learn several ways to deal with an “out of air situation” safely, so in the unlikely event that you do run out of air, you will have the skills required to manage the situation.

The length of your dive depends on how quickly you breathe. Most people have some nerves before their first dive, which means beginners use their air faster than experienced divers. Other factors also affect air consumption, such as body makeup, depth, fitness, sea conditions, how effectively you use your fins, and even water temperature.

Your first dive should be a minimum of 20 minutes, and on average, first dives usually range from 25-40 minutes. You will not know until you try, but your air consumption will improve the more you dive.

The first two dives of the PADI Open Water Diver program are a maximum of 40 feet (12 meters) and the third and fourth dives are a maximum of 60 feet (18 meters). Your dives should be at least 20 feet, but you DO NOT have to go to 18 meters. Talk to your instructor if you are anxious about depth.

No! The PADI Open Water Diver course is designed to be accessible to everyone, no matter what your preferred learning style is. The program is not just reading (although there is some), you will also be able to learn the theory through video presentations, practical demonstrations, and practice. If you are worried about “cramming,” the PADI eLearning option allows you to study from home, at your own pace prior to starting the course. If you are a smartphone or tablet user, then try the PADI Open Water Diver Touch Version which you also complete at home and provides a more interactive way of learning.

This depends on where you are diving and what you consider “dangerous”. In some areas, there are corals or plants that may sting if you brush up against them. Most marine animals do not attack and have stingers for defensive reasons only. Your instructor will explain to you how to interact with marine life in an observatory way, which means you will experience some great encounters with many wonderful species.

The golden rule is not to touch anything! Most humans would be annoyed if something they did not know came into their environment and poked them, so we do not do it to marine life.

Yes! You can apply to receive semester credit hours for a scuba course taken with the ASI Scuba Dive Center. The number of semester credit hours you can receive will depend on what course you enroll in. Your digital badges and official transcript can be sent to the college of your choice from Credly, the world’s leading provider of digital credentials. Email us at scuba@cpp.edu for more information on how to get started.

Please email asiactivities@cpp.edu if you need an accommodation. Advanced notice of accommodation requests can assist us in providing more effective services.