A: Learning to dive isn’t difficult, but it requires a time and effort investment.  Learning to dive isn’t difficult, but like any activity worth doing, it requires some time and effort. Taking a Bob’s Dive Shop “Learn to Dive” program is as easy as 1-2-3. 

You’ll enjoy three phases of training: Knowledge Development Classes, Skill Development Dives in our on-site heated pool and Open Water Dives: Step 1 - Knowledge Development Classes These sessions develop your familiarity with basic principles and procedures of SCUBA Diving. You learn things like how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best equipment and what to consider when planning dives. You review what you studied in the student manual and DVD with your instructor to be sure you’re comfortable with the material.

Step 2 - Skills Development Dives This is what it’s all about – You develop the basic scuba skills diving in a controlled environment – our on site heated pool. You’ll develop the skills (from setting up your equipment to how to easily get water out of your mask without surfacing). You’ll also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air – just in case. Plus make new friends, have a great time and plan some exciting dive trips!  There are five confined water dives, with each building upon the previous. Over the course of these five dives, you attain the skills you need to dive in open water.

Step 3 - Open Water Dives After your confined water dives, you and your new friends continue learning during five open water dives with your BDS Instructor at a local dive site. Unlike other sports SCUBA diving requires a certification card to verify proper training and Experience.  Bob’s Dive Shop training is accepted worldwide.  This “certification” training is generally conducted in two days in Monterey.  These are your first actual dives but with an instructor for your comfort and enjoyment.

A: You’ll be diving in less time than you think. Typically, you complete the Bob’s Dive Shop “Learn To Dive” Programs course over three to six weeks, depending upon which program you choose and how fast you adapt and become comfortable underwater.  The speed is NOT the thing to focus on. Your comfort, safety and the level of enjoyment you experience is!

You’ll be diving in the first week of your program.  All BDS programs are performance and competency based, we are interested in your comfort and safety learning to dive, not in how long you sit in a class. This means that you progress at your own pace!

A: Bob's Dive Shop will provide the SSI  Open Water Diver materials. These include the SSI Open Water Diver Manual, DVD or Video, Dive Tables and Personal DiveLog System.   

All life support scuba equipment will be provided for your initial training lessons.  Personal fit and sanitary equipment is required of each diver and available at BDS Student Prices during your training.  Just like a pilot needs manuals to study so do divers and they vary with the program you select and are not included in the course prices below.

• a day on the slopes
• a full day of surfing lessons
• a weekend of kayaking lessons
• a weekend of fly-fishing lessons
• three private golf lessons
• three hours of private water skiing lessons

Learning to dive is a great value when you consider that your BDS Staff Instructor is a highly trained and experienced professional. Invest in scuba diving lessons and then travel the world with the BDS Sub Club.

Q:What equipment will I need to start my “Learn to Dive” program?

A: As a minimum, you will want your own Personal Snorkeling System (mask, fins and snorkel, etc.) when you begin your program. This equipment is considered personal fit and sanitary equipment and is important to your comfort, safety and enjoyment of snorkeling and SCUBA Diving.  BDS will help you select the equipment that has the proper fit and features best suited to you. You’re more comfortable and more safe using equipment personally fitted for you.

A: You can dive anywhere there’s water – from a swimming pool to the ocean and everywhere in between, including quarries, lakes, rivers and springs.

Your experience level, site accessibility, conditions and your interests determine where you dive. Some of the best diving is closer than you think!  The California Channel Island and Monterey Bay are considered among the most elite dive sites in the World!
BDS can help you organize great local diving or a exotic dive vacation. Our Sub Club organizes dive travel excursions around the world.