Do I need to be certified to go on a Diver Dan's dive trip?

To dive, yes. Non-diver rates have been offered on past trips for friends and family who want to come along without diving. Call the shop to ask about the next trip.

How much is the Open Water Diver class?

The November 7 session is $450. It includes course materials, a class session, a pool session, use of life support equipment (regulator, dive computer, and BC), and use of tanks and weights. Personal equipment (mask, snorkel, boots, and fins) is not included, but buying all of it from Diver Dan's earns a $50 credit. Open water certification dives are booked separately and can be completed locally with Diver Dan's or with a referral on your vacation. Call the shop for the schedule and cost.

What if the trip I want is sold out?

There are waitlists for Grand Cayman, Fiji, and the Galapagos. Call the shop to join one and ask about upcoming trips. Getting certified now means you're ready when a spot opens.

Want to Go on One of Our Fabulous Trips? Your First Step Is Getting Certified

Brian Vaccaro Oct 23, 2026

dive travel fiji grand caymen galapagos scuba certification get certified

Want to Go on One of Our Fabulous Trips? Your First Step Is Getting Certified

Our dive trips go fast. Grand Cayman, Fiji, and the Galapagos are all sold out.

If you've been watching those trips and wishing you could go, here's the good news. We have waitlists for all three, and there will be more trips. If a spot opens, the people who are certified and ready are the ones who can take it.

Certified first, trip second

To dive on one of our trips, you need your certification. It's the one thing you can't skip, and it's easier than most people think.

Our Open Water Diver class starts November 7. Get it done now, and you're not scrambling when the next trip is announced.

What you'll learn in the class

Our Open Water Diver course is an SDI certification. You learn the skills in class and in the pool, then put them to use in open water.

The November 7 session is listed at $450. That fee includes:

Course materials
Class session
Pool session
Use of life support equipment (regulator, dive computer, and BC)
Use of tanks and weights

What's not included

Personal equipment: mask, snorkel, boots, and fins. Buy all of it from us and you get a $50 credit toward your purchase.
Open water certification dives: these are booked separately. You can complete them with us locally, or with a referral on your vacation.

That second one is worth a conversation. If you'd rather finish your dives on vacation, ask us about a referral.

Don't worry about being "too new"

A lot of new divers think a big trip is too much right after certifying. It isn't. Many of the top destinations have easy, shallow sites. Stingray City in Grand Cayman, for example, is less than 4 meters deep, according to Divernet.

Our trips are led by our own dive staff, so you're not on your own.

Not diving yourself?

Past trips have offered a non-diver rate, so a partner or friend could come along and enjoy the destination. Ask us about it when the next trip is announced.

Two ways to start

Call the shop. We'll tell you about the November 7 class, and you can ask to join the waitlist for Grand Cayman, Fiji, or the Galapagos.
Want to test the water first? Try a Discover Scuba experience. It's a low-pressure way to find out if you love it.