Below you will find important information about our scuba classes. Find out why we feel Aqua-Nut Divers is your best and safest choice for scuba training.                   

​Need to know:
  1. We only teach scuba classes between April and mid-November of each year. This is due to weather and dive conditions in California. We feel that these months are the best in order for you to get the most enjoyment out of the training experience. Our goal is to make scuba diving a favorite pastime for you and if you are uncomfortable or you have a bad experience, you are less likely to continue to dive after your training.
  2. All profits received by Aqua-Nut Divers from scuba classes fund the scuba dive training of disabled veterans at no cost to them. None of our professional dive staff receive any compensation from our dive classes. We volunteer our time.
  3. Our training staff consists of two PADI Specialty Scuba Instructors and one PADI Master Instructor. We also have three PADI Assistant Instructors and three Divemasters. Further, all staff members are instructors, assistant instructors or divemasters for the Handicap Scuba Association (HSA).
  4. All dive courses are overseen by the PADI Master Instructor for content and safety.​
  5. All scuba classes are taught with dive computers and not the old antiquated Recreational Dive Planner that local dive shops use.
  6. Aside from the basic scuba diving courses, we can also teach over 30 specialty diver courses offered by PADI. There is no other organization in our area that has the ability to teach as many PADI classes as we do.
  7. There is no additional fee for instruction; however, there is an additional fee for the trip to Catalina Island for the open water training dives (see below).
  8. We do not charge an extra fee to credit card users.
  9. Each Open Water course will begin with an orientation where you will receive your required reading materials, instructions on watching the video, and the schedule of the classroom and pool sessions. Additionally, each orientation will have an in depth discussion on what equipment will be required for the class, your best options for purchasing equipment, and guidance on how to tell if the equipment is a proper fit.  
Safety:
  1. Safety will always be emphasized during our dive courses. We make safety for all of our students a priority. We teach to the buddy system of diving and will continuously emphasize it during all classes.
  2. No scuba class offered by Aqua-Nut Divers will ever consist of more than six students.
  3. All classes will have a student to diver ratio of no less than one professional dive staff member to two students
  4. All professional dive staff members are required to update their CPR/First Aid rating yearly instead of bi-yearly. The industry standard for CPR/First Aid training is every two years for recertification.
  5. All professional dive staff members are required to update their rescue diver skills yearly and show proficiency in responding and handling dive emergencies. There is no industry standard for updating rescue diver skills and most other dive certification companies and dive shops never require their staff to update at any time.
  6. All professional dive staff members are required to update their oxygen provider rating biannually. Our staff is trained and certified by both PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) and D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network) as oxygen providers. Through D.A.N. staff members are required to recertify biannually while PADI does not require a recertification at any time.
  7. All professional dive staff members are required to be certified D.E.M.P. (Diving Emergency Management Planner) trained through Divers Alert Network biannually.
  8. 100% oxygen will be available at all pool sessions as well as while conducting the ocean dives.
  9. A majority of staff members are CPR/First Aid instructors.
Safety (Equipment):
  1. All rental gear (regulators, BCD, tanks and wetsuits) are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to being distributed to the student. Not only do we wash our gear we also use a two-part disinfectant on all equipment that will come in contact with the student’s mouth, face and body.
  2. All rental gear provided to our students is thoroughly inspected to confirm they function properly and that there are no defects. Regulators, tanks and BCD’s are maintained to the industry standard by our certified repair technicians.​
Your Safety:
Aqua-Nut Divers reserves the right to discontinue your training if its instructors feel you are unfit, unsafe or unable to meet the requirements of the course.
Below are some things to consider that may make it difficult to obtain a scuba diving certification:
  • If you are unfit and unable to climb a flight of stairs or walk at least a city block without getting winded
  • If you are heavily smoking, vaping or partaking in leisure drug use
  • If you do not know how to swim
  • If you are claustrophobic or have trouble with closed spaces
  • If you find it difficult to concentrate or pay attention to directions
  • If you suffer from anxiety on a regular basis or when under stress

Scuba diving is not necessarily a dangerous sport; however, it can become dangerous based upon the students physical and mental abilities (or disabilities). While at the ocean, the student will be expected to climb a flight of stairs up to three times per day with 50 pounds or more on his/her back. Those with a poor level of fitness or who partake in heavy smoking, vaping et cetera may have difficulties with the stairs as well as breathing from compressed air tanks.  ​

                                            Cost of trip to Catalina Island

We at Aqua-Nut Divers feel that it important for us to be completely transparent with all of our students on any additional costs of our scuba diving courses. There will be an additional cost for each class for the trip to Catalina Island to cover expenses incurred by each student and the professional training staff while conducting the open water dives. This is not unusual as our competitors also charge a fee for these expenses. Please expect this charge to be between $375.00 and $475.00 per student and it does not include the cost of the hotel stay (two night minimum). The cost will be determined by the size of the class and how many dives are required for certification. A complete break down of the fee for the ocean trip will be provided to each student at the first classroom session. See below for information on what is covered with this fee.

We will make the reservation for the hotel room for you; however, it is your responsibility to contact the hotel prior to the trip and make arrangements to pay for your room. We do not add an additional charge to your hotel room as other dive shops are known to do.

Student (Catalina Island):
  1. Tank rentals
  2. Tank fills
  3. Weight rental
  4. Tip for air fill station
  5. Tip for hotel staff
  6. Ferry Ticket (all trips include ferry ticket for student only)
 
Staff Members (Catalina Island):
  1. Tank rentals
  2. Tank fills
  3. Weight rental​
  4. Fuel for trip to/from the ferry terminal
  5. Ferry tickets
  6. Parking at ferry terminal
  7. Hotel room/s

The fee for the trip to Catalina Island must be paid by cash, check or Venmo only and will be collected at the second classroom session for each class.