This is not a snorkeling class in Hawaii! Personal gear is life support and must fit properly. It must be perfectly sized and proofed in a pool before attempting to take it down to 60-100 feet in open ocean. The last thing you want to do is blow your ocean checkout dives because of a rental mask that leaked and a snorkel that has been in 1500 other peoples mouths before yours. We are a diving school first and retail store second. Stocked equipment is selected and placed on the shelves by instructors that teach on a weekly basis. They want nothing to go wrong with you and yours at 50 feet in Monterey – they know what works and what does not. We understand when a diver candidate is planning to backpack through Thailand and does not want to carry it – In that case we say stick to snorkeling and stay clear of diving until you are ready to take it seriously! All of us here have witnessed first hand the failed use of child like snorkel kits bought from save mart or borrowed poorly fitting masks from uncle Bob. Please buy from the store you are taking lessons with and get some good personal gear. You will be able to exchange it during pool sessions. This process of trial and error will better your odds of passing your ocean checkout dives. Cutting corners by purchasing from “Cost Mart” will only set you back with a re-buy. Plastic lens masks and flimsy child sized snorkeling fins will not do for an Open Water Course. Saving $20 on a cheap pair of fins is not worth it when they fall off 60 feet below the ocean’s surface. Please plan your class at least one week in advance. This will allow you ample time to choose your snorkeling gear. Please do not wait until the last minute. We may not have your size or color choice available.

Scuba Fusion now offers a no questions asked exchange policy on snorkeling gear. During your class, if you are not comfortable with it in the pool – exchange it for another or take store credit. Your instructor will encourage you to do so if your personal gear is not working for you (Policy good for Scuba Fusion students only during the class/pool portion of the Open Water Course)

If you have signed up for the eLearning program:  To begin the eLearning program each diver will need to be given an access pass. Access passes are issued by Scuba Fusion via e-mail through the Padi store account. We must have you and or your guest’s e-mail in order to issue a pass or passes. The eLearning system requires each diver to register with an individual e-mail. In fact it is impossible for us to even issue an access pass without you or your guest’s e-mail. During checkout there is an option to include your guest’s information such as name, age, phone and e-mail. We must have this information in order to process referral and or certification forms. eLearners must each provide an e-mail in order to receive an access pass.

If you booked at the store in person you should have been given a document that describes your class schedule (look in your student kit). If you booked online then you should have received a welcome e-mail with your class schedule (look in your spam folder).  Both documents include detailed instructions explaining the steps required to be ready for your upcoming program. A staff member will also call you approximately one week prior to your class to remind you of your schedule.

Personal gear is life support and is needed to take lessons anywhere and cannot be rented. A mask, snorkel boots, fins and gloves (gloves optional for referrals) are all that is required. The rest is included free of charge!

Get some good personal gear from the Scuba Fusion store because you will be able to exchange it during pool sessions. This process of trial and error will better your odds of passing your ocean checkout dives. Cutting corners by purchasing from “Cost Mart” will only set you back with a re-buy. Plastic lens masks and flimsy child sized snorkeling fins will not do for an Open Water Course. Saving $20 on a cheap pair of fins is not worth it when they fall off 60 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Plan your class at least one week in advance. This will allow you ample time to size your snorkeling gear. Please do not wait until the last minute. We may not have your size or color choice available.

Scuba Fusion now offers a no questions asked return policy on snorkeling gear. During your class, if you are not comfortable with it in the pool – exchange it for another or take store credit. (Policy good for Scuba Fusion students only during the class/pool portion of the Open Water Course)

Yes! after registration a very important welcome e-mail with detailed instructions is sent to you. Also, approximately 7 days before the start of your class a staff member will call you by phone to make sure you are ready to start. If you have not been e-mailed or called then please contact the store immediately and confirm that your contact information on file with us is correct. Check your spam folders and review any messages left on your voice mail.

Your instructor may recommend or even require that you retake a exam or participate in an additional pool training session before moving foreward(additional fees will apply). Many of us don’t take this kind of news well and the decision may interfere with your vacation plans. It may also save your life. Your instructor must adhere to a set of standards set by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors(PADI) and the RSTC. He or she has years of experience and training assessing would be graduates. Trust your instructor’s decision.

Should I get a hotel in Monterey for this course?

It depends on the course you are taking. Monterey is a two hour drive from San Mateo. For the beginner open water dives We recommend staying in a hotel at least Saturday night and also Friday night if you have the means. Monterey is a good 2 hour drive from San Mateo and the class meeting time is usually 7am. It can be hard to wake up and make the drive down and back and down and back again.

You will really want to get a hotel for the Advanced course. This is because the course usually has a night dive that ends late Saturday night. The boat leaves harbor usually very early the next morning for the boat dives.

Single day tours and other courses will depend on the schedule.

Be aware Monterey is an event town and hotel prices tend to be very high during certain times of the year. Monterey is host to auto shows, motorcycle races and air shows. Book your hotel early and coordinate your class dates appropriately. Our class programming schedules are setup months in advance.

We unfortunately cannot reschedule our class dates around events that are happening in Monterey – but you can always choose a different weekend.

Understand the hotel’s cancellation policy. Courses are sometimes canceled due to weather.

Can’t find a hotel in Monterey: Try outlying towns such as Salinas, or Santa Cruz. Or you can always drive back after the classes but we don’t recommend it.

There are a lot of great tools out there today to help you find a place to stay such as www.expedia.com, www.priceline.com, www.Google.com and tripadvisor.

The address of the Breakwater dive site is 32 Cannery Row 93940.

Divers who wish to do their class and pool work here and then complete their 4 ocean dives at another dive shop somewhere else can do so as Referrals. Referral divers take referral paperwork with them to their next dive shop. The paperwork is proof in hand that the diver candidate has completed all class and pool requirements. Referral paperwork will be issued at the completion of the class and pool sessions only if all course requirements have been met and all homework has been turned in. Referral paperwork is valid for 12 months after the last class or pool session.

You will need to have a mask, snorkel, fins, boots and gloves to take scuba lessons anywhere. Get them from the store you are taking lessons with. These items cannot be rented due to comfort, fit and personal safety – this is not a snorkeling class in Maui. You will be training to depths of up to 60ft. Please ask us about course gear before you invest! Cutting corners by purchasing from “Cost Mart” will only set you back with a re-buy. You cannot know how a mask will fit until you are in the water. Plastic lens masks and flimsy child sized snorkeling fins will not do for a scuba course. Saving $20 on a cheap pair of fins is not worth it when they fall off 60ft below the ocean’s surface. Please plan your class at least one week in advance. This will allow you ample time to choose your personal gear. Please do not wait until the last minute. We may not have your size or color choice available. Scuba Fusion now offers a no questions asked return policy on snorkeling gear. During your class, if you are not comfortable with it in the pool – exchange it for another or take store credit (Policy good for Scuba Fusion students only during the class/pool portion of the Open Water Course).

You don’t need to be a strong swimmer or an athlete to scuba dive, but some degree of comfort in the water certainly helps.The PADI swim test or swim evaluation will be conducted at the pool. Divers will demonstrate that they can comfortably maintain themselves in water too deep in which to stand by completing a 10-minute swim/ float without using any swim aids. Candidates will also complete a 200 metre/yard continuous surface swim or a 300 metre/ yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel. The test is pass or fail but can be retaken at the next available pool class – the first retake is free of charge.

You have Two learning Options: Choose the class option if you would like to do academics in class and save money. Or, choose eLearning and do academics at home – all needed academic materials are included with both choices.

Students must answer some medical questions before taking a scuba class. If a student answers “yes” to any of the questions then said student will need to see a physician before continuing with scuba lessons. If you have any questions about the waiver or feel you may be falling into a gray area regarding particular questions, talk to your scuba instructor before answering.

If you have already filed a medical waiver with our store it is good for 1 year. If we do not have a copy or it was filed with another store you will need to fill out another.

Keep in mind your scuba instructor should never be relied upon to answer medical questions concerning your current or historical state of health while you are answering the medical questions. Your scuba instructor is not your primary care physician. A copy of the medical waiver can be found in the Support / Student Resources area of our website.

Yes! You will want to get started on the homework at least 7-14 days in advance of your class start date. This means filling out the Knowledge Reviews found at the end of each chapter in the diver manual included with your student kit  You must pick up the kit at the store.

eLearners will also have homework in the form of the online program. Homework is required to be completed before class begins. eLearners receive a Access pass by e-mail that allows them to get started on the program as soon as possible.  If you do not have your Access pass check your spam folders if not there then call the store.

Divers will not be able to receive referral paperwork without first having completed and turned in the homework. Monterey divers will not be able to go to Monterey without first having completed and turned in the homework. If you have questions regarding homework, or feel you may not have it ready before class starts, please inform your instructor.

Yes! The Padi Open Water video is included free for viewing but only divers who have chosen the class academic option are required to watch it. The video (or instructions on how to access the video online) is lent out for you to borrow and can be found inside your student kit. eLearners have video sections built into their online program and do not need to watch the video. If you would like to purchase the dvd it is available in our retail store.

The bulky scuba gear worn by many divers may seem intimidating, but learning to use it is straightforward. If you’have snorkeled, you’re already familiar with the mask, snorkel and fins. The scuba unit consists of an air cylinder containing compressed breathing gas, buoyancy compensator (BC) jacket to help you float on the surface and maintain your desired depth underwater, and a regulator for you to breathe through. The exposure protection keeps you warm when diving in cool-water environments.

As active recreational pastimes go, scuba diving is one of the easiest to learn. While you’re gliding around enjoying the underwater sights, you’re engaged in only three basic skills: floating, kicking, and breathing. Of course, there’s more to it than that – becoming proficient at using the equipment and developing knowledge of scuba concepts and safety procedures – but if you breathe through your mouth, chances are you can lean to scuba dive. Learning to scuba dive is mostly a matter of attitude. If you are motivated to step through the door into an exciting new world, then the experience will prove both energizing and confidence-building.

An e-mail welcome message should arrive shortly with important instructions. You must come to the store as soon as possible to prepare for your class.  What to do will depend on the class you signed up for.  For the Open Water class students need to size instructional gear, fill out the medical waivers, pickup homework and get personal gear.  If you do not receive a welcome message from your instructor or no one has called you and it is 5 days or less before class – call the store immediately.  Confirm your contact information is correct in our system and check your spam folder and phone messages.

Class:
We have heard mixed answers. The homework related to the class academic option can take anywhere from 5 – 8 hours to complete. Keep in mind there is also a video that is required viewing.

eLearning:
The online option can take anywhere from 6 – 12 hours depending on the individual. It is a very thorough program that encompasses the complete program.

During checkout there is an option to include your guest’s information such as name, age, phone and e-mail. We must have this information in order to process referral and or certification forms. eLearners must each provide an e-mail. The eLearning system requires each diver to register with an individual e-mail. In fact it is impossible for us to even issue an access pass without one.

Yes! Come to the store 7 – 14 days before class begins to pickup your student materials, homework, size instructional gear, ask about personal gear and to submit your medical questionnaire. There is a lot to be done before a PADI scuba class begins and it cannot be done remotely due to standards set fourth by the scuba training agency. You should receive a welcome e-mail with instructions that explain in detail the steps required to be ready for your upcoming program.

No! We appreciate it when a guest offers to assist or provide moral support to a student during the Open Water Course. However, guest divers are not welcome to participate or assist in any part of the PADI Open Water Diver Course. It is not recommended for certified divers to dive with students during training dives for myriad reasons. One reason is that guests are not licensed or insured to teach the PADI Open Water Course. By assisting they place themselves and the instructor in an unfavorable litigious position. It is also a clear violation of agency standards to have non professionally licensed assistance in class, pool or ocean sessions. The Scuba Fusion Dive Center AND its instructors reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

Everybody has an opinion about learning to dive, scuba diving, and scuba equipment. Their opinion may come from a place of inexperience. Listening to their advice may actually endanger you. Listen to the advice of your professionally licensed diving instructor. Your licensed PADI instructor is in the water each week turning novice divers into pros. Has spent years of dedication becoming a better instructor by participating in continuing education. Has attended professional seminars and worked daily with other dive professionals. The only opinion to value is that of your professional dive instructor. A common example of this is older divers of the last generation who continue to recommend dated and inefficient equipment such CO2 inflated BCDs and old black rubber fins once used by navy frogmen in the 40s. A lot has changed in efficiency and safety with training and equipment.  Wake up and make your own decisions when learning to dive – it is directly related to your safety and well being.

Scuba diving is a nondiscriminatory activity. Anyone with the physical ability to handle the equipment and the emotional maturity to comprehend the rules and take responsibility for his or her safety and that of his dive buddy, can scuba dive safely and enjoyable. There is no upper age limit on learning to scuba dive. Certain conditions my preclude those of any age from diving, temporarily or permanently, especially conditions associated with lung functions. As long as you maintain relatively good physical and mental conditioning, it’s never to late to learn scuba diving. May divers continue into their 70’s and 80’s.