Phoenix has a decent selection of PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) Five Star dive centers and instruction development centers across the metropolitan area. Each of these dive centers is fully accredited and sanctioned by PADI, which means that they meet the applicable standard for education, service and safety. The dive centers in Phoenix also offer a good recurring schedule of scuba diving classes of all levels.
Certifications
PADI is the only major certification organization that has sanctioned dive centers in Phoenix. You can find a dive center search tool on the PADI website to help you find a training facility that meets your requirements.
Levels
PADI offers a progression of certification levels, starting with the entry-certification which is called open water diver. Once you get your open water diver certification, you can get other advanced and specialty certifications.
The advanced or specialty certifications most commonly available in Phoenix include advanced open water diver, night diver, wreck diver, underwater photographer, enriched air and navigation.
Checkout Dives
PADI requires two types of checkout dives: confined water dives and open water dives. Confined water dives are done in a pool, and you use them to demonstrate to your instructor that you have mastered the basic skills. Most dive centers in Phoenix have onsite pools that they use for conducting confined water dives.
Open water dives are done in an open body of water such as a lake or ocean. These are supervised dives where you demonstrate your skills to your instructor. Most dive centers based in Phoenix do their checkout dives at Lake Pleasant, which is just north of Phoenix near Peoria. They may also have options to do checkout dives on a dive trip.
Cost
The cost of scuba diving classes in Phoenix is governed partly by PADI, but also by the dive center and different things included in the course. Some dive centers list an all-inclusive price that includes everything except for personal gear. Some dive centers list their prices in an a la carte manner. An a la carte pricing method would be helpful if you plan to purchase all your own gear, if you have an existing copy of training materials or if you plan to do your checkout dives on referral. In Phoenix, you can expect the cost to be between $300 and $400 for a full class, course materials, equipment, checkout dives and certification card.
Schedule
Dive centers in Phoenix have a good recurring schedule of scuba diving classes. They mix their open water diving classes and other advanced classes so they alternate weekends or weekday starting days. Some dive centers in Phoenix offer accelerated courses where you can complete over a long weekend instead of two weekends. Many dive centers also have weekday evening classes rather than weekend classes.
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