Off the Wall Scuba is both a recreational and technical dive training facility. Our dual affiliation SDI/TDI and PSAI allows us to offer both on-line and traditional course options.
We are Proud to be part of the DEMA “Be a Diver” program. The internet's largest Diving Community which is showcasing a national campaign to promote Scuba Diving and heighten awareness about our seas and wildlife.
Open Water Diver Course – SDI Online (or Take Home Study) $299.00
If you have purchased the Online course from us and have your SDI Open Water course number or if you would like to purchase the course online, Click HERE!
We believe the SDI online course is the best available. It allows you to study at home or where-ever you have access to the web. You can start and stop the course whenever you like, allowing you to work around your busy schedule. Best of all, we work with you alone or with small groups giving you much more personalized attention. You can start your class anytime. There is no need to wait for classes to start.
After completing the on-line academic program, you will notify Off the Wall Scuba by calling (443)-772-0595. You will then be scheduled to come in for a 3 hour on-line course review session with one of our SDI Instructors. During this 3 hour session you will complete some paperwork, review your online test with your instructor and learn how to assemble and disassemble your scuba equipment.
After your review you will be scheduled for and complete in-water pool training. How long this takes depend on how well you progress, but most students typically take anywhere from 1 to 3 three hour pool sessions.
Upon Completion of the pool work you will go diving with your assigned instructor and complete your 5 open water checkout dives* at one of many local quarries. Checkout fees are sold separately.
Upon successful completion of your 5 checkout dives, you will receive an Open Water Diver Scuba certification (C-Card) that is accepted worldwide with a recommended maximum depth of 60 feet.
Small Group Open Water Diver Course Traditional Classroom $399.00
Our traditional course is one of the most challenging and therefore rewarding in Maryland. Our PSAI , SDI/TDI, ERDI , PADI and Tech Instructors share more than forty years of combined diving experience, giving you real world application to what you are learning and why. Yes, our price is slightly higher than other shops but the personalized attention you receive from our Instructors is far superior to any other dive shop in Maryland, where you're often lumped in with 8, 10, 12 and sometimes more people.
A typical class with us will consist of no more than 6 students and usually no more than 4.
There will be three - 3 hour classroom sessions and three 3 hour pool sessions where you will receive very personal attention in every manner it can be given. In addition, our instructors provide you with their personal cell phone numbers so that you can reach them at any time with questions.
Upon Completion of the pool work you will go diving with your assigned instructor and complete your snorkeling session and 4 open water checkout dives* at one of many local quarries. Checkout fees are sold separately.
Upon successful completion of your checkout dives, you will receive an Open Water Diver Scuba certification (C-Card) that is accepted worldwide with a recommended maximum depth of 60 feet.
*Local Open Water Checkout Fees for ALL Classes: $99.00
Upon completion of all academic and pool work, students must complete 5 open water checkout dives with a qualified Instructor. You may do your checkouts with us for $99.00, or we can give you a universal referral form that allows you to complete your checkouts in warm crystal clear water while you're on your next vacation.
We do not charge you for referral checkouts, however there is a $25 processing fee for your C-card upon your return. Please ask your Instructor for complete details. The card processing fee is waived when checkouts are completed locally.
Local Checkout includes all of the following:
Use of BCD, Regulator, Wet suit, Tank, Weights and Weight-belt during checkouts.
Two (2) days of quarry fees for check-out dives
Certification Card Upon Successful Completion
Students will be required to have their own:
Mask
Fins
Snorkel
Boots (5mm Minimum)
Gloves (5mm Minimum)
We offer a Student Package of top quality brand name gear for $195.00. Your Instructor or store staff will be happy to help you with your selections.
We can conduct checkouts for any RSTC Referral that is accompanied by a RSTC Referral Letter. Same rate applies.
All of our On-line and Traditional Courses include all of the following:
Complete Course Instruction by a Multi-Agency Certified Instructor
Required Course Material
Dive Log Book
Use of BCD, Regulator, Wetsuit, Tank, Weights, Weight-belt, computer and gauges during all pool sessions.
6 month subscription to Dive Training Magazine
DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance coverage during the course
10% off All Gear Purchases during the course
URGENT Private Scuba Lessons Choose SDI/TDI, PSAI or PADI
... for Last Minute Travelers - $299.00 pp / $549.00 per Couple
Save Time and Money Complete Your Training in Warm Clear Water!
n addition to both online and traditional classroom SCUBA training, Off the Wall Scuba offers one-on-one and two-person private lessons at your convenience. By combining the online academic program with private in-water pool training, your SCUBA course can be accomplished in as little as a day or two. Here is how the program works:
You purchase and complete the on-line academic program (at your leisure)
You schedule a 3 Hour academic review session with one of our Instructors and then complete a 3 to 5 hour private in-Water Pool Training Program
Upon completion of the on-line academics and pool training session, youll receive a Universal Referral Form (good for 6 months) to take with you on vacation. Any Certified Open Water Scuba Instructor from any Agency can complete your required Open Water Check-out dives with you.
You then return the completed form to us to receive your SCUBA Certification Card.
Private Scuba Lessons for Local Divers - $399.00 pp $699 per couple + $250 for each child in the same course
Off the Wall Scuba also offers one-on-one and small group private lessons at your convenience. By combining the online academic program with private in-water pool training, your SCUBA course can be accomplished in as little as two weeks. Here is how the program works:
You purchase and complete the on-line academic program
You schedule a 3 Hour academic review session with one of our Instructors
You then complete one or two 3 Hour in-Water Pool Training sessions.
You complete 5 checkout dives* over one weekend at a local quarry.
Upon completion, you receive your SCUBA Certification Card.
All students are required to have their own Mask, Fins, Snorkels, Boots and Gloves for in-water pool work and checkouts. Off the Wall Scuba sells a package of these 5 items starting at $195.00. All other equipment is provided for the duration of the course. Traveling divers may rent a full set of equipment to take on their checkout dives at a daily rate of just $20.00 per day. Please see store for details.
FAQ
What is the difference in SDI, PSAI, PADI, SSI, NAUI and the other agencies?
They are all Scuba Training Agencies and they all teach and require you to demonstrate the same or similar basic skills to certify you as a diver. Some agencies are members of the sports’ self-governing body the RSTC, some are not
The benefit of leaning how to dive with Off The Wall Scuba is that our instructors have instructor ratings with multiple agencies and we have taken the best of PADI, SSI, SDI, TDI, ERDI and PSAI and combined them to give you the best each agency has to offer. We believe you will be a confident and competent diver after one of our courses.
How Many Students will be in the class with me? A typical class will consist of 6 to 8 students with 12 students being the absolute maximum. For a class of 12 students there will be one Instructor and 2 Dive Masters to equal a 1 to 4 teacher to student ratio, this guarantees individual attention during the pool sessions and open water checkouts.
Why is the Course fee and the Checkout fee separate? We did this as a convenience for our students. For those who would like to complete checkout some where other than the local quarry, this allows use of the Universal Referral Program. This way you are not paying for something twice.
What expenses do I need to expect while taking an Open Water Class? NONE! You are expected to have a Mask, Fins, Boots, Snorkel and Gloves by the 3rd pool session. EVERYTHING else is included, even the quarry fees and your air for the checkout dives. There are no hidden expenses.
What are Checkouts? Checkouts are 1 snorkeling session and 4 dives done over a 2 day period in open water (not a pool.) On these days, you will be asked to demonstrate proficiently the basic skills you have already learned in the pool. You will not be asked to do anything that you have not already done in the pool several times before. You will dive to a depth of 15 to 30 feet and will be able to experience the effects of pressure. You will also take guided tours of the underwater area and begin to hone your buoyancy skills. This will take many dives to master and you are not expected to be perfect with buoyancy at the end of checkouts. You will log each dive in your logbook and also start to learn about navigation.
Where are the local checkouts? Our primary training quarries are Guppy Gulch and Bainbridge, however we may also use Lake Rawlings, Willow Springs or Dutch Springs. Both primary quarries are within a 1.5 drive of Baltimore and directions can be found on our Locations page.
Is the water cold at the quarry? YES and NO. It can be as warm as 80F degrees at the surface but as cold as 42F degrees at depth. We will provide you with an appropriate rental wet suit and a hood for your dives and these are included in the $99 checkout fee.
I heard that you cannot see anything at the quarry, is that true? NO, it is by no means “Black Water” diving, although it is not the crystal blue water you see on TV either. Visibility can range from 5 feet to 30 feet or better, depending on many factors. The two main factors that affect visibility are silt and algae. Silt can be kicked up by other divers or can run off the ground when it rains. We choose to go to Guppy Gulch and Bainbridge because they tend to be less crowded and therefore less silt is kicked up by divers. Algae is not controllable and is particularly bad in late spring. If the visibility is particularly bad we will pair new divers up with dive leaders (DM’s) for quarry tours.
So do I understand the cost right. What will I really spend when it’s all said and done?
This depends on the type of class you take. If you do the online or take home study course then you’ll pay $299.00 plus $99.00 for checkouts and can expect to spend about $195.00 for your 5 personal items (mask, fins, boots, gloves and snorkel.) All totaled about $593.00. Make that $693.00 if you take a traditional classroom course and buy the same personal items.
We won’t pretend to be the cheapest training facility in Baltimore. We believe we offer fair pricing for exceptional training from top notch professionals. Our door is always open to help you along your exciting new path.
