Beginning Scuba Classes

Diving offers a lifetime of exciting adventure and the ideal way to begin that adventure is with Catalina Dive Shop's Open Water Diver course. Under the guidance of a professional instructor, you will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enjoy a lifetime of underwater exploration.

Knowledge: Our modular, six-session teaching system includes a video, manual, study guide, dive log and dive tables. With our home study approach, you will be able to minimize your time in the classroom allowing for more time in the water developing ability and comfort.

Skills: In multiple confined and open water sessions, you will practice scuba skills with our exclusive Comfort Through Repetition teaching method. Some of the skills you will learn include:
· Moving in the water with ease
· Breathing normally under water
· Controlling buoyancy so you neither descend nor ascend
· The easiest ways to enter and exit the water
· Getting water out of your mask or mask clearing

Equipment: Since you can't dive without equipment, there is extensive information on scuba equipment including:
· Selecting the best diving equipment for your needs and budget
· Maintaining and adjusting your equipment to extend its life and improve performance.

Please call and reserve your spot. Prices are based on total amount of participants in each class.

Rescue Diver Course

Diver Stress & Rescue is the next course recommended after Open Water Diver, because it helps you gain confidence and makes you a better dive buddy.

Knowledge: You will learn the signs of stress, and how to deal with stress in yourself and other divers before the dive, during the dive and after the dive. Also, you will learn about different personality types and the common actions of each type in stressful situations.

Skills: You will learn skills and techniques to help you and other divers prevent and overcome common stresses associated with diving. You will also learn self aid and buddy aid skills for potentially stressful and/or rescue situations.

Equipment: You will learn about how your equipment can help you to stay relaxed and enjoy every dive, what equipment is required in various rescue situations and how to use your equipment properly in the event of a rescue.

Specialty Courses

Specialty activities introduce certified divers to a whole new world of diving opportunities. First purchase specialty manuals and videos from us, then enroll in a specialty course, because it is recommended that you practice specialized scuba skills with an advanced instructor. Learning is fun and easy.

Knowledge: Using the education system you will learn the information about specific types of specialty diving that would take you years of diving to learn on your own.

Skills: Under the guidance of an instructor, you will learn the correct skills and techniques associated with the specialties of your choice to make you a more comfortable and confident diver.

Equipment: You will learn how to use an expanded range of equipment to help you make your dives more enjoyable and worthwhile.

Specialty Courses include: Boat Diving, Computer Diving, Deep Diving, Diver Stress & Rescue, Dry Suit Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility Diving, Search & Recovery, Underwater Photography and Wreck Diving.

Advanced Open Water Course

Advanced Open Water Diver. Our Advanced Diver rating stands alone in the industry with the highest combination of diving knowledge and experience. No other agency's advanced diver level compares.

Prerequisite for Advanced Open Water: Four specialty courses plus 24 logged open water dives.

Course fees are based on total amount of participants in each class.

Master Open Water Diver

Our Master Diver rating is one of the most elite ratings in diving today. Divers that have completed this level have combined the knowledge, skills and experience to truly call themselves Master Divers.

Prerequisite for Master Diver: Four specialty courses, Stress & Rescue Course plus 50 logged open water dives.

Divemaster/Dive Control Specialist

Dive Control Specialist is our initial dive leadership level and is considered by many as the "fun" leadership rating. That's because you can do more than any other entry-level dive leader. You can do more because you receive both dive master and assistant instructor training in the Dive Control Specialist course. With other agencies, these courses are separate.

As a Dive Control Specialist you can:
· Work on dive boats, at resorts and retail stores, and take people diving
· Lead dive trips and tours
· Assist SSI Instructors in the pool and open water
· Teach skills in the pool under the direct supervision of an SSI Instructor
· Teach the SSI Scuba Skills Update program
· Teach the SSI Snorkeling program
· Teach selected SSI Specialty courses
· Teach selected First Aid and CPR programs
· Teach Scuba Rangers (after completing the Scuba Rangers Instructor training)

You will study advanced physics, physiology and decompression theory. You'll practice advanced rescue techniques, fine-tune your diving skills and learn the basics of teaching. Plus, there's a high demand for Dive Control Specialists at retail shops and exotic resorts.

Learn about our Guided Tours and our Scuba Diving Adventures.