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310.510.6363

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310.510.6363

Dry Suit Certification

Want to dive cold water and stay nice and toasty all year round? Become a certified PADI Dry Suit Diver! No one ever said diving had to be cold or wet and the Casino Point Dive Park is the perfect location to continue your journey.

Fun fact: our magnificent Kelp Forests all but disappear at the end of their growing season each fall.  During their regrowth period each winter, they can grow up to two feet a DAY.  In a dry suit, you’ll get to watch that happen!

Even if you don’t ever plan to go ice diving, as a PADI Dry Suit Diver you’ll be able to comfortably enjoy local California diving when our temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s F for several months of the year.  In addition, this specialty will count toward your Master Scuba Diver rating.

Dry Suits can be complicated and should not be used on your own without training.  That’s why it’s so important to take the specialty class instead of trying to figure it out for yourself. Your class will cover a range of topics including:
 

  • Dry Suit safety issues and techniques to avoid them
  • different types of Dry Suits
  • tips and tricks for getting them on and taking them off
  • dealing with seals/ zippers and preventing floods
  • dialing in your weighting
  • safely descending and ascending
  • working with that extra hose and exhaust valves
  • avoiding suit squeeze and floaty feet
  • achieving neutral buoyancy and hovering
  • Dry Suit care, maintenance, repair and storage
PADI drysuit certification

You’ll learn to be a safe, independent diver – understanding the “how and why” of each skill so you’ll be able to make informed decisions when your instructor isn’t around to offer guidance. In this class, you’ll have an instructor right by your side, so you’ll feel comfortable while you gain more confidence in your abilities.

All of our classes are private, limited to just you or your small group. This class is generally planned over a minimum 1-day period, but with us, learning happens at your own pace.  Rushing through is not the way to go.

Our belief in the art of possible and adaptive approach to teaching empowers you on a journey that is unique to you.

Our approach is different than you’ll find elsewhere: we celebrate inclusivity and diversity and ensure that everyone is treated with respect, patience, empathy and kindness.

All PADI courses are performance-based, meaning that we modify skill techniques to meet performance requirements by leveraging what individual students can do.  You purchase a class, but you earn your certification. Call us if you feel you might need additional adaptive support. Learn more 

What to Expect
  • Your instructor will call each diver before the class begins, so you’ll be able to get to know each other and get answers to any questions you might have.
  • Your minimum 1-day class will include 1 Confined Water (or Checkout) Dive and 2 Open Water training dives.
  • If you are already certified as a PADI Advanced Open Water or Adventure Diver and completed a Dry Suit dive as an Adventure dive, only one additional dive is required and the second dive will be a fun dive.
  • Similarly, the first dive of this certification may count as an Adventure Dive for PADI Advanced Open Water or Adventure Diver certification. Please ask your instructor for details.
  • Pacific water is considered cold water year-round (upper 50s-low 60s F in winter and upper 60s – low 70s in summer).
  • NOTE: Use of any kind of camera during your training dives is not allowed.

Plan for the Day

  1. Your class will be conducted at the beautiful Casino Point Dive Park, which is a world-class marine preserve located in Avalon with a shore entry down a short flight of stairs. (Adaptive accommodations are available.)
  2. The price of your course includes the required eLearning, which you’ll complete at home before your arrival on Catalina Island. We’ll review the information you learned to make sure you have a clear understanding of the information.
  3. We’ll do some training on land, so you’ll understand how the suit functions and how to get it on and off comfortably.
  4. Then we’ll gear up and enter the water for the Checkout and Confined Water portion of the class.
  5. We will complete a minimum of two training dives, with surface intervals between each dive, including time for rest, water and a healthy lunch.
  6. Some divers need additional time to complete the class, and multiple options are available to do so. PADI standards allow up to 3 training dives per day.
  7. If you’ve completed all performance requirements, TA-DA! You’re now a certified PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Diver!

There’s always time for questions – we’re here to help you every step of the way!

PLEASE NOTE: The Park is considered Confined Open Water by PADI standards.  None of your class will be conducted in a pool – there are no pools available on the island.

What’s Required
  • All divers must currently hold Open Water or Jr. Open Water certification.
  • Class Size: For the Dry Suit Specialty, we prefer to keep the class size to a maximum of 4 divers in one party so that everyone has enough time to learn in comfort at their own pace. However, if you have a larger family group, please call us and we will try to accommodate your needs.
  • We have had requests by friends or family members to join divers on certification classes. Generally, this is not allowed, as both the student and instructor need to be focused on diver skills and safety. If this is something you feel strongly about, please call us to discuss your concerns.
  • Minimum Age: Certified divers ages 12 and up may participate.
  • Dry Suit: If you do not already own a dry suit, you must rent one prior to your arrival on Catalina Island. There are no suits available for rent on the island. We partner with a mainland vendor to provide everything you’ll need at a separate cost in addition to your class fees. Please contact us to ensure your rental gear will be available for you to pick up from their store on the dates of your class.
  • Insurance: You must purchase DAN Dive Insurance for every member of your group and provide proof of insurance prior to your arrival on Catalina Island. Learn more 
  • Logbook: Please bring your current Logbook for your instructor to review.
  • Medical Clearance: All certification classes require medical clearance before arrival on the island. Please download and complete this form immediately, returning it signed via email as soon as possible before your arrival.
  • Depending on each diver’s unique circumstance, signoff by a medical doctor may be required. Please contact us immediately if you have any concerns whatsoever. If you need medical signoff and you do not have that before your arrival, you will not be allowed to proceed with your class.
  • If anyone under the age of 18 is participating, there are additional forms which will be provided, and which must also be completed and signed by a parent or guardian and returned via email as soon as possible before your arrival.
  • You must be able to swim, have good buoyancy control and be in good overall health.
  • Do bring your own towel. We also recommend bringing a warm jacket for surface intervals.

 

What’s Included
  • eLearning: The price of your class includes the required eLearning, which must be completed prior to your arrival on Catalina Island. Once you’ve purchased your class, a link to your personal e-Learning will be provided.
  • Private Instruction: Your class will be yours alone. No one you don’t know will be participating.
  • Standard Gear: We provide everything you need for your day of diving from quality high-end gear (except your Dry Suit), to shade, mats and chairs – even locked storage for your valuables and fresh water to rinse off after your dive. All included for no extra charge. Learn more

Gear Package includes:

  • Computer, if needed (Note: If earning a separate Nitrox certification, you must have your own computer.)
  • Mask, fins and snorkel
  • BCD, regulator, tanks and weights
  • Sizing: Please indicate the correct body weight, height and shoe size for each diver. Because we bring your gear to you, we would need to leave to exchange sizes or retrieve necessary items. This may not leave enough time for all dives planned per day, incurring additional fees. If you’re renting a Dry Suit, we also need to provide this information to the vendor to ensure what you need is available.
  • If you already have your own gear, we’ll fit you and help you learn to use it properly if needed.
  • If you have your own computer, please download and carefully read the user manual before you arrive.
  • Proof of Certification: We will process your certification and PADI will issue a certification e-Card upon completion of your class. Physical cards may be purchased from PADI at an additional charge.
  • Drinks and Snacks: We provide water (and hot beverages if it’s chilly), but please feel free to bring your own light snacks and we’ll keep them in a cooler if needed.
  • Catering: Healthy catered lunches including options for protein shakes are available at an additional fee.

Our Environmental Commitment ensures that our gear, products and packaging are as eco-friendly as possible. Learn more

 

Pricing Options

Dry Suit Diver Certification Class – 1 day, including 1 Confined Open Water (or Checkout) Dive and 2 Open Water Dives

  • Solo Diver: $895
  • 2-4 Divers: $795 per person
  • If you have already purchased your eLearning, you will receive a $100 discount. Please call us to provide your eLearning code and receive your discount.

Dry Suit Rental

  • If you do not already own a dry suit, you must rent one prior to your arrival on Catalina Island. The are no suits available for rental on the island.
  • We partner with a mainland vendor to provide everything you’ll need at a separate cost in addition to your class fees. Please contact us to ensure your rental gear will be available for you to pick up from their store on the dates of your class.

Additional Training Days

Purchase of a class does not guarantee certification. Additional days may be required to complete training dives (at the discretion of your PADI instructor) in order to meet PADI standards for certification.

  • Additional training day: $350 per person
  • Additional half training day (less than 4 hours): $250 per person
  • NOTE: For Adaptive Divers, different rates may apply. Please call us to discuss your unique situation.

Add-ons

  • Add PADI AWARE Specialist certification: $55 per person Learn more
  • Add Enriched Air/ Nitrox certification: $195 per person (includes eLearning) Learn more
    • A second certification may be earned during your Adaptive Support class at a reduced rate from purchase of a stand-alone class. There is no separate in-water dive, but Nitrox may be used during a training dive.
    • eLearning must be complete before arrival.
    • You must have your own computer so that you can change your gas mixture settings independently.
    • Nitrox tank rental may be done on-site through a local vendor at an additional fee.
  • Bundling Classes: If you are interested in bundling other certifications, please call us to discuss your options.
  • Add catered food or beverages for your surface interval. See Menus

All prices are in US dollars.

Please carefully review our full Terms, Conditions and Cancellation Policy before purchase.

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