1. What will I really spend by the end of the course?
For the online or take home study course, you will pay $300.00 for the online or traditional academics, confined water, and checkouts and can expect to spend about $199.00 for your 5 personal items (mask, fins, boots, gloves and snorkel.) All totaled about $499.00.
2. Why Choose Better Diver for Training and/or Equipment?
There are many reputable dive shops in Tennessee Valley area. There are however some major differences between us and them. We are a consumer driven and consumer friendly business. We started as divers just like you. We built our shop for fellow divers, not so much for customers. What does that mean? It means we adapted and adhere to CORE principles.
C = CARE for the Customer
O = OBLIGE the Customer
R = RESPECT the Customer
E = EXCEL for the Customer
We have also gone out of our way to compete with Internet pricing on SCUBA equipment so that you can take your item home with you and receive a full manufacturers warranty. We clearly state that we will match or beat the advertised price of any authorized business (local or Internet Retailer) on certain manufacturers products that we sell and we provide a showroom floor computer with Internet access so that you can price match while you shop.
3. What is the difference in SDI, PADI, 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 learning how to dive with Better Diver is that our instructors have instructor ratings with multiple agencies and we have taken the best of SDI, TDI, BSAC, and PADI 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.
4. How Many Students will be in the class with me?
A typical class will consist of 1 to 6 students with 8 students being the absolute maximum.
5. What expenses do I need to expect while taking an Open Water Class?
You are expected to have a Mask, Fins, Boots, Snorkel and Gloves by the 3rd pool session. EVERYTHING else is included except the quarry fees (Typically $20 to $30 per day.) There are no hidden expenses.
6. What are Checkouts?
Checkouts are four dives done over a two day period in open water (not in 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 60 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. You will log each dive in your logbook and also start to learn about underwater navigation.
7. Where are the local checkouts?
Our primary training quarries are Madison Quarry, Glencoe, and Alabama Blue Water Adventures in Pelham, however we may also use Vortex Springs in the panhandle of Florida during winter months.
8. Is the water cold at the quarries?
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 course fees.
9. Is that true that you cannot see anything in a quarry?
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. 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 (Divemasters) for quarry tours.