Check out pacific wilderness. I got certified there. 400 and it includes the Catalina boat dives, beach dives, materials and rentals. All you need in addition is mask, fins, snorkel, boots.
For life. Although with technology changing all the time I would recommend taking a refresher every once in a while if you don't plan on getting higher cents.
Its good for life. If you don't dive in an entire year its recommended that you take a refresher. Once you get a little higher up the latter you gotta renew memberships and certifications annually...FML
I wish I still dove. I got certified when I was 17 and haven't gone on a dive since. Now I'm pretty sure the wife would kill the idea. She thinks i have enough hobbies, especially expensive ones. Honestly I would pretty much want to go through the whole certification class again.
If you guys do buy your own stuff, make sure you don't go cheap. I've been diving for 15 years and like Reef stuff, I went cheap first and then come to find out that I should have bought the higher end stuff to begin with.
i saw a deal on groupon to get certified you have to pay $200 for 5 dives. i wanted to do it but i dont have anybody to go with. lol! i think itll be fun if i have friends that is also interested. haha! anyway, it in irvine
Also theres a place in Temecula called Scuba Center. Heard its pretty good and know a couple of people that have gotten certified through them. Have been thinking about doing it. Maybe someday I will get the courage to do it.
Call Eddie from Pacific Wilderness. He has always been good to me on equipment. They are a certified PADI training facility. I did not go through and went somewhere else. I got certified with NAUI.
