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March Open Water Referral Certification Course

Saturday, Mar 4, 2023 (11:00 am - 3:00 pm)
Sunday, Mar 5, 2023 (2:00 pm - 6:00 pm)

Complete
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Course Fee
$340.00
Leader: Grace Roper

Event Information

Description

This 2023 March Open Water class includes academic online training, two indoor pool sessions, and a PADI referral form for completion of open water dives for one calendar year following the pool sessions. At the completion of this class, each student will receive a referral to complete their certification.

Course Overview

The March Hoofer Open Water SCUBA course consists of a self-paced eLearning web classroom where students learn about diving physiology and safety and the equiptment and skills needed by every diver. This is followed by two indoor swimming pool sessions where students are able to apply you new knowledge in a controlled environment. Students must complete the eLearning prior to the pool sessions (no exceptions). Students will attend a required orientation prior to the class where they will recieve the information about eLearning. Once the eLearning and the pool training session are completed, each student to receive a PADI referral form to be taken to any PADI course provider to complete the open water certification by completing the four open water dives.

Course Fee

The course fee of $340 includes your PADI Open Water Referral, pool dives, professional instruction by PADI instructors, all course materials, including access to eLearning, dive log and training record, and the use of all SCUBA equipment and tanks needed for class. You will also need to purchase a membership in Hoofer Scuba which costs $44 per year for students and includes heavily discounted gear rentals once certified. The fee is paid when you sign up for the course to the Hoofer Scuba Club online or at Outdoor UW Service desk at the Memorial Union. 

We recognize that this is an expensive course, but hope that you understand the immense value and unique experience that SCUBA is and know that certifications last for life. There are no additional hidden fees or costs. You will still need to complete open water dives which you will pay for when you sign up for those. They are usually around $100 total. Then you will become a completely certified PADI Open Water Diver. 

Prerequisites and Enrollment Conditions

You must attend the meeting at the dive shop and all pool sessions to gain a referral.  No make-up sessions can be offered. If during the course under special circumstances you find you cannot attend one of the dates, please let us know ASAP so we can work something out.

We follow the PADI health requirements, a copy of all the medical conditions that may require a physician's approval to be cleared for diving will need to be filled out under the PADI medical form. You will fill out the medical form when you meet with your instructors at the dive shop prior to the pool sessions. Note, if you have one of these conditions, it does not necessarily bar you from diving. It does mean we would need a doctor to sign off that you are medically cleared for diving. If you do answer yes to any of the questions found on the form, please seek physician approval and provide the form to the event leader or your instructor. If you are not cleared, but have already started or completed the online portion, we can only offer a partial refund. 

It is essential that course participants have strong basic swimming skills and be comfortable in the water. PADI requirements include a basic swim test and treat-water test. If you do not pass the swim test, we can only offer a partial refund of course fees. See below for more details. 

eLearning must be completed according to the schedule directed by your instructor. You will receive the link for signing up for eLearning upon meeting with the instructors at the dive shop. 

Course Refunds

Once the course has commenced, we do not offer any refunds past the first pool session, eg. if you decide that you can't make one of the dates!  If you decide after the first pool session that SCUBA is not for you, then we can offer you a partial refund of the course cost less the cost of materials, and a prorated fee for the portion of the class that you attended.

For safety, individuals not able to satisfactorily perform all required skills in the pool will not be permitted to participate in the open water training.  Our instructors will make every effort to assist you in becoming a certified diver, but certification is not guaranteed.

Participants must be a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, faculty/staff, or Wisconsin Union member. Union membership is open to everyone. Call 608-262-2263 or visit www.union.wisc.edu/membership to sign up for Union Membership.

There will be a required orientation date on February 15th where you will try on gear and complete medical forms. More information will be provided to those who sign up. 

eLearning: Completed on your own schedule after the orientation. 

Pool Sessions: 3/4/23 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM and 3/5/23 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Nicholas Recreation Center Pool on campus. 

Event Type
Lesson / Training (ratings may be achieved)
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Driving or Travel Details
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Registration Count

Registration Type Registrations Remaining
All Participants 8 0
Waiting List 0 4