The Deal

$139 for a PADI Open Water Diver Course with Referral Kit and a $50 coupon for Advanced Certification with Caribbean Dreams Diving (up to a $289 value)

Before attending class, divers need to register for PADI's eLearning course, which costs an additional $138 (not included). This virtual classroom—which can be accessed from computers, tablets, or smartphones, (compatible with Apple products; not compatible with Google Chrome or Safari)—and covers scuba essentials such as how pressure affects the body and how to plan dives, all while preparing students for quizzes on the subject matter. Divers then head over to the pool to assemble their diving gear and complete a pre-dive buddy-safety check, before entering the pool to breathe underwater for the first time. Instructors teach all necessary skills, such as how to clear water from a mask, equalize ears, and remove a leg cramp.

After completing the confined pool dives and all eLearning work, students receive an Open Water Referral kit, enabling them to complete their open-water training dives (not included) at a destination of their choice to complete their certification. Participants must be at least 12 years old, able to swim 200 metres, and able to tread water for 10 minutes. For an extra fee, students can also take advantage of an onsite experienced dive trip planner, who assists with completing training dives with information geared to make the experience more fun.