Somewhere far below sea level, the most fashionable critters in the subsurface world are gracefully strutting their stuff in form-fitting wetsuits with foot-flattering flippers. Document the coveted underwater runways of exploration with today's Groupon: for $50, you get an introductory underwater-photography class at Scuba Jenn in Blue Springs (a $105 value). Courses are open to students ages 10 and older, though those younger than 18 must have a waiver signed by a legal guardian.
Passionate PADI-certified instructor Jennifer Feller travels the world as a recreational diver, constantly accumulating new skills to pass onto students of all abilities and backgrounds—Feller even teaches public-safety diving to police, fire, and EMS dive teams. During the digital underwater-photography course, students can explore the functions of Feller's various underwater cameras or bring along their own. Potential marine paparazzi learn the best places to snap candid shots of celebrity octopuses and how to adjust camera settings to counter water's light-diminishing properties. After students have absorbed Feller's knowledge within classroom walls, they venture to a local swimming pool to practice newfound skills. Certified scuba divers can strap on diving equipment during this portion of the class, and uncertified students don snorkeling gear to search the pool for lost pet goldfish. Classes take place on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and two Saturdays each month from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Though this course is not a scuba-certification class for snorkelers, it's a helpful and informative starting point for pupils who are considering further training in the subaquatic arts. Scuba divers may earn level 1 PADI Digital Underwater Certification after successfully completing course with an additional processing fee of $25.
The Playground Dive Shop
Scuba enthusiast Jennifer Feller's unconditional love for underwater sightseeing and pruney fingers constantly prompts her to explore the depths of aqueous avenues far and wide. As an IDC-trained PADI instructor and volunteer search-and-rescue diver, she teaches first responders the indispensable skills needed for effective public-safety diving. At The Playground Dive Shop, Feller's very own scuba emporium, her knowledgeable staff, which includes a retired Navy submariner, unveils a collection of the latest diving gear and repairs broken or faulty equipment. They also empower visitors to take their own watery plunges during a variety of scuba-diving courses, which teach participants the basics of underwater breathing, the techniques needed to earn an open-water certification, and underwater photography tips––such as making sure you snap multiple pictures, just in case a fish blinks.
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