The Deal

• $249 for a PADI open-water certification course ($499 value)

The expert instructors at Seas The Day Scuba lead diving certification courses over two consecutive weekends. Students start with a brief orientation, then complete a Saturday and Sunday morning classroom and pool session—covering the basics of underwater breathing, body temperature control, and equipment usage. In the afternoon, they are taken to a pool to learn the basics of diving. The following weekend, participants complete their four ocean dives at a local beach. Upon completion, students earn PADI certification, which grants the ability to dive in waters all over the world.

Participants provide their own mask, snorkel, logbook, gloves, and fins, which can be purchased at a discount at Seas the Day Scuba’s on-location store—they also keep any provided training materials. For an additional $165, customers can choose to dive at Catalina Island instead of a local beach on their final course day.