Overview

Ames Scuba offers a variety of dive courses for beginner and advanced divers, alike. Navigate in the Classes menu to see more details about our most popular and frequently offered courses. General information is provided below. For specialty and advanced courses, please contact Ames Scuba and we can arrange a schedule to complete your higher level certification!

Beginner Courses

Your first adventures in scuba diving will likely begin with the basic PADI 'Open Water Diver' Certification for those above the age of 15. This course will be offered 4-6 times per year and can be completed in two weekends. If you are interested in trying diving, but not yet ready to commit, you should ask about the 'Discover Scuba Diving' course.

Children between the ages of 10-14 can complete the PADI 'Junior Open Water Diver' certification together with a parent or guardian pursuing 'Open Water Diver' Certification. There are also options for children between the ages of 8-10 to complete 'Seal Team' or 'Bubblemaker' courses (contact us for more details).

Specialty Courses

Specialty courses are a great way to add to your dive skillset. We are certified to teach many PADI specialty courses including Enriched Air Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Search and Recovery Diver, Wreck Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Boat Diver, Drift Diver, among others. To learn more about specialty courses, you can visit the PADI Specialty Courses information page. You can also visit or call Ames Scuba to discuss which course is best for your next dive certification!

Advanced Courses

The most popular advanced courses include PADI 'Advanced Open Water Diver' (AOWD) and the subsequent 'Rescue Diver' Certifications. These courses will expand your skills and make you a safer, more confident diver and dive buddy. AOWD is a popular course to take on one of Ames Scuba's dive trips to Florida, Cozumel, or other destinations, but can also be completed locally.

When you are ready to take your skills to higher levels, you can complete the PADI 'Divemaster' or 'Master Diver' Certifications. These courses are designed to provide deep understanding of recreational diving through coursework and further skills practice. If you are interested in these courses, please visit/call/email Ames Scuba to learn more and schedule the course.

Need a refresher?

Are you a certified diver who hasn't dived in at least the past 6 months? If you have previously trained with Ames Scuba, contact us to discuss refresher course options. Most divers will likely need to pursue the PADI 'ReActivate' course, which involves some online coursework and a pool session. Refresher and ReActivate courses can be taken any time an Open Water Diver Course is offered or scheduled separately with a minimum number of students.