Scuba Diving Certification

If you are moving here, it is very easy to get certification from local dive ops. And the open water part is probably more fun that in Illinois! 😉 You can get pretty good deals because the companies hope you will sign on and dive with them.

if you are on STT sawyer dive shops do it. and it will be more fun here.

Depending on your time frame it is also possible to do the pool and classroom work while yo are still in Illinois then do the open water cert. dives with a local dive shop in St Thomas the two shops will have to work out the paper work but it can be done.
Jay

I had a friend who got her open water certification on St. Croix last week for $175.

She went with Cane Bay Dive shop.

She said that she researched how much it would cost in Washington State and that the same course there would have been nearly four hundred dollars.

I am not sure, but I think the course was four or five days long . . .

Thanks,
Doug

Cane Bay is cheaper than I paid in Thailand, and Anchor Dive is also very affordable. SCUBA is more expensive but their a bit posher (less carrying, more cowtowing).

I would try N2 BLUE on STX. They are very nice people who run a very nice operation and use a small boat.

I got my certification from Coki Dive in 3 days for $225.

Thanks for all the help... I think I'm choosing to get in the VI... but will it be valid in the States if I wanted to dive here?

It's only $140 in California (although I realize that doesn't help - it is interesting).

Hi Illinois

Regarding your question on certification. The answer is Yes.

Most dive companies will issue either a PADI or a NAUI certificate.

In the past they were recognized world wide.