Scuba Certification

Learn To Scuba Dive In 2 Easy Steps!

Since 1959 we’ve introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the underwater world. Learning to dive is lots of fun and the perfect activity for the adventuresome. For many, it has “changed their lives forever!”

Learning to dive will forever change the way you view the world. You will get to explore a peaceful underwater world filled with colorful marine life and breathtaking landscapes. It’s an incredible lifelong adventure and anyone from age 10 can learn to dive, making this safe fun sport ideal for the whole family.

Learning to dive is much easier than you think. During our Open Water Course, you’ll learn important diving principles, necessary skills to dive safely, and apply these skills in an open water environment. The following information will explain our two-step process in more detail.

Come Join Us!

Learn to Scuba Dive: Step 1 – Pool Dives/Active Learning Sessions

Once you’ve enrolled in one our courses (see options below) you’ll be issued the digital e-Kit and begin reading the online material, completing the end-of-chapter section review questions, and complete the online final exam, before your first session. We have (5) packages/options from which to choose. In addition to the packages below, we also offer private lessons. Please call us at 303-789-2450 for more information.

Scuba Diver

Prerequisites for learning to dive –

  • Be at least 10 years old
  • Have adequate swimming skills to be able to stay afloat for 10- minutes in deep water and snorkel for 300 yards
  • Be in good physical health
  • Have a personal MySSI account.  Be sure to upload a digital photo to your account and enter a complete mailing address. (You’ll need this in order to for us to send your digital manual and access your online learning material)
  • Download and complete the following required forms:

VERY IMPORTANT  – When completing the Diver Medical/Participant Questionnaire Form

If there is a YES response to questions 3, 5, or 10 on page 1 of the Diver Medical form or ANY of the questions on page 2, the participant will need to sign and date the Participant’s Signature on page 1 AND take all three pages of the Participant Questionnaire to their qualified certified medical professional for a medical evaluation.  The qualified medical professional must approve, date, and sign page three, the Medical Examiner’s Evaluation Form, and include their medical credentials MD, DO, LPN, PA, PA with their signature.  

Unfortunately, you’ll not be able to begin the water session until all of the documents have been completed, collected, and reviewed for accuracy.               

VERY IMPORTANT

If you have been requested to submit a medical evaluation signed by a medical professional, please note that we (SSI and A-1 Scuba) cannot accept the form with any comments, whether handwritten or typed, regardless of who put them there.

The form should be seen as a yes/no type of approval and any stipulation added by anyone effectively negates the validity of the form, even if everything else was done correctly.  

The medical form itself was put together by highly qualified medical professionals (NOT SSI) and neither SSI, A-1 Scuba or their Instructors, the diver, or the medical professional are authorized to amend it beyond simply filling it out and signing as indicated.

If anyone feels that changes need to be made to the form, please inform SSI and we will follow up, but the current version remains in effect until changes are officially implemented and a new version is published, should that be deemed necessary.

Included

  • Digital manual e-Kit
  • Digital Logbook
  • Pool dives
  • Active Classroom Learning sessions
  • Use of all diving equipment in our pool
  • SSI Referral Diver (pool certification) once all course components have been completed to SSI Standards.
  • The SSI Referral Diver (Pool Certification) is valid for six months ONLY.  Those who exceed the six months are required by SSI Standards to complete a Skills Update in the pool and retake the final exam.  There is a fee for this service.

*Please note:  We strive to help each customer achieve their goal to become an Open Water Diver.  However, based on a variety of individual factors, we cannot guarantee everyone will be able to complete the Open Water Course on their first try.  We are always happy to create a customized plan for private lessons in such cases. There is a fee for this service.

Not Included

  • DSMB – Delayed Surface Marker Buoy  (can be purchased at A-1)
  • Open water dives (see Step Two – Open Water options below)
  • Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Booties for the open water dives (a mesh carrying bag is highly recommended)
  • For those unable to attend our scheduled open water classes, we do offer private instruction.  please call (303) 789-2450 and ask to speak to someone in our education department.

*For safety reasons, any minor (10-14 years old) enrolling in package 3 or 4 (weekend or weekend plus) must have an adult (18 years old or above) enrolled in the course with them.

Included

  • Digital e-Kit Manual
  • Digital Logbook
  • Pool dives
  • Active Classroom Learning sessions
  • Use of all diving equipment in our pool
  • SSI Referral Diver (pool certification) once all course components have been completed to SSI Standards.
  • The SSI Referral Diver (Pool Certification) is valid for six months ONLY.  Those who exceed the six months are required by SSI Standards to complete a Skills Update in the pool and retake the final exam.  There is a fee for this service.
  • Open water dives 1 & 2 at the Aquarium

Not Included

  • Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) (can be purchased at A-1)
  • Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Booties for open water dives
  • Open Water dives 3 & 4

*For those unable to attend our scheduled open water classes, we do offer private instruction.  Please call (303) 789-2450 and ask to speak to someone in our education department.

PLEASE NOTE: Our Weekend and Weekend Plus courses are comprehensive, fast-paced courses that, like our other courses, include all pool dives, classroom sessions, however they are completed in a single weekend. The Weekend Plus Course also includes (2) amazing Open Water Evaluation Dives at the Denver Downtown Aquarium. Due to the fast-paced nature of these courses we recommend those who choose either course to be very comfortable and confident when in the water. Unfortunately, industry standards do not allow anyone to begin their Open Water Evaluation dives until the 10-minute deep water float and 300 yard snorkel swim have been completed. Once (any) course begins there are no refunds.

FOR SAFETY REASONS, ANY MINOR (10-14 years old) ENROLLING IN PACKAGE 3 or 4 (WEEKEND or WEEKEND PLUS) MUST HAVE AN ADULT (18 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE) ENROLLED IN THE COURSE WITH THEM.

  • Payment in full was required to reserve a space in the class.
  • The course fee includes the SSI online e-Kit and pool dives. Once the digital kit is issued, there is no refund for the e-Kit.
  • Transfer and Cancelation fees:

           *8 or more days before the course starting date – NO fees

           *7 days to 48 hours before the course starting date:

                 Transfer fee – 30%  Cancelation fee – 50%

           *48 hours or less before the course starting date: 

                 Transfer fee – 50%  Cancelation – Full Forfeiture

  • Though extremely rare, should A-1 need to cancel the class or open water training at one of our locations, A-1 will provide a full refund or transfer you to another class for no fee.
  • FEES FOR MISSED POOL SESSIONS AND OPEN WATER DIVES
    • Makeup pool sessions require us to hire professional staff and schedule space available time in the pool to makeup the session(s). There is a $150 (per pool session) makeup fee. 
    • Missed Open Water Dives require full payment to enroll in another open water program at the Aquarium, Chatfield, Crater, Blue Hole, or other location.

Please note: We strive to help each customer achieve their goal to become an Open Water Diver. However, based on a variety of individual factors, we cannot guarantee everyone will be able to complete the Open Water Course on their first try. We are always happy to create a customized plan for private lessons in such cases. There is a fee for this service.

PACKAGE 1

Mon, Wed, Mon
$455
Three-evening course
SCHEDULE
 6:00 – 10:30pm each night
Please Note: Ending times may vary due to class size and participant proficiency




Includes
  • Digital Online Manual
  • Three (onsite) pool and classroom sessions
  • Use of all snorkeling and scuba equipment at A-1
  • “Referral Diver” recognition (allows non-certified diver use of the A-1 pool for up to six months after the course) ask for details
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
PACKAGE 2

Tues, Thur, Tues
$455
Three-evening course
SCHEDULE
6 – 10:30pm each night
Please Note: Ending times may vary due to class size and participant proficiency




Includes
  • Digital Online Manual
  • Three (onsite) pool and classroom sessions
  • Use of all snorkeling and scuba equipment at A-1
  • “Referral Diver” recognition (allows non-certified diver use of the A-1 pool for up to six months after the course) ask for details
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
PACKAGE 3

Weekend Course
$455
Our most popular course!
SCHEDULE
Friday night: 7:00 – 10:45pm
Saturday: 11:15am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 9:30am – 1:45pm
Please Note: Ending times may vary due to class size and participant proficiency.


Includes
  • Digital Online Manual
  • Three (onsite) pool and classroom sessions
  • Use of all snorkeling and scuba equipment at A-1
  • “Referral Diver” recognition (allows non-certified diver use of the A-1 pool for up to six months after the course) ask for details
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
PACKAGE 4

Weekend *PLUS* Course
$725
At the Downtown Aquarium!
SCHEDULE,
Friday: 5:30pm – 9:45pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 2:45pm
Sunday: 7:00am – 11:30am
Aquarium on Sun: 1 – 5:30pm
Please Note: Ending times may vary due to class size and participant proficiency


Includes  
  • Digital Online Manual
  • HUGE BONUS – Open Water Dives 1 and 2 at the Denver Downtown Aquarium and use of all scuba equipment (does not include snorkel equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, booties)
  • Three (onsite) pool and classroom sessions at A-1
  • Use of all snorkeling and scuba equipment at A-1
  • “Referral Diver” recognition (allows non-certified diver use of the A-1 pool for up to six months after the course) ask for details
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
PACKAGE 5

Kids Only
$525
A course just for kids!
SCHEDULE Wednesdays 5:00 – 8:30pm or Tues, Thur, Tues, Thur 4:30 – 8:30pm Please Note: ending times may vary due to class size and participant proficiency

Includes
  • Digital Online Manual
  • Four (onsite) pool and classroom sessions
  • Maximum of four students
  • Use of all snorkeling and scuba equipment at A-1
  • “Referral Diver” recognition (allows non-certified diver use of the A-1 pool for up to six months after the course) ask for details
  • Class size limited
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW

Learn to Scuba Dive: Step 2 – Open Water Dives

This is where you’ll apply various skills learned in our swimming pool, in an open water environment. And get this…..you can complete your first two Open Water dives at the Denver Downtown Aquarium! Becoming an Open Water Diver requires that you complete four open water dives over two separate days. We have several options from which to choose, including the Denver Downtown Aquarium!

Open Water Diver

Included

  • Two to Four Open Water Dives
  • Open Water digital Certification Card
  • Tanks and weights
  • Please note:  The SSI Referral Diver (Pool Certification) you received after completing Step 1 (Class/Pool) is valid for six months only.  Those who exceed the six months are required by SSI Standards to complete a Skills Update in the pool and retake the final exam before proceeding to Step 2 (Open Water Certification dives).  There is a fee for this service.

Not Included

  • DSMB – Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (can be purchased at A-1)
  • Transportation
  • Meals
  • Lodging
  • Mask
  • Fins
  • Snorkel
  • Booties
  • BCD (rental package item – see below)
  • Regulator (rental package item – see below)
  • Gauges (rental package item – see below)
  • Exposure Suit (rental package item – see below)
  • Facility and Park Entry Fee (where applicable)
  • RENTAL EQUIPMENT
    • Students need to reserve rental equipment in advance.  They are responsible for picking up and transporting their equipment (including tanks, weights, and scuba equipment). This can be done no sooner than the day before the open water dives begin and must be returned (clean and dry) the day after the final certification dive.
    • Rental Package rates – per day, plus tax
      • CRATER – CHATFIELD – BLUE HOLE
        • BCD – $27.10
        • Regulator – $30.90
        • 7mm wetsuit (Chatfield and Blue Hole only) – $17

Included

  • Diving professional
  • Certification Dives 1 & 2
  • Use of BCD, Regulator, Gauges, Wetsuit, Beanie, and Gloves
  • (1) Aquarium pass (that day only)
  • Use of a locker room & showers

Not Included

  • DSMB – Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (can be purchased at A-1)
  • Mask
  • Fins
  • Snorkel
  • Booties
  • Optional lock for locker room locker
  • Open Water Certification Dives 3 & 4

FOR SAFETY REASONS, ANY MINOR (10-14 years old) ENROLLING IN PACKAGE 3 or 4 (WEEKEND or WEEKEND PLUS) MUST HAVE AN ADULT (18 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE) ENROLLED IN THE COURSE WITH THEM.

Payment in full was required to reserve a space in the class.

  • Should you transfer or cancel less than seven days but more than 48 hours before the Open Water dives, there will be a 50% transfer/cancellation fee.
  • Should you cancel or transfer, FOR ANY REASON, less than 48 hours before the Open Water dives, all fees will be forfeited.
  • Though rare, should A-1 need to cancel the open water dives, A-1 will provide a full refund for the cost of the open water dives and your rental equipment rented though A-1.
  • MAKING UP MISSED SESSIONS AND OPEN WATER DIVES requires us to hire professional staff, schedule time in the pool, the aquarium, or at another open water site.  The minimum fee for pool make-up session(s) is $125 per hour (one hour minimum) and $175 per hour (one hour minimum) at the Denver Downtown Aquarium.  Fees for other open water locations are higher.  

VERY IMPORTANT – Those planning to complete one or more of the Open Water Certification Dives at a NON-SSI resort/dive center, outside of A-1, you will need to contact the resort ahead of time and make arrangements to complete the four Open Water Certification dives.

NEW MEXICO

The Blue Hole
Dives 1, 2, 3, 4
$345
The Blue Hole is located in Santa Rosa, NM, and open year-round. This natural body of water is recognized as one of the most unique inland diving locations in the U.S.
MUST CALL when enrolling students age 10-14
303-789-2450
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
LOCAL OPTION

Chatfield State Park
Dives 1, 2, 3, 4
$275
Our Local Open Water dives are done at the gravel pond on the south side of Chatfield Reservoir at Chatfield State Park.
MUST CALL when enrolling students age 10-14
303-789-2450
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
UTAH

Homestead Crater
Dives 1, 2, 3, 4
$345
Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Heber City Utah, this 95 degree body of water provides incredible comfort and great diving!
MUST CALL when enrolling students age 10-14
303-789-2450
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
AQUARIUM

Denver Aquarium
Dives 1 & 2 Only
$295
If you’re anxious to begin your open water dives right away, you can complete your first two of the required four dives in the “perfect setting.”
MUST CALL when enrolling students age 10-14
303-789-2450
REGISTER/VIEW DATES
SIGN UP NOW
DIVES 3 & 4 ONLY
$195 - 235
A-1 students who completed the first two dives at the Aquarium will be able to complete the final two open water training dives during any of the scheduled trips.
CALL US
303-789-2450
CALL US

In addition to the options above we also have the following available to you:

Private Class and Pool or Open Water Dives: Call us at (303)789-2450 or email Divers@a1scuba.com to Schedule a Private Course.

Open Water Dives on an A-1 Group Trip: Come join us on one of our many tropical diving vacations where you’ll enjoy the warm water, great visibility, and of course, the company of others having fun – like you!

Beautiful turtle in the sea