Please note, UVic Scuba DOES NOT offer any scuba courses. These courses are offered through Vikes Recreation and this page is just to provide additional information to the Vikes Recreation scuba courses page. If you have any questions concerning these courses, please e-mail the Vikes Recreation Scuba Program Coordinator at prestont@uvic.ca  

Open Water Diver Course

The PADI Open Water Diver Course is the classic beginner course.  This course offers a lifetime certification to dive to 60 feet/18 meters any where in the world.  Once you have completed the course you will receive a certification card you can take anywhere you go as a record of your training experience.

What does it involve?

• Learning safety precautions and techniques about diving (Theory) 
• Practicing safety precautions and good diving techniques in the pool.
• Applying your newly acquired skills to the open water (4 open water ocean dives).

Who teaches you?

• The UVic Scuba Club and Vikes Recreation have partnered  to bring scuba courses to the university. The instructors teaching scuba courses through Vikes Recreation have been doing so for the last 4 years, and have been training divers in Victoria for the last 10+ years . Their broad range of experience allows them to relate to students and understand the student lifestyle. 
• The knowledgeable staff also offer scientific dive training; from the beginning of your training you not only learn to dive, but you learn about the underwater ecosystem as a whole.  
• If you are concerned about the quality of your instruction, you can rest assured that they have the experience to ensure you have fun and that your safety is the highest priority.
• Once you have completed your training, you will receive a free membership to the UVic Scuba club which will give you access to $40 rentals, half price charters and up to 20% off gear purchases.

Why learn on a boat?

When first learning to scuba dive, many students experience a steep learning curve with the excess gear - a 35 lb scuba tank, 30lbs of lead weight, a hood, gloves etc. is a lot of equipment when you are trying to learn in a unique new environment.  When we teach shore dives, many students find it difficult to navigate the shores of BC with an extra 60+ lbs of weight on their back.  Diving in cold water can be more challenging than diving in the tropics; as such, we do our best to eliminate unnecessary challenges for our students.

Why learn in a drysuit?

The diving in BC is cold: so is the top of Mount Everest. If you are properly equipped, you will have fun. Over the years we have found that teaching students in wet suits is not fun for us, or the students. To ensure our students are comfortable,  we have brought in a full range of drysuits and undergarments to guarantee everyone stays warm and has a fun time learning how to dive.

Course Format

• Courses offered through UVic include four evening sessions and four open water dives.  
• Each evening session involves classroom and pool time - class is from 5:30pm - 7:30pm, pool is from 7:30pm - 10:00pm.
  
• Four local open water boat dives in the ocean.
  
• See the schedule below.

Please note: When you pay for the course at the McKinnon Building, you will be given a manual.  The 5 chapters within this manual will need to read, with homework (in the form of a knowledge review) completed for each class session.  

Pricing
UVic Student Price: $499 including GST
Non-Vikes Recreation Member (non-UVic Student Price): $549 includes GST 

Please call 250-516-3483 or email the SCUBA program coordinator with questions or concerns about the Open Water Course.

Summer 2018 Dates

Open Water Course A:
May 15th, 17th, 22nd, 24th  - Class from 5:30pm-7:30pm, pool from 7:30pm-9:30pm
May 26th & 27th - Open Water dives (9am-5pm)

Open Water Course B :
June 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th - Class from 5:30pm-7:30pm, pool from 7:30pm-9:30pm
June 23rd & 24th - Open Water dives (9am - 5pm)

Open Water Course C:
July 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th  - Class from 5:30pm-7:30pm, pool from 7:30pm-9:30pm
 July 28th & 29th - Open Water dives (9am-5pm)

Ready to Sign Up? 
Here's what you do....

• Ensure that you are medically OK to dive.
  
• Register below.
  
• Go to the McKinnon Building to pay for the course and pick up your books.
  
• We will email you with details on what to do next.