Training
Don’t get on your knees for any dive shop!
Come train to dive with us! We’ll teach you how to dive with neutral buoyancy…
…the way you should be taught!
Choose one of the links below.
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Reserving a class is easy. Check out our Calendar, choose a class with an open space or choose your own dates, contact us to confirm availability, and make a $150 deposit by clicking the paypal button -
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Getting to Marianna –
The closest airports to Marianna, FL are in Panama City (airport code ECP) and Tallahassee (airport code TLH). ECP has Delta and Southwest serving it. At this time, flights are limited but sometimes you can find good deals on airfare to this destination. TLH has more airlines serving it. There are more choices and airfare is usually less coming into TLH. Both airports are about an hour drive from Marianna.
If there are at least 2 of you traveling together, you may want to consider Jacksonville (airport code JAX). It is about 3.5 hours from Marianna, but sometimes you can save $200+ per airline ticket, depending on where you are traveling from. We have flown out of JAX a few times because of the $400+ savings on 2 tickets.
We suggest getting a rental car at the airport. While we can pick you up and drop you off at your hotel each day of your training, there is no taxi service or public bus system in Marianna. You can find a shuttle from the airport to your hotel, and if you stay right off the interstate, you’ll be close enough to several restaurants and a Super Wal-mart to walk, but that’s about it.
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Here’s a list of places to stay during your training –
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Do you want to learn how to scuba dive, but you don’t feel like getting into a small pool with a dozen other student divers? Do you want to take a scuba diving class tailored to you? Do you want to be able to spend time in a clear spring getting comfortable in the water and not just learning skills? Do you want to truly advance your scuba diving knowledge and skills instead of just getting another certification card? And do you want to do this at an affordable cost?
Then check out our scuba diving courses in the above links and our Training Fees!
We offer dive instruction through the following agencies:
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If you’re interested in just gaining access to dive sites or adding to your card collection, then we are not the instructors for you. Our courses are not difficult, but they are involved. You will need to study and work to earn your certification. But the instruction doesn’t end with your course. We continue to mentor you even after your course is completed and you have your certification card in hand.
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Personalized Scuba Diving Instruction in Small or Private Classes
We limit our Open Water Diver classes to 4 student divers. All other courses are limited to 6 student divers. (Larger courses can be arranged if you request it, i.e. family of 5, group of friends, etc). Cave and Technical courses are limited to the ratios allowed by standards. (Cavern – 4, Intro/Basic Cave – 3, Apprentice – 3, Cave – 3, Advanced Nitrox – 4, Trimix – 4.) We also offer private courses for an additional fee.
You won’t get the time and quality of instruction that we offer for anywhere near these prices from a dive shop!! We tailor each scuba diving course to the students. No two courses are the same. You get personalized scuba diving courses, not a cookie cutter course. We will work with you throughout the course to make sure you do improve as a scuba diver.
If you’re still not sure, then meet us while we’re out diving. Do a couple of dives with us. Then make your decision. We are here for you!
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The fine print…
All courses require you to sign a medical release. If you have any medical conditions or take a prescribed medication on a regular basis, you must have a physician’s medical release to dive. Click on the following page, Student Packets, and download the packet appropriate to the course you are enrolled in. You will need Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free.
All courses must be scheduled in advance. We schedule courses on demand, so if you don’t see a course you are interested in, contact us and we’ll schedule one to your schedule.
See course fees on the Course Fees page located in the Courses drop down menu. The fees are standard for instruction in Florida.
All courses are designed as self study programs. You must read the book and complete the knowledge reviews prior to beginning the course. Courses are conducted at Merritt’s Mill Pond, Vortex Spring, Morrison Springs, Peacock Springs State Park, St. Andrews State Park, or other locations.. There is an entrance fee not included in the course fee.
Our Open Water Diver courses are limited to 4 student divers, unless there is a special request to include more. You must have your own mask, snorkel, fins, booties, and water resistant watch. A wet suit is recommended during certain times of the year.
Our Advanced Open Water Diver courses are limited to 6 student divers. You must have your own mask, snorkel, fins, booties, water resistant watch, regulator/spg, BCD, and tanks.
Books are not included in fees. We can refer you to places you can purchase them from.
In order to enroll in the Open Water Diver certification dives only course, you must have completed classroom and pool and have a referral.
Advanced Open Water certification, or equivalent, is required prior to beginning the Rescue Diver course.
Course Payment and Scheduling Policy
A deposit must be paid in advance of the course start date. When payment is received, a spot will be reserved in the course. Students who have not submitted a deposit may lose their spot in a course. Courses booked more than 30 days in advance require a down payment no less than 30 days prior to the course start date. Students are expected to have completed all book work and knowledge reviews prior to the start of the course unless other arrangements were made at the time of booking.
Chipola Divers does not expect or want anyone who is not feeling well to dive. Courses may be rescheduled due to illness. Please provide as much notice as possible. If “illness” is alcohol related, the diver will have to reschedule and pay the daily rate for any rescheduled days.
Students rescheduling for any other reason must provide at least 14 days notice. Courses rescheduled within 14 days will be assessed a $50/student rescheduling fee. Students canceling courses within 14 days forfeit their deposit. Courses rescheduled with less than 24 hours notice will be assessed our current daily fee. Courses must be completed within 3 months of the original scheduled date.
Course fees are not refundable.
Chipola Divers reserves the right to change course fees and policies without notice.