How can I tell if a physician or other leagally certified medical provider's signed release is required before I join one of the classes?

Here’s how to tell if a physician’s or other legally certified medical provider signature is required: Please check either 'yes' or 'no' to every question on both pages. If you have any ‘yes’ responses to a question marked with an asterisk (*) you will be required to obtain a physician’s or other legally certified medical provider signautre on the 3rd page of the Diver Medical prior to the start of class.

If a physician’s or other leagally certified medical provider release is required, the form must be signed by a DO, MD, NP or PA-C. A doctor’s note is NOT acceptable.

Don’t worry if you still are unsure whether a signature is required for your form or not, once you sign your course's DocuSign packet, we will contact you about it if needed.

Side note: if you are joining a professional level course such as Divemaster or Instructor, or a technical diving course, a MD, DO, or other legally certified medical provider's signed Divers Medical is required, regardless of your answers to the questionnaire.

Do I need to be certified to go diving?

Yes, Open Water certification is the minimum requirement to go Scuba Diving anywhere in the world.

How old do you have to be to get certified?

The minimum age to get certified is 10 years old. The student also has to be physically capable, and that requirement may or may not be met by our younger students. If you are in doubt, schedule a Try Scuba for your little one and ask the instructor's opinion once they have completed the activity!

How long does it take to get certified?

Scuba diving courses are performance based, and not time based, so that can vary from person to person, depending on the student's level of comfort and confidence in the water. However, based on our experience with our scheduled classes, you can get certified in as little as 4 days!

With the way our schedule is set, that means it would take you a minimum of 2 weekends, that may or may not be scheduled in a row. If you have any questions on our schedule, please click HERE.

How much does it cost to get certified?

Our Open Water Course consists in 2 parts; Part 1 is your Class & Pool sessions, done here at Underwater Connection in Colorado Springs, and Part 2 is the 4 required certification dives that must be done at an open water site. You can also choose to do only Part 1 with us and Part 2 on your next vacation (called a referral).

The cost of your certification will vary with what you choose for Part 2. Find the details on each of the parts, as well as cost on this LINK.

Please keep in mind that transportation to open water sites, lodging, park permits, rental equipment and meals are not included in the course fees.

How long is my certification valid for?

Your certification will be valid for life! It is recommended that you dive at least once a year to keep your skills up to date, but if it has been longer we offer Refresher courses.

Can you really dive in Colorado?

Yes! Mainly in lakes and reservoirs, but yes, you can. A very unique kind of diving that can also be done in the state is Ice Diving! Visit this LINK for a list of places you can dive in the area.

I lost my card! Can you print another one?

If you have an SSI certification you most likely also have a digital certification card that is all you need to prove certification. However, if you still want to have it printed, we can do it for you here at UWC, and it only costs $20.

If you have a PADI certification, there is a 7-10 business day average to get a printed card mailed to you, and the cost is $60.

My family/friend is certified through PADI. Will I be ok getting an SSI certification?

Yes! SSI is an internationally recognized training agency just like PADI. They are both members of the World Recreational Scuba Training Council (WRSTC) and they both follow the standards set forth by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This means that both agencies must follow the same standards for certifications.

If you hold a rating from either organization, it is equally recognized, and you are able to enroll in courses that a diver of that level would be able to. For example, if you hold a PADI Open Water Diver certification, you are able to enroll in any SSI course that an SSI Open Water Diver would be able to enroll in. The same would apply for any other WRSTC member such as: NAUI, IANTD, SDI, etc.

Besides, UWC has been a PADI Dive Center for 29 years, but switched to SSI over 2 years ago, and we can guarantee what makes your course great is your instructor, not the agency that issues your card.

What's the water temperature in your pool?

We keep our pool at 88 degrees and the pool room at 90 degrees. We also have shorties available at the pool deck if you feel cold during class!

Can you service my equipment?

Yes! We service all major brands. Find more details on equipment repair and maintenance on this page.