If you want to explore the wonders of Belize’s incredible underwater landscape, then you must learn to scuba dive! Getting certified as a scuba diver may sound like a lot of work, however, with the guidance of a reliable diving institution with qualified instructors, it’s easier than you may think. And in Belize, you’ve got one of the greatest ‘school grounds’ to learn in: the Belize Barrier Reef. Here, we’re taking you through all you need to know about getting your dive certification in Belize. First, you have the options to select from the PADI Open Water Diver Course to E-Learner Open Water, and Referral Course Open Water. Let’s walk through each one using SunBreeze Hotel’s PADI-certified diving partner, Ambergris Divers, as an example for average pricing.
PADI Open Water Diver Course
Photo courtesy SunBreeze Hotel
This step in becoming a certified diver requires all in-door classes and the practical element of the curse to take place on the island. The student goes through 5-chapter learning with daily face-to-face lessons, including tests. The second phase, based on in-class results, includes training in water consisting of a confined dive session usually done in a shallow area like next to the end of a dock.
Sisters that dive together, stay together. Image via Janelle Chanona
Afterward, there are four exciting open water dives within the barrier reef, where you will apply all you have learned. All these can be done in three days. This course has a price of US$499 per person.
E-Learner Open Water
Image via Ambergris Divers
This is popular among foreign students/candidates to get started with theoretical course work, quizzes, and exams before traveling to Belize. After getting through successfully on this online part of the course, they develop the remaining skills by doing the in-water training in Ambergris Caye. This includes the confined dive and the other dives just as in the PADI Open Water Diver Course. The price for this course is US$330 per person.
Photo courtesy Duarte Dellarole
This applies to persons, who have fully completed all classroom sessions and all confined water training classes (in a pool) within the last 12 months. To complete the certification when arriving in Ambergris Caye, the student will only need to do the four certifying open water dives. Upon completion of these dives, the certification is processed online, and a temporary card is issued. The original known at C-Card is mailed to your home address whenever it is ready. This course takes about two days and costs US$325 per person.
Discover Scuba
Photo courtesy SunBreeze Hotel
Ambergris Divers offer a host of other courses, but among these, they do the Discover Scuba Diver course. This is for those curious about diving and would like to see if this is something for them. Also, for anyone interested in diving in our beautiful Caribbean waters while on vacation, and doesn’t have enough time to do the complete course. This dive experience is open for children ages 10 and above and introduces you and your young ones to the basics of scuba diving with these lessons. For the price of US$165, this course is an excellent option to get a taste of diving, and then you can decide if you want to go for the big one and become certified whenever you are back and have more time.
Photo by ROEming Belize Travel Agency
It should be noted that these prices include all classes, study material, equipment, and certification processing. And remember, almost anyone can start scuba diving as a recreational water sport in Belize. Time to add this one to your bucket list! All prices are in USD.