Learning to dive with The Great American Diving Company is a unique and exciting experience.
Through our professional staff and a combination of at home study, pool instruction in our private pool and open water dives (with us or on your vacation) you will learn to become a safe and comfortable diver.
Why choose to learn to dive with us?
As the St. Louis area’s oldest PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, we are able to offer you a unique and exceptional experience.
We have trained over 18,000 divers and our experience shows.
We are the ONLY dive shop in the area with our own pool and training center. Because of that, your class is easy, convenient and we can provide a clean and disinfected facility. All class and pool sessions are held at our AquaCenter, eliminating the hassle of traveling between locations and transporting gear. Everything is in one convenient location – classrooms, pool and gear. The AquaCenter provides a distraction free, family friendly environment unlike other pools with noisy and disruptive aquatic activities and residents.
Pre Requisites
10 years old
Comfortable swim ability
HOW DO I GET CERTIFIED?
STEP ONE: Complete your elearning at home
$199
Prior to attending your pool sessions, you will need to complete some home study. Using the PADI eLearning system, you will complete your basic knowledge development at home at your own pace. This option also gives you the ability to complete all studying at home and at your own pace with no pressure.
STEP TWO: Complete your pool dives
$199
See our Special on 
We offer both weeknight and weekend classes to meet your busy schedule. Weeknight classes are 2 evenings, and weekend classes are 2 mornings. Registration can be done by our online system, calling the store our stopping. in. We recommend registering at least 1 week prior to the class date.
| Pool Dives eLearning Students TGADC AquaCenter |
|
|---|---|
| May 8 & 10 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| May 20 & 21 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| May 23 & 25 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| June 3 & 4 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| June 5 & 7 | Mon & Wed Eveing 6:30pm - 10:30pm FULL |
| June 10 & 11 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| June 20 & 22 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| June 24 & 25 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| June 26 & 28 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| July 8 & 9 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| July & 13 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| July 22 & 23 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| July 24 & 26 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| August 5 & 6 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| August 8 & 10 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| August 19 & 20 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| August 21 & 23 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| August 26 & 27 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| September 5 & 7 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| September 9 & 10 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| September 18 & 20 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| September 23 & 24 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| October 3 & 5 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| October 7 & 8 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| October 16 & 18 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| October 21 & 22 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| October 30 & November 1 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| November 4 & 5 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| November 14 & 16 | Tues & Thur Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| November 18 & 19 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
| November 27 & 29 | Mon & Wed Evening 6:30pm - 10:30pm |
| December 2 & 3 | Sat & Sun Morning 8:00am - 1:00pm |
Private classes are also available, please call us for additional information
STEP THREE: complete your open water dives
$140
To complete your certification, you will do 4 open water dives with an instructor. This can be done with one of our instructors at our affiliate dive site near Metropolis, IL or on vacation with another operation. The latter option is called a “referral.” When choosing the “referral” option, consult the destination operation for scheduling and fees. Our open weekends include admission to the dive site, rental scuba gear (excluding mask, snorkel, fins and boots), certification fees and air fills (travel, meals and overnight accommodations not included). Check our online registration system for dive dates and availability. You can also register by visiting the store or giving us a call.
| Certification Dives Mermet Springs, IL 8:30am - 5:00pm |
|
|---|---|
| May 20 & 21 | 2 Spaces Open |
| June 3 & 4 | 2 Spaces Open |
| June 10 - 17 | Complete your dives on our Cayman Brac trip |
| June 24 & 25 | |
| July 8 & 9 | |
| July 22 & 23 | |
| August 5 & 6 | |
| August 19 & 20 | |
| August 26 & 27 | |
| September 9 & 10 | |
| September 23 & 24 | |
| October 7 & 8 | |
| October 14 & 15 | |
| October 28 & 29 | |
PERSONAL GEAR
Each student is required to have their own personal gear which includes scuba quality mask, snorkel, fins & boots. When your purchase your 4 items from us, you’ll receive an instant $100 rebate on the gear. Properly fitting gear is important for your safety. Borrowed gear or gear purchased elsewhere may not fit properly and is subject to our determination of its appropriateness.
Upgrades to your Open Water certification
Enriched Air Diver: Diving with Enriched Air is one of the easiest ways you can extend your time underwater. Becoming certified to use Enriched Air (Nitrox) is easy – after a short eLearning class your instructor will cover some simple procedures with you and teach you how to analyze your enriched air and record the results. There are no dives required and you can save 10% if you register for it at the same you register for your open water class….LEARN MORE
Drysuit Diver: Stay warm and dry when you complete your Open Water dives in a drysuit. Each student completes an additional class and pool session, one additional open water dive and will be able to use their rental drysuit on their open water dives. This option is $225/ person and includes all instruction, materials certification and the rental drysuit….LEARN MORE.
Peak Performance Buoyancy: Float effortlessly, drifting over reefs or exploring the underwater treasures at Mermet Springs. Build on the buoyancy skills you have developed in the Open Water class by completing two additional dives for Peak Performance Buoyancy class after your Open Water dives. This option is $75 / person and includes all instruction, materials and certification.
Time is a precious thing these days and we never have enough. Rest assured that we DO NOT cancel classes. If you sign up for one of our courses it will happen – no need to worry about it being canceled. In return we ask that you confirm that your class dates work for you before you sign up. Cancellations on your part are honored only in the case of documented medical emergencies.