Understanding Open Water Course Prices
Conversations in the Dive Centre: Understanding Open Water Course Prices
Since I started Dive Rutland Dive Centre back in 2015, the topic of pricing for the Open Water course has been a regular occurrence. One common statement we hear is, "You are too expensive; we can go to XX and only pay £435.” So, we thought it was time to provide a single point of reference to answer a few questions.
We will cover the following areas in this guide:
- How Much Should an Open Water Course Actually Be?
- Hidden Costs
- Current Costs (As of 10th July 2024)
- Summary
How Much Should an Open Water Course Actually Be?
Using the SSI Open Water course instructor manual, it states that the Open Water diver course consists of the following:
- Six Academic Sessions
- Six Pool / Confined Water Sessions
- Four Open Water Training Dives
- SSI Elearning
For your course, you are allocated the SSI Open Water eLearning. This is an essential component, providing you with the foundational knowledge needed for your dives.
Six Pool / Confined Water Sessions
At Dive Rutland, our pool sessions are two hours long, with a prior meet at the Dive Centre to allow you time to consolidate your dry skills and theory you are pre-reading.
Total minimum time spent with us over those six sessions is 21 hours.
Four Open Water Training Dives
As a student, you are only allowed under training standards to complete three training dives on any single day, so four dives mean two days.
In the UK, to legally allow you to be in the water and training, you need an instructor, an in-water Certified Assistant, AND a Surface Support person. That’s three people on-site from gates opening at 08:30 until finish. In fact, most of the Dive Rutland team are onsite from at least 07:30 queuing to get in!
For four dives, you are provided with all of the required equipment and hire these for your dives.
Hidden Costs
- Time spent getting you ready for your course.
- Time spent preparing and packing your dive equipment for your open water dives.
- Time spent filling and loading cylinders for the pool and open water training.
- Time spent chasing you for paperwork and reminding you where you need to be and when.
- Time spent administering your training.
- SSI Dive Professional Membership Fees.
- HSE Medical Certificate of fitness to dive. (An annual requirement for all Dive Professionals)
- SSI Dive Centre Membership Fees.
- Dive Rutland Van – Ongoing Maintenance/ Road Tax / Servicing etc.
Current Costs (As of 10th July 2024)
- Minimum Working Wage (Over 18’s): £11.44/hr
- Equipment Hire: Open Water Gear (inc 2 Cylinders): £132/day
- Equipment Hire: Pool Gear (inc 1 Cylinder) £35.00
- Swimming Pool Hire: £40/hr (Assume four students per pool session)
- SSI Open Water eLearning RRP: £132.30
- Entrance Fees (Stoney Cover): £27/day or £20/day if a Diverlog member.
- Fuel: Per Open Water Training Day: 0.45p / mile – 40 miles x 2 = £36.00
- Fuel: Per Each Confined (Pool) Session: 0.45 / mile – 4 miles x 2 = £3.60
Summary
If a dive centre is paying its staff, then its cost alone runs for one person to:
| No | Price | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 21 | £11.42 | £239.82 |
| Open Water Equipment Hire | 2 | £132.00 | £264.00 |
| Pool Equipment Hire | 6 | £35.00 | £210.00 |
| Pool Hire | 21 | £80.00 | £1,680.00 |
| SSI Open Water Elearning | 1 | £132.30 | £132.30 |
| OW Site Entrance | 4 | £20.00 | £80.00 |
| Fuel - OW Training | 2 | £36.00 | £72.00 |
| Fuel - Pool Training | 6 | £3.60 | £21.60 |
| OW Surface Cover | 2 | £85.80 | £171.60 |
| OW Instructor & Certified Assistant | 4 | £91.52 | £366.08 |
| Total | £2,997.58 | ||
And that is before all the Hidden costs are added in and accounted for.
Do you pay for an accountant, servicing of your car, etc.? Yes, you do, and these are professionals. Dive professionals are also professionals. They have spent lots of time and money to get to their professional levels. They undergo regular CPD (well, Dive Rutland staff do), so why should they work for nothing?
Yes, you did read that right. Dive professionals in MOST dive centres work for nothing, and when we say nothing, we mean nothing. They pay for their own entry the training sites to train you and do not even get their basic costs covered. This is how dive centres get away with running courses so cheaply, and they may also take shortcuts – they may choose to train you in a wetsuit, and an ill-fitting one at that, where you get cold and uncomfortable so now you don’t consider any further diving in the UK.
At Dive Rutland, our maximum training group is 2 students. We believe in providing quality training with the utmost attention and care, ensuring you get the best experience possible. If our staff are diving in drysuits to be comfortable then why shouldn’t you do too!
| No | Price | Total - 2 Students | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 21 | £11.42 | £119.91 |
| Open Water Equipment Hire | 2 | £132.00 | £264.00 |
| Pool Equipment Hire | 6 | £35.00 | £210.00 |
| Pool Hire | 21 | £80.00 | £420.00 |
| SSI Open Water Elearning | 1 | £132.30 | £132.30 |
| OW Site Entrance | 4 | £20.00 | £40.00 |
| Fuel - OW Training | 2 | £36.00 | £36.00 |
| Fuel - Pool Training | 6 | £3.60 | £10.80 |
| OW Surface Cover | 2 | £85.80 | £85.80 |
| OW Instructor & Certified Assistant | 4 | £91.52 | £183.04 |
| Total | £1,381.94 | ||
And that is before all the Hidden costs are added in and accounted for.
So, when considering the cost of an Open Water course, remember that quality training, safety, and your comfort are paramount. You truly get what you pay for.
