Please check the Schedule web page for current class dates and times!!

Bubblemakers

Bubblemaker is an entry-level pool only experience for children 8 to 9 years of age, which meets during regular Open Water classes at the St. Joseph YMCA.  Class includes all materials for the class room and pool sessions, including use of Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Scuba equipment for the pool. No certification is given and the depth is limited to 6 ft.  Course cost is $125.00. Ages 8 to 9 will receive a certificate verifying participation in the program. The Bubblemaker program is also available for Birthday Parties, cost $30.00 each plus pool fees, for a 4-hour pool dive.

Open Water Classes (Weekend Course)

Open Water is an entry-level weekend class, which meets on Friday night from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturday at the St. Joseph YMCA or YWCA from 7:30 AM to 2:00PM. Class includes all books and materials for the class room and pool sessions, including use of Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Scuba equipment for the pool. Certification does require completion of four open water dives with a PADI Instructor. Open Water dives may be completed during one of SJS's Open Water Training weekends or with another PADI Instructor and student referral. Course cost is $245.00. Ages 10 to 15 will receive a Jr. Open Water Certification.

Open Water Classes (Private Course)

SJ Scuba does offer a private Open water weekend class as a entry-level class, which meets based on your schedule. Class includes all books and materials for the class room and pool sessions, including use of Mask, Fins, Snorkel, and Scuba equipment for the pool. Certification does require completion of four open water dives with a PADI Instructor. Open Water dives may be completed during one of SJS's Open Water Training weekends or with another PADI Instructor and student referral. Course cost is $275.00. Ages 10 to 14 will receive a Jr. Open Water Certification.

Adventures in Diving (Advanced) Course
A weekend of education fun with no classroom or test!

 Adventures in Diving, SJS's Advanced course is conducted at Table Rock Lake in Branson Missouri. This course is open to both Open Water divers and Jr. Open Water divers(12-15 years of age). Consisting of two levels, the basic "Adventure Diver Certification" consists of three elective dives.  Students choose from several of the different elective dives, including Under Water Photo, Night diving,Under Water Naturalist, Search & Recovery, Boat Diving, Wreck Diving, PPB and Drift Diving. Course cost $135.00, with class size limited to 12 students and can be completed in one day. In addition, Divers who complete the Under Water Navigation and Deep dives on day two will receive the PADI Advance Diver Certification as well. Cost for both $195.00. Please sign up early by contacting SJ Scuba at 233-8344 and asking to be put on our "Adventures in Diving" sign up list. Course fee includes all class material and equipment, except dive lights and wet suit.

Rescue Diver
The most serious fun you will ever have diving!

 Rescue Diver is a very informative and educational course. It is conducted in August of each year at Smithville Lake and is open to Advanced or Jr. Advanced Divers. This weekend course includes classroom, books, and Scuba Equipment. SJS's course has become one of the best Rescue Diver training courses in our area. The course is designed to simulate may of the possible problems divers can experience. By knowing how to prevent problems, divers can prevent problems before they occur. In years past several local area ambulance and fire departments has assisted in our training program. Course cost $235.00 and includes EFR First Aid/CPR Training

Class size limited to 10 students. Please sign up early by contacting SJ Scuba at 233-8344 and asking to be put on our Rescue Class sign up list. Wet suits are not provided.

Specialty Courses--Master Scuba Diver--Divemaster
For the diver who wants more!

PADI Specialty courses are offered at scheduled times during each year and include, Deep Diving, Night Diving, Boat Diving, U/W Photo, U/W Video, Search & Recovery, U/W Navigation, Drift Diving, Wreck Diver, Equipment Specialist, Dry Suit, DPV, Fish ID, Enriched Air, Dry Suit. U/W Natualist and Multi-Level.

PADI's Master Scuba Diver (MSD) rating is the highest nonprofessional PADI Certification. MSD requires certifications in five (5) specialty areas of interest to the student plus Advance Open Water and Rescue Diver.

Divemaster candidates should enjoy working with students, have above average diving skills and the desire to take part in an exciting, educational and fun course. The course starts each January and lasts 6 months.

Please contact a member of SJS's Dive Training Team or Ernie Miller at 816-233-8344 for information about one of the above courses.

Assistant Instructor & Instructor Training

Instructor level training is only available from PADI Course Directors and is scheduled upon request during the year. The PADI Divemaster rating is required to attend an Assistant Instructor (AI) course. During this course, candidates will gain experience in preparing and presenting Academic sessions as well as organizing and teaching in confined water. Open Water training includes developing evaluation and organizational skills. Duties of the PADI AI include teaching academic sessions, teaching limited confined water skills and surface skill evaluation during Open Water training. AI's may also independently teach Snorkeling, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Discover Scuba, Medic First Aid and Equipment Specialty. AI's are one of the most valuable assets of a Dive Training Team.

PADI Instructor Development Courses (IDC's) are open to PADI Divemasters, Assistant Instructors and Instructors for other certification agencies. This seven (7) day course consists for of a three (3) day Assistant Instructor course followed by a four (4) day OWSI course which prepares the candidate for the Instructor Evaluation (IE) process and includes the development of Academic teaching skills, Confined Water teaching skills and Open Water evaluation skills.

For further information on the above courses, please contact PADI Course Director Ernie Miller at 816-233-8344 or email infosj@sjscuba.com