SCUBA Diving Schools in Arizona

The Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI), Scuba Schools International (SSI) and National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) are the major scuba certifying agencies. Dive facilities are located near metropolitan areas in Arizona for Open Water Diver training, advanced courses and specialty programs. Most final certification dives (known as checkout dives) are conducted in the Pacific, so course packages include equipment rental, instructor fees and certification, but not transportation, boat and hotel accommodations.

PADI

Sport Chalet has a rating as a five-star PADI Dive Center and Resort with dive centers throughout the Phoenix and Mesa areas. Most of the shops have on-site pool facilities for skills and provide equipment sales and rentals and course material. The Scottsdale store has a rating as a PADI five-star Instructor Development Center (IDC), which offers professional level training. Sport Chalet organizes monthly dive boat excursions on Lake Pleasant and along the California coast.

Sport Chalet
8690 East Raintree Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
(480) 948-3236
sportchalet.com

SSI

Scuba Sciences in Phoenix is rated as an SSI Instructor Training Center, offering scuba courses for children and adults at all levels, equipment sales and rentals and course materials. Scuba Sciences hosts a monthly dive club and activities such as local boat excursions or trips for diving in the Pacific.

Scuba Sciences
8502 North Black Canyon Highway
Phoenix, Arizona 85051
(602) 995-5926
scubasciences.com

NAUI

Inland Water Divers is a NAUI Pro Platinum Training Center and dive store located west of Phoenix. Inland Water Divers offers all levels of courses from Open Water to specialty training. Courses include options for the certification dives to be conducted locally (Lake Pleasant), on the California coast or in Mexico. The courses include classroom, equipment rental and checkout dive (prices vary according to dive location). One of the primary instructors is a Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor. A variety of dive trips are organized throughout the year, featuring warm water destinations as well as adventuresome wreck diving. According to the Inland Water Divers website, the facility focuses on "family oriented scuba training with an emphasis on safety, adventure and enjoyment."

Inland Water Divers
13250 West Van Buren Road #116
Goodyear, Arizona 85338
(623) 882-9060
inlandwaterdivers.com

Resources

Article Written By Regina Edwards

Regina Edwards has been a freelance writer since 1990. She has penned video scripts, instructional manuals, white papers and abstracts. She has also ghostwritten diabetes journals. Edwards is a scuba instructor and Usui and Karuna Reiki teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Saint Joseph's University.

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