Open Water Evaluation Dives Weekends
MidCoast Scuba Center - Omaha, NE
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Part 2 Open Water Evaluation Dives
You've completed Part I training (Academic and Confined Water Training) and are now ready for your Open Water Evaluation Dives for scuba certification. As a MidCoast Scuba Center student you have three option for your evaluation dives.
Certi-Vacations
Certi-Vacations are the ideal way to complete your scuba training. Travel with us on a guided dive vacation and complete your training with your confined water and classroom instructor. Go to for current destinations.
Local Evaluation Dives
If you can not travel with us to more exotic "Certi-Vacation" destinations, local Evaluation Dives, (May through November) allow you to finish your training with your instructor.
Some divers so not wish to take up valuable vacation dive time doing their Open Water Evaluation Dives and choose to do it now. The fee for local Open Water Evaluation Dives for your scuba certification is $225.00 to $275.00 depending upon destination. This includes rental of all necessary life support Total Diving System equipment you do not already own and instructor fees. Should you purchase a Total Diving System from MidCoast Scuba Center this fee will be reduced by $80.00.
Not included; lodging, equipment transport, transportation, meals and the processing fee charged by the training agency for processing your certification card and diploma.
Private Open Water Evaluation dives are also available and scheduled for your convenience. Private Open Water Evaluation Dives are $475.00 and scheduled for your convenience.
Referral Evaluation Dives
Referral Evaluation Dives are on your personal vacation with another instructor at a different scuba facility. Referral Evaluation Dives must be completed within one year of course completion date. However, after six months from course completion date a Scuba Skills Refresher must be completed to keep the referral active for the additional six months for a one year total time frame. Certification card processing is $27.50 and payable when you pick-up your referral documents.
Dive and evaluation fees will depend upon the dive operation and destination you choose. In the Caribbean fees average between $275.00 to $425.00, In Hawaii $275.00 to $450.00 A Refresher Course is required after 6 months and they must be completed within one year of initial training.
Dear Open Water Evaluation Student,
Congratulations! Now that you have completed your classroom and pool training you are ready to move on to your next exciting step toward becoming a certified Open Water Scuba Diver, your Open Water Evaluation Dives!
Remember, you have one year from the completion of your class/pool training in which to take your five Open Water Evaluation Dives. If 6 months have gone by you need to complete a formal update your skills with our scuba refresher program.
The dives are scheduled throughout the early summer and into the early fall. They will be held at the best site within a reasonable travel distance that offers the optimal conditions for your first open water dive experience! Your five Open Water Evaluation dives will be scheduled at the time of your Mid-term Coaching Review Session. These five dives are a direct extension of the confined water skills you have already developed in the first phase of your training. Please call us to sign up over the phone for your preferred weekend as the available spaces do fill quickly.
Open Water Evaluation Weekend Procedures
If it has been six months or more and less than one year since you completed your classroom and pool training you will need to complete a Scuba Refresher before you can do your open water dives or be issued referral paperwork. The Scuba Refresher requires a minimum of one pool session and completion of the Scuba Refresher workbook w/ DVD/VHS and a review of this material with an instructor as required by International Training Standards.
Phase II fees are $225.00 - $275.00 depending upon destination and include five open water Evaluation Dives (1 snorkel and 4 scuba) and the use of all life support Total Diving System equipment required for the Open Water Evaluation Dives you may not already own.
Processing of your certification card is not included and is $27.50.
As your dives will be conducted Saturday throughout the day and Sunday to early afternoon, you will want to travel to the lake area and stay overnight Friday and Saturday to be rested for this next adventure! Resort/motel/ camping numbers are provided with this information. Since this is the busy season at lake areas we recommend that you make reservations early.
You are responsible for checking out, transporting, cleaning and returning your provided diving equipment. Equipment check out is handled as a rental.
A security deposit made by credit card will be required. Your deposit will be returned to you upon receiving your equipment on time and in good, clean and dry condition. Of course a fee must be charged for any item returned late, damaged, lost or unwashed.
For best service we ask you to call to schedule a time of day most convenient to you to check out your equipment, which you may pick up starting the Thursday before your open water evaluation weekend.
Please bring a swimsuit for fitting of the exposure suit.
Students are responsible for their lodging, meals, transportation and equipment transport (personal snorkeling equipment, weights, wt. belt, wet suit, BCD, ADS and 5 diving cylinders) to and from the Open Water Evaluation dives. Lodging suggestions and directions for equipment care are elsewhere in this information.
Your equipment must be returned cleaned and dry no later than 6:00pm the Tuesday following your evaluation weekend. Please return store equipment at the time you arranged.
Understanding equipment care and maintenance is an important part of learning to dive safely. It is your responsibility to ensure that each piece of equipment is in proper working order before using it. All diving systems must have current annual service inspection sleeves.
Completion of this class makes you eligible for the next certification levels; Level II, Specialty Diver, and Advanced Diver. Ask your instructor for details on achieving these advanced levels.
We are looking forward to diving with you and will do everything possible to make your scuba class a rewarding and exciting experience.
Please read this and ask any questions you may have.
These instructions are given to you to protect your investment in your diving gear and unless you have your own Total Diving System for your Open Water Evaluation dives, our equipment your are using.
Sunlight is very damaging to all diving equipment, have a large beach towel to cover all equipment when not in use.
Prevent sand from coming in contact with the regulator & BCD inflator. Use the ground cloth as instructed at the lake.
Thoroughly air all equipment before returning, shake all sand out of the bag before replacing equipment.
You must return the wetsuit clean and deodorized.
Turn suit inside out & let soak in a water / baking soda solution for app. 1 hour.
Thoroughly rinse baking soda out of the suit, turn suit right side out & scrub suit with a soft bristle brush or a wash cloth paying particular attention to the knees and any other areas known to be dirty, a small amount of Woolite or liquid dish soap will work well for this step.
Rinse soap out of suit completely, let dry in the shade, never in the sun. When dry check for dirty knees, elbows and bottom.
Proper care of life support equipment teaches you how to care for your own equipment as you obtain it and assures you that any future rentals by you or your diving buddies will be of equipment that is clean and in good repair. It is embarrassing for us to have to ask you to take the suit back and clean it properly if you have not done so the first time, not to mention the extra time and trips it takes you.
Another common problem we see is suits that were clean but then dirtied by car trunk interiors or covered with cat or dog hair etc. during return. Please spare us both inconvenience by following these instructions. You will be charged for damaged, missing or dirty equipment.
Should your schedule not allow for time to properly clean the equipment you may return it not cleaned for a $50.00 cleaning fee.
Thank you for your cooperation,
MidCoast Scuba Center
We are looking forward to diving with you and will do everything possible to make your scuba class a rewarding and exciting experience.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of lodging available in the lakes area. Motels and resorts may be contacted through www.vacationokoboji.com. You will get an idea of what type of lodging is available and what each has to offer.
Chamber of Commerce 800-270-2574 (Can help find room availability)
Okoboji Ave. Inn Motel 888-422-3887 1511 Okoboji Ave. Milford IA.
The Wild Rose Inn of Okoboji 712-332-9986 or (877) 855-ROSE 2329 170th Street, Okoboji
Village West Resort 712-377-3223 16010 Hwy. 86 Spirit Lake, IA
Four Seasons Resort (800)876-2103 or 712-332-2103 333 North Okoboji Grove Road Arnolds Park, IA
AmericInn Motels and Suites 800-634-3444 or 712-332-9000 1005 Brooks Park Drive, Okoboji, IA
Crescent Beach Lodge 800-417-1117 or 712-337-3351 1620 Lakeshore Drive Milford, IA
White Oaks Campground 800-246-5114
In Spencer IA (app. 30 minutes south of the lake)
Ironhorse Motel 712-262-9123 Spencer, IA
Super 8 712-262-8500 Spencer, IA
AmericInn 712-262-7525 Spencer, IA
Mask, Snorkel, Fins, Defog, Mask Scrub (you already have)
Wet or Dry suit (provided)
Boots (you already have)
Hood & Gloves (during colder weather, available at MidCoast Scuba Center)
Regulator (provided)
BCD (provided)
PDC (provided)
Compass (provided)
Slate (available at MidCoast Scuba Center)
Timing Device (diving watch strongly recommended, available at MidCoast Scuba Center, ask for the student discount)
Logbook
Tarp (min. 6' x 8' used as a ground cloth to protect equipment)
Personal Towel
Large Beach Towel / Beach blanket - or cloth (used to protect equipment)
Water
Lunch
Sunscreen, Bug Repellant
Sun Hat
Jacket (hooded or stocking cap during colder weather)
Warm topside gloves (during colder weather)
Rain Jacket
A Smile and a Good Attitude, After all You're Getting Certified as a Diver!
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Map to Saturday Morning Dive Site
Map to Sunday Morning Dive Site