How to get scuba certified in San Diego: cost, age and how long it takes
Budget about $830 at a typical shop: House of Scuba lists its Open Water course from $475, plus $256 for PADI eLearning and $96 for personal gear. Kids can certify from age 10, and the ocean dives are usually at La Jolla Shores.
- All-in cost
- About $827
- Minimum age
- 10
- Time
- 2 weekends
- Ocean dives
- La Jolla Shores
House of Scuba, Oct 2026
PADI Junior Open Water
Plus online study
Sandy entry, gentle slope
The short version
- House of Scuba's Open Water course starts at $475, plus $256 for PADI eLearning and $96 for mask, fins and boots: about $827 total.
- The course runs four 5-hour sessions over two weekends: pool sessions, then ocean dives at La Jolla Shores.
- PADI's Junior Open Water starts at age 10; 10- and 11-year-olds are limited to 40 feet and must dive with a parent, guardian or PADI pro.
- Ages 12 to 14 can dive to 60 feet with a certified adult; full adult certification starts at 15.
- Not sure yet? A pool-only Discover Scuba session takes 2 to 3 hours and has no certification commitment.
San Diego is one of the easier places in the country to learn to dive: there's a sandy beach entry at La Jolla Shores, a protected underwater park, and shops that run classes every weekend. Here's what certification actually costs, how long it takes and how young your kids can start.
$827
Typical all-in
Course + eLearning + gear
10
Minimum age
Junior Open Water
4 sessions
In person
About 5 hours each
How a San Diego Open Water course runs
- 01
Study online first
PADI eLearning covers the theory at home. House of Scuba lists it at $256, paid separately from the course.
- 02
Pool sessions
Skills in calm water first: clearing your mask, sharing air, controlling buoyancy. House of Scuba uses a pool at the University of San Diego.
- 03
Ocean dives at La Jolla Shores
The open-water dives happen off the sand at Kellogg Park, where the bottom slopes gently from 0 to about 30 feet.
- 04
Get your card
Once you pass, you're certified to dive to 60 feet with a buddy, anywhere in the world. Kids get a junior card with tighter limits.
What the price covers, and what it doesn't
House of Scuba (5141 Santa Fe St.) is one of the few San Diego shops that posts its price online: the Open Water course from $475, PADI eLearning at $256, and $96 to rent personal gear (mask, fins, boots and similar). That's about $827. The course is four 5-hour sessions, either over two weekends or in an accelerated format. Other shops price differently and many don't publish rates, so ask any shop for its all-in number.
How young can kids dive?
| Age | Certification | Depth limit | Who they dive with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–11 | Junior Open Water | 40 ft (12 m) | A parent, guardian or PADI professional |
| 12–14 | Junior Open Water | 60 ft (18 m) | Any certified adult |
| 15+ | Open Water | 60 ft (18 m) | A certified buddy |
PADI age rules, checked October 20, 2026.
Try it or commit?
| Discover Scuba | Open Water course | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 2–3 hours | Two weekends plus online study |
| Where | Pool only (House of Scuba) | Pool, then ocean at La Jolla Shores |
| Minimum age | 10 | 10 |
| Result | No card; a taste of breathing underwater | Lifetime certification |
| Price | Call the shop | About $827 all-in at House of Scuba |
Fall is a good time to learn: the water is warmer than in spring and the summer crowds are gone. See diving conditions by month, then plan your first fun dives with San Diego's best shore dives.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on October 20, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Prices, fees, hours and rules change, often at the start of a year or season. Confirm with the official source linked below before you rely on a number.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryOpen Water Diver course
House of Scuba · Checked October 20, 2026
Price, eLearning and gear costs, format, minimum age
- PrimaryDiscover Scuba Diving
House of Scuba · Checked October 20, 2026
Pool-only format, ages 10+
PADI · Checked October 20, 2026
Junior age and depth limits
- PrimaryOpen Water Diver course
PADI · Checked October 20, 2026
Course length
- PrimaryLa Jolla Shores
City of San Diego Lifeguard Services · Checked October 20, 2026
Where novice classes dive