EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR PADI COURSE

start here

We are a 5-Star PADI IDC Facility, and hold the highest ranking available for a PADI Dive shop. This means we offer training for beginner scuba divers, all the way to instructor training!

We limit our students to a maximum of 5 per class for a more personalized experience. There is a captain and crew on board at all times to supervise the diving and snorkeling activities from the boat.

Course Schedules: Our courses have slightly different schedules depending on the day you choose. To see specific course schedule, go to the class booking calendar, and select "class schedule" under your preferred course.

Here’s a breakdown of our courses and what they mean:

Open Water Diver – The Open Water Diver certification is the first certification you need to become a certified scuba diver. Once certified, you can join recreational dive trips around the world without needing to be enrolled in a class. This certification allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 60 feet.

Advanced Open Water Diver – Take your diving to the next level by building experience and confidence in different types of diving. This certification allows you to dive to a maximum depth of 100 feet.

Specialty Courses – We have over 20 specialties that can be stared as an Open Water diver. Specialty courses courses allow you to expand your skills and explore specific areas of diving, such as deep diving, night diving, wreck diving, drift diving, and more. Each specialty focuses on a particular type of diving and helps you build experience and confidence.

Rescue Diver – Learn how to prevent and manage diving emergencies while developing stronger problem-solving and rescue skills. This course prepares you to assist other divers and become a more confident, capable diver.

______

Divemaster – The first professional-level PADI certification. Divemaster training develops your leadership skills and prepares you to supervise and assist with recreational diving activities. This is the first step toward becoming a PADI dive professional.

Technical Courses - Take your diving beyond recreational limits with advanced training in deeper diving, specialized equipment, gas management, and decompression procedures. We offer the following open circuit Tec Diving courses: Tec 40, Tec 45, Tec 50, Gas Blender, Tec Trimix. We also offer instructor-level training for divers looking to teach technical diving, including Gas Blender Instructor, Tec Instructor, Tec Deep Instructor, and Tec Sidemount Instructor.

______

Refresher Course – Haven’t been diving in more a while? Our refresher course is a great way to get comfortable in the water again. Review essential scuba skills, practice equipment setup and handling, and refresh your dive knowledge with an instructor before getting back out on a dive trip. This course is required for divers who have not logged a dive in 18 months+.

about our Boats & Location

Our boat amenities include shaded areas, dry bag areas, a bathroom, hot showers, water, sodas, and oranges. We recommend bringing a towel, lunch, or snacks, as there are limited food options nearby.

Free parking is available on-site!

Our spacious Newton dive boats are right on-site, making boarding and loading your gear quick and easy. We have two boats—a 46-foot Newton and a 40-foot Newton—both conveniently located just steps from the shop.

How to find us:
We are located inside the Crandon Marina in Key Biscayne. Enter "Diver's Paradise" into your maps app or 4000 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, 33149.

Once inside the marina, take the first right and follow the winding road to the other side of the marina.

Food & Beverages

We provide ice water, sodas and oranges on all our dive trips. Our boats have a large cooler with ice for you to store your food and drinks in if you prefer to bring your own.

You may bring and consume alcoholic beverages if you are over 21 and have finished diving or snorkeling for the day. You will not be allowed back in the water after drinking alcohol.

We recommend bringing a lunch for your course! There are limited food options near our shop, other than a small convenience store inside the marina. Everything else is about a 10 minute drive away. We also have chips, string cheese, chocolate nut bars, and a limited drink selection for sale inside our dive shop office.

save by bundling classes

When booking a class, you will see the option to add additional classes at a discounted rate. For example, if you are signing up for the Open Water Course, you can add the Advanced Open Water Class and save $150.

General Safety Guidelines & weather policy

Seas less than 2 feet
This is what South Florida is all about.

Seas 2 - 3 feet
Diving is great, but only strong snorkelers.

Seas 3 - 4 feet
Diving is still great, but no snorkelers.

Seas 4 - 5 feet
Experienced divers only.

Seas 5+ feet
We will not run.

Weather conditions
South Florida is a tropical environment and afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. These storms are usually isolated, move on quickly and will not cause us to cancel a trip. We make our decisions based on wind strength and wave height. Rain or sunshine do not affect our final decision.

If we have to cancel, you have the option to reschedule or possibly complete your course at Tigertail Lake if preferred. We will advise customers via e-mail or a phone call as soon as we are sure the trip will be canceled. This typically happens around noon the day prior. Please monitor your e-mail regularly during the hours leading up to your trip.

Pregnant Passengers on Diver’s Paradise Charter Boats
Diver's Paradise is not in a position to allow expectant mothers on our charters. Our beautiful ocean is unpredictable. We would not advise placing yourself in that situation.

Bumpy rides and big waves can harm you and your child when riding in these particular boating environments. It is better to be safe because the coast guard will not always be available to assist in a timely manner.

Cancellation Policy

Discover Scuba and Refresher classes require 72 hours notice to cancel for a refund or to reschedule without a fee.

All other PADI certification classes are non-refundable. Classes require 72 hours notice to reschedule without a fee. If you need to reschedule a second time, a $100 fee will be added. Be sure to meet the requirements for the class prior to making your reservation.