Open Water Diver *Referral* Course · Chicago, IL · Oct/Nov 2025

$485.00

The Open Water Scuba Diver course is the foundation; this is where you will learn the fundamental skills and essential knowledge you need to become a certified diver! During this course you will learn about the different types of dive equipment, diving sciences, safe diving practices, and the dive environment so that you can start exploring the underwater world.

What is a referral course? A referral course starts you on your dive training with CUES, but you can finish it with any NAUI instructor in warmer, beachier locations.

This course consists of your e-Learning and pool sessions - where your dive skills are first taught, practiced, and mastered in a confined water environment.

Because it’s too cold to do the “open water” portion of your training right now, your Open Water checkout dives must be purchased separately - either through CUES next summer at Haigh Quarry, or you can be referred out to finish the process with another NAUI Dive Center this winter.

Required personal gear: mask, fins, snorkel, booties, waterproof time piece, and surface marker buoy (SMB)* (SMB only needed for open water checkout dives)

Where: Lake View YMCA, Chicago, IL
Class Dates:

Saturday, October 25, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 1, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 8, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 15, 2 - 5 pm

_

Instructor: Hodg

The Open Water Scuba Diver course is the foundation; this is where you will learn the fundamental skills and essential knowledge you need to become a certified diver! During this course you will learn about the different types of dive equipment, diving sciences, safe diving practices, and the dive environment so that you can start exploring the underwater world.

What is a referral course? A referral course starts you on your dive training with CUES, but you can finish it with any NAUI instructor in warmer, beachier locations.

This course consists of your e-Learning and pool sessions - where your dive skills are first taught, practiced, and mastered in a confined water environment.

Because it’s too cold to do the “open water” portion of your training right now, your Open Water checkout dives must be purchased separately - either through CUES next summer at Haigh Quarry, or you can be referred out to finish the process with another NAUI Dive Center this winter.

Required personal gear: mask, fins, snorkel, booties, waterproof time piece, and surface marker buoy (SMB)* (SMB only needed for open water checkout dives)

Where: Lake View YMCA, Chicago, IL
Class Dates:

Saturday, October 25, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 1, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 8, 2 - 5 pm
Saturday, November 15, 2 - 5 pm

_

Instructor: Hodg

What does the course cost include?

  • E-learning

  • Confined water (pool) training

  • Use of all open water scuba diving equipment (excluding Personal Equipment, defined below)

  • Digital Certification Card

Please note: the course cost does NOT include the cost of the open water dives. Divers enrolling in a referral course will need to pay the shop where they complete their open water dives in order to receive their certification.

What do I need to bring?

All CUES Certification Courses require that you have your own personal equipment: scuba-quality mask, fins, snorkel, boots, surface marker buoy (SMB) and water-resistant watch up to 60ft. Once you sign up for the course, you will receive additional information about how to purchase your personal equipment if you haven’t done so already.

Refund policy

CUES does not offer refunds for any student that withdraws from a course less than seven (7) days from the scheduled start date. Credit for use in future courses will be given for any unused goods and/or services if the student withdraws less than seven (7) days from the scheduled course start date. There will be no refunds or credit given at any time for goods and/or services rendered, including (but not limited to) activated eLearning codes, class sessions that have already been attended, etc.

For a full FAQ regarding courses, please visit divecues.org/faq or reach out to training@divecues.org with additional questions.

 
 

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