Whether you are based in Utah or just planning a visit and want to get scuba certified, you will be surprised at the number of dive centers that are in the Beehive State. Utah boasts 15 dive shops offering different levels of scuba certifications. From simple scuba diving experiences to advanced, technical diving courses.
Although most of the dive shops are concentrated in the Salt Lake City area, there are quite some also in St. George and Provo. No matter where you are located, you’ll have plenty of choice.
In this post, I will cover each single dive shop in Utah, detailing each level of scuba certification you can obtain in each single shop. Although I don’t think that price should be one of the main factors when choosing a dive shop, I will also have a detailed overview of the average price for an entry level scuba diving certification in Utah in 2024.
Get ready for your gateway to the underwater world, don’t wait further and get scuba certified in Utah!
Scuba Diving Certification in Salt Lake City
The Scuba Dive
The Scuba Dive is a family run dive shop in Riverton, UT. Erik and Kate Larson opened the doors to their passion for diving in 2015 and managed to build quite an impressive facility that includes a privately owned swimming pool. The shop offers PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) scuba diving certifications from open water diver to advanced open water and various specialty courses. All classes can be booked online and you have the possibility to choose among one of their 11 scuba instructors. Besides diving certifications, The Scuba Dive also organizes swimming classes and workshops.
Open water dives take place at the Utah Crater (also known as homestead crater), meaning that you will benefit from comfortable water temperatures throughout the year.
Besides scuba diving certifications and classes, The Scuba Dive organizes local (dive sites in Utah) and international scuba diving trips (check out the upcoming dates) and offers equipment repair, gear rentals and sales services.
Dive Addicts
Dive Addicts is an all-round scuba diving shop in Draper, UT. Besides offering rental equipment and maintenance and repair services, they have a fully fledged online (and physical) shop catering for scuba divers of all levels.
Just like their online shop, when it comes to scuba diving certifications, Dive Addicts has a solution for all divers. From beginner level certifications (taught with SDI) to technical and advanced technical diving certifications (taught with TDI and GUE).
If you are looking for a dive shop providing technical diving training and certifications, Dive Addicts is the place to turn to in Utah.
Scuba Utah
Scuba Utah is a family owned and operated business that has been around since 1971. Rachelle, Rob and Kathleen have turned their passion for diving into their primary occupation and have built up a fully fledged scuba diving shop offering training, equipment rentals, repair, servicing and sales.
Scuba Utah is a PADI 5 Stars Instructor Development Center, meaning that they offer PADI courses from total beginner to professional level. They offer courses throughout the year, just check out their calendar and stop by the shop to book your course.
Dive Utah
Dive Utah is a fully fledged PADI 5 Star IDC shop offering PADI courses in Holladay and Ogden, UT. These folks have been around for over 40 years and are specialized in PADI training from total beginners to Pro level courses.
If you are interested in PADI tech diving courses, Dive Utah is the place to go. Dive Utah offers scuba diving certifications throughout the year. If you are a total beginner and would like to get PADI Open Water certified, you can start the course with Dive Utah (learning the necessary skills in confined water) and finish the open water dives by joining one of their group trip in warm water locations surrounded by amazing coral reefs.
Neptune Divers
Neptune Divers is a family run dive shop operating in Salt Lake City since the late ‘70s. It actually used to be the first dive shop in Utah having an in-house swimming pool.
Operations are now run by Lori and Jake. Neptune Divers offers the full range of SSI courses, from total beginners to instructor level. In case interested, they also teach the SSI Mermaid course as well as freediving and snorkelling.
Scuba diving courses run throughout the year, and open water dives take place at the Mountain Point Lake and Hot Springs. Needless to say, pool sessions take place at the in-house swimming pool.
Besides scuba diving courses and education, Neptune Divers regularly organizes scuba trips abroad, and has a fully fledged scuba equipment shop (including repair and maintenance services).
The Dive Shop
Located in Bountiful, UT, the Dive Shop is a one-stop shop for all things scuba. The two owners, Bob and Mac have 75 years of combined experience in running a scuba diving shop and in scuba education.
The Dive Shop offers SDI/TDI courses and is focused on recreational diving from total beginners to scuba instructor level. If you are a student at either Weber State University or at the University of Utah (department of kinesiology), basic and advanced scuba dive courses with The Dive Shop qualify for university credits.
Scubaholics Dive Club
Family based business run by Jolene and Greg morgan (combined 40+ years of scuba diving experience), the Scubaholics Dive Club is located in Centerville, UT. They organize PADI scuba diving courses and certifications throughout the year, from open water diver certification to PADI divemaster certification.
Jolene and Greg regularly organize scuba diving trips in amazing locations such as Cozumel and Roatan.
Besides scuba diving education and trips, the scubaholics dive club also has a nice selection of scuba equipment on sale.
Adventure West Scuba
Doug and Lynnette Gilbert opened Adventure West Scuba in May 2007 and since then have managed to set up a 5000 square feet dive shop with its own indoor heated swimming pool (12.6 ft deep and 50 ft long).
Adventure West Scuba is located in South Ogden and offers introduction to scuba, scuba refreshers as well as PADI courses and certifications from beginner level to advanced (including specialties).
They have an extensive selection of scuba diving gear on sale and regularly organize scuba trips abroad.
Caribbean Dreamin’Scuba
Caribbean Dreamin’Scuba is located in Park City and have a second location in Brigham City. It is a fully fledged scuba diving shop offering SSI classes from beginner to advanced level. They also offer freediving courses and certifications.
Besides trips abroad (check out their trip to Fiji in June 2024), Brian and his team also organize guided local dives (guided by the dive shop’s professional staff in the various Utah National Parks). These are an amazing opportunity if you would like to discover local diving in Utah and don’t feel like diving alone.
If you are looking to get scuba certified and have a complex schedule, Caribbean Dreamin’Scuba offers personalized schedules solutions.
Black Sails Scuba
Black Sails Scuba is a family-owned business operated by Kyle Healy. It is located in Salt Lake City and it is a proud supporter of the LGBT+ community.
Kyle teaches PADI courses from beginner (open water certification) to advanced and PADI specialty courses. He is also an ERF Instructor in case you are interested in CPR/First Aid Courses.
Scuba Diving Certification in St. George
Adventure Plus
Adventure Plus has been around in the St. George area since 2000. It is one of the largest dive shops in Utah and their activities are not only limited to scuba diving. If you are into canyoneering, Adventure plus will definitely not disappoint you.
When it comes to scuba diving, Adventure plus has a vast choice of scuba gear for sale and a fully fledged online shop.
They offer PADI scuba courses and certifications throughout the year from beginner to Divemaster Level.
On top of scuba gear and courses, they also organize some amazing scuba diving trips. Check out their upcoming trips to Socorro, Roatan and Palau.
Access Scuba
Located in St. George, Utah, Access Scuba’s Dive center is located just 20 miles from Sand Hollow State Park and 14 miles from Quail Creek State Park. Sand Hollow Reservoir and Quail Creek Reservoir.
Access scuba offers SSI scuba courses and certifications for total beginners to pro level divers. They also offer the possibility to take your open water diver certification in one of their diving trips abroad.
Aqua Sports
Aqua Sports is a fully fledged dive shop in St. George offering dive gear for sale, rental gear, dive trips abroad, and of course, scuba diving certifications.
They offer PADI courses for total beginners (PADI discover scuba diving experience) up to pro level (PADI master scuba diver and divemaster). In case interested, they can also teach the full range of PADI specialty courses.
Dixie Divers
Dixie Divers is the only PADI 5 stars IDC diving center in St George. They offer PADI scuba diving courses and certifications for total beginners (open water diver) as well as pros (up to open water scuba instructor level).
If you are into tech diving, Dixie Divers can teach the full range of PADI tech courses.
Besides scuba certifications, Dixie divers also offer equipment purchases, equipment rentals, high pressure air fills, enriched air nitrox fills, travel and more!
They regularly organize scuba diving trips to one of my favourite locations in the US, Catalina Island.
Infinity Scuba Divers
Infinity Scuba is a dive shop founded by four friends (Cade, Sam, Brad and Kurt) who love scuba diving, teaching others how to scuba dive, and helping everyone to have access to better gear, even in the red-hilled desert of Southern Utah.
They offer SSI scuba diving courses and certifications from open water diver to divemaster pro certification.
Infinity Scuba Divers also organize regular trips to Cozumel, and you can check out a selection of their dive equipment for sale and rental directly in their online store.
Scuba Diving Certification in Provo
North American Divers
North American DiverS is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center located in Orem and run by three friends (Colby, Darren, and Tony) since 2012.
They offer the full range of PADI certifications from Open Water Diver to Instructor level. Under certain conditions, they will also certify you as open water diver for free (more on their website). From what I have seen, this is the only dive shop in Utah offering this kind of deal.
Besides scuba diving certifications, North American Divers also offer scuba diving trips abroad as well as an amazing selection of scuba equipment for sale.
Cross Marine Projects
This is not your typical dive shop. Cross Marine Projects is a fully fledged commercial diving company providing underwater salvage, marine construction, commercial diving, ROV underwater inspections and marine surveys services.
As you might imagine, they do not offer scuba diving certifications.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Scuba Certified In Utah?
Although I strongly believe that price should not play a major role when deciding on the best place to get scuba certified, I know this is a question many divers (particularly new ones) always ask.
This is why I have surveyed all dive shops in Utah and checked out the prices they charge for an open water diver certification.
On average, an open water diver certificate in Utah costs $443 with a range going from a maximum of $531 to a minimum of $300.
Note that these prices are as of November 2023 and might change. I therefore recommend getting in touch with each single dive shop for a better overview of what is included or excluded from the price.
In most cases if you decide to take group lessons, the price of the open water diver course will be lower as compared to a private course (some shops might apply a group discount or a discounted rate in case you bring along friends and family members).
Also, some dive shops include in the overall price the full rental gear whereas others don’t. Some dive shops might also ask you to purchase the basic equipment and have your own mask, fins and wetsuit.
Getting in touch with one or more dive shops will give you the possibility to learn more about the teaching methods, meet your future instructors and see with your own eyes the diving facilities.
As always, when it comes to scuba education, my recommendation is to choose your instructor rather than a shop. A trusted instructor will also be able to recommend the best dive shop in your area.
