Recreational & Beginner Classes

The Academy Difference

Why You’ve Made the Right Choice

Why you’ve made the right choice: Unlike traditional dive shops, the Connecticut Scuba Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit vocational school. Our mission isn't to sell gear; it's to provide the highest level of diver education in the state. As an accredited CMAS and AAUS institution, we use the same rigorous standards to train our recreational divers that we use for our professional scientific researchers.

You aren't just taking a class—you're joining a mission to explore and protect our oceans.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a blue T-shirt, working on a CT scuba course outdoors on a wooden deck overlooking the ocean, promoting online learning.

1. Start Your Adventure

Select the SDI Open Water course below. You will receive your eLearning access code within 24 hours, allowing you to start learning immediately on your phone, tablet, or computer—at your own pace.

Woman scuba diving with palm trees and blue sky in the background, smiling underwater, getting ready for her Connecticut scuba course

2. Master Your Skills

Once your theory is done, check our schedule to book your Classroom & Pool sessions. unlike standard shops, we prioritize extended water time, giving you extra practice to ensure you feel completely weightless and confident before heading to the ocean.

A person in scuba diving gear underwater, giving a thumbs-up, with several other divers in the background.

3. Explore the Ocean

Join us for your four Open Water certification dives! We host monthly dive weekends right here in New England. Prefer warm water? You can do your training with us and finish your dives on your next tropical vacation