Your training will take place in the classroom and in the pool. You will be required to have your own personal gear for the class and it must be of dive quality. See sidebar under "personal gear" for items required. You will also be required to have a copy of Dennis Graver's "Scuba Diving". This text can be ordered through UDM Aquatic Services. You'll sign a learning agreement which outlines our commitment to you and your responsibilities as a student. At the completion of the classroom and pool sessions you will do a series of Open Water dives at a local lake or quarry. You may also elect to take a referral and do the dives in a warm water location with another instructor. Another option is to allow me to conduct your checkout dives on an excursion to a warm water destination on a scheduled trip or in the case of private lessons cover my expenses for a trip to do these checkouts should you choose not to do them locally. All lessons will be private or semi private. Please contact me for rates for both types of classes. You will also be responsible for renting gear for your open water checkout dives. Either Pittsburgh Scuba or Dive World has rental gear available.  I will inform you of the requirements as to what gear you will need to rent at our first meeting.