i think the course for open water cert was around $200, I got certified by an SSI dive shop from Radford, VA and i think it was a special price for students. We did our course and pool work at the pool on campus and then did our open water dives at Devil's Den and Ginnie Springs near Gainesville, FL that trip cost an additional $150 or so. we mostly did some camping so most of it was gas money and food. I think it took around a month (class work and pool work were done Sundays, and I think there were like 4 or 5 Sunday classes, then during spring break we did the open water cert dives in FL. I'm really glad I did it when I did (2009).