Q: How much does the SCUBA certification class cost?
A: The group class rate $450 per person,

Q: Isn't the water cold?
A: It is not warm. Depending on the time of year, Southern California waters range from 55 - 70 °F (12 - 21 °C).

Q: So how thick of wet-suit do I need?
A: 7mm is the standard, and keeps most divers reasonably warm; some may want a dry-suit for the winter months. Wet-suits are included with OW certification classes.

Q: What will I see?
A: Fish, Eels, Rays, Starfish, Sea Slugs, Sea Lions, Sharks....

Q: Will I be eaten by a shark?
A: No.

Q: Are you sure?
A: Yes.

Q: But seriously, people are bitten by sharks, right?
A: *Sigh* on average, 1 person per year in the entire state of California is attacked. The University of Florida provides a nice statistics map here.