Basic Info – Page 3 – Scuba Splash

Learning how to scuba dive is exciting and quite often, life changing. Many people try it while on vacation and quickly find themselves obsessed. Diving allows close-up encounters with majestic and hypnotic sea life and transports you to another world altogether. There's only one thing standing in the way though, getting certified. It's actually quite easy to get certified and you only need very basic certifications to get started. There are several types of PADI scuba diving certifications. The more advanced your education is the most skilled and technical of a diver you become. The most common certifications are open water and advanced open water. After the advanced level, there is a rescue diver and divemaster. PADI certifications are recognized worldwide so you will never have any problems verifying your certifications. All gear that is needed can be rented and is usually included in the price of the course. Every diver is logged into an online system so dive shops can verify your credentials even if you do not have your dive card. Also, they offer many subcategories of diver training including cavern, altitude, ice, and drift diving. Cost and Length of Time The length of time it takes to complete a diver course depends on where you are learning and which course you are taking. Many courses can be taken partially online and completed at the learner's pace. If you choose to take the entire course in person it usually takes 4-7 days. The only exception is scuba certification which is a speed course that takes about 2 days. Expect to pay between $300-$600 for an open water certification. While this is a lot of money, these courses should be seen as investments. You are investing in new experiences, knowledge, and a possible long-term career. All the gear needed for diving is commonly rented so the only investment is the initial certification course. Scuba Certification and Junior Certification Requirements: At least 10 years old Are in good health The most basic level fo scuba diving is a scuba certificate. This is mainly for people who want to learn the basics of scuba and are okay with being accompanied by a certified instructor on every dive. It's also for kids 10 years of age or older who are still too young for an open water certification. You cannot dive alone with this certification. Think of it as a speed course that will teach you just the bare minimum to get you in the water. Since this course is shorter, expect it to take about 2 days. You will not be able to dive deeper than 40ft (12m) and like mentioned, you will need to be accompanied with a diver master every single time you dive. It's a great option for anyone short on time or who are curious but don't want to fully commit just yet. Open Water Requirements: At least 12 years old Basic swim skills Are in good health An open water certification is the beginner-most level. You will learn all the basics including safety information, how to use the equipment, and complete three successful dives. The course is broken down into three sections. The first is knowledge. You will learn a lot of information and be given practical information. The next section is an enclosed dive. Here you will put your newly learned knowledge into action. You will experience your first dive which is almost always done in a swimming pool. This is so you can experience the sensation of breathing underwater and learn techniques to calm any fears or anxiety you may have. Note that having some fears around diving is completely normal and every single person has it whether they admit to it or not. The final section is to take everything you have learned from the previous two sections and put it into action in open water. The location will either be the ocean or lake depending on where you are getting certified. Once you finish the course you are officially ready to dive. However, you are restricted to a maximum depth of 60ft. Advanced Open Water Requirements: At least 12 years old Open water certified Are in good health The next level is advanced open water. During this course, you are required to go through 5 different adventure dives. You can choose the ones that interest you the most but navigation and deep dive are 2 of the required 5. During these dives, you will be with an instructor as well as anyone else taking the course. You will learn more advanced skills and how to adapt to deeper dives. It is also common for instructors to teach students more buoyancy techniques. Once certified you will be able to participate in deep water diving up to 130 feet. Rescue Diver Requirements: At least 12 years old Are in good health Complete the underwater navigation dive CPR and first aid training (can be completed at the time of certification) The next level of certification is a rescue diver. It's said to be the most challenging diver course but also the one that people find the most rewarding. You will learn very important and practical skills to manage and react to any problems that could occur during a dive. You will learn to identify warning signs, how to deescalate the situation, and how to respond during an emergency. It's a fantastic course that is highly recommended for any interested in making diving a regular hobby. Knowing how to respond during an emergency situation is a highly valuable and notable skill. It will also give you more confidence while diving and make you a better dive buddy. Diver Master Requirements: At least 18 years old Are in good health Rescue Diver certified CPR and first aid training within the last 2 years A medical statement signed by a physician within the last 12 months 40 logged dives (always log every dive in your logbook) If you are in love with diving and want to make a career out of it then getting certified as a divemaster is the direction to go. This is when you will fine-tune your buoyancy and rescue skills. You will also learn how to map out a dive, give a dive briefing, and organize a search and recovery project. You will also learn how to lead a group of divers and recognize signs of stress. After completing this course you will be ready to lead a group of divers with ease and confidence. Being a divemaster really does have endless possibilities. You can travel the world and work in remote locations until you are ready to move onto the next beautiful destination. You might even open a dive shop of your own.