what dive course do i need to go under

The PADI

open water certification is the most common course, but it’s not the only game in town. There are quality schools under the SSI, SDI, NAUI, CMAS, and BSAC umbrella issuing the C-card to newly-trained scuba divers the world over. All certifications will teach you essentially the same skill-set you need to become a scuba diver.

Full Answer

What is the best scuba diving course to take?

The Rescue Diver coursefocuses its content on developing your rescue skills. When you finish this course, you will be a much safer diver capable of preventing problems and dealing with emergencies in the unlikely case that they occur. 5. Master Scuba Diver Is the Highest Recreational Scuba Diving Certification Level.

What do I need to enroll in a PADI dive course?

Your local PADI dive shop can provide one of the options above as part of the course enrollment process. You’ll also need a logbook and a dive-planning device such as a dive computer, RDP table or eRDPML.

How many dives are included in the course?

The course includes five dives: a deep dive below 18m/60f, a navigation dive, and three specialty dives. Gain experience, build confidence and discover your diving abilities.

What are the prerequisites for medical fitness to dive?

If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN). Course prerequisites: PADI Open Water Diver, Junior Open Water Diver, or qualifying entry-level certification.

What certification do I need to scuba dive?

The PADI open water diver course is the first diving certification course you can enroll to become a fully certified diver. Other training agencies like; SSI, NAUI, TDI, RAID and many more offer similar courses.

What kind of diving certification is best?

Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) – PADI is the undisputed leader in recreational scuba diving training. While statistics vary, it is estimated that PADI has certified between 60-75% of recreational scuba divers worldwide.

What are the 2 diving certifications?

There are two main scuba certification levels that most recreational scuba divers are interested in: the open water diver certification and the advanced open water diver certification. The open water diver certification allows you to dive down to depths of 60 feet.

What level do you have to be to get scuba gear?

SCUBA GearItemMaterials Required to CraftLevel Required to Learn EngramSCUBA Tank20 Hide 8 Fiber 14 Metal Ingots 3 Polymer75SCUBA Leggings40 Hide 4 Fiber 2 Metal Ingots 40 Polymer75SCUBA Flippers12 Hide 5 Fiber 12 Chitin or Keratin 6 Cementing Paste 4 Silica Pearls751 more row•Mar 26, 2017

What is better SSI or PADI?

In conclusion, there is very little difference between PADI and SSI. As a recreational diver, the differences are so small that if you aren't completing a course, you probably won't notice. Both maintain high standards of training around the world. Both are globally acknowledged as diving qualifications.

Is PADI or SDI better?

If you're looking to become professional as a scuba diving instructor you may want to opt for PADI since it is the more well-known of the two. If you want to pursue diving as a career (and not be a dive instructor) then SDI may work better for you, given their connection to TDI.

What is PADI diver level1?

EN 14413-1/ ISO 24802-1 Recreational Diving Services - Safety related minimum requirements for the training of scuba instructors - Part 1: A level 1 scuba instructor is competent to teach and assess scuba students up to level 1 on their theoretical knowledge and skills in confined water.

What is level1 diver?

WHAT WILL I LEARN? The GUE Recreational Diver 1 course is designed to develop the essential skills required for all sound diving practice. It allows the non-diver to cultivate a platform that supports comfort, confidence, and competence in the water, as well as more advanced training in the future.

Can I scuba dive without certification?

It is not illegal to dive without certification, but no reputable dive center or club would allow someone to dive with them without first being certified to scuba dive.

Is scuba gear worth buying?

If you only plan to dive once a year on vacation, and diving is only one activity that you enjoy when you travel, renting gear as you go might be the best choice. If you travel frequently, and you plan to log multiple dives across multiple days, it could be more affordable, and more comfortable, to buy your own.

How much does full scuba gear cost?

between $1000-$5000Scuba gear cost will range between $1000-$5000 for a full set of gear. Similar to most product lines there is a wide range of scuba gear from economical to very high end.

What scuba gear should you buy first?

1. Mask, Snorkel and Fins. Start your dive kit by purchasing your own mask, snorkel, and fins. Among the scuba essentials that you will need to purchase eventually, these three items are the easiest to purchase and they're also the most affordable.

Where can I get a scuba certification?

A combined online/in-class theory course can be found almost anywhere in the world. Where there’s water, there’s a scuba dive shop with instructors...

How much does scuba certification cost?

Pricing varies depending on the location. A complete open water course in the US or Europe will cost on average between $450 and $550. You can lear...

How long does it take to get a scuba diving certification?

It takes between 8 and 15 hours to complete the theory part of a scuba diving certification course from one of the scuba organizations. 2 confined...

Does a scuba certification ever run out?

An entry-level scuba diving certification is for life. But it is strongly recommended by all diving organizations to take a refresher course when t...

Can kids learn to scuba dive?

Kids as young as 8 can try scuba diving at resorts in swimming pools or with instructors in calm, shallows without a scuba certification. Children...

What certifications are required for scuba diving?

Some of the most known and recognized ones are CMAS, SSI, NAUI, and, of course, the largest diving training organization in the world, the Professional Association ...

How deep can you dive with a PADI diver?

The knowledge you will acquire will allow you to dive to a maximum depth of 12m / 40 feet. But yes, you should always be accompanied by a professional diver.

What is a course director?

Course Directors are professionals who teach PADI Instructor Development Courses. In other words, they are the people who are in charge of training future diving Instructors. To achieve this scuba diving certification level, it is necessary to pass a PADI “ Course Director Training Course ” .

How deep can you dive with AOWD?

The biggest difference with the previous level is that being an AOWD you can dive deeper. Your new depth limit will be 30 meters or 100 feet.

What is a rescue diver course?

The Rescue Diver course focuses its content on developing your rescue skills. When you finish this course, you will be a much safer diver capable of preventing problems and dealing with emergencies in the unlikely case that they occur.

What is an IDC instructor?

An IDC Staff Instructor is for a Course Director what an Assistant Instructor is for an Instructor. They are the people who help to the trainers or Course Directors to teach to the new Instructors. So, when you are at this level of diving certification, you can impart theory and practice under the supervision of a Course Director.

Who certifies you as a scuba instructor?

Even though your “Course Director” is in charge of training you, an official PADI examiner will be the one who certifies you as an Instructor. Now, you will be the teacher and you will be able to train, and grant the different scuba diving certification levels as well.

How many parts are required to become a dive shop?

Choosing a Dive Shop. You can complete this course locally or while travelling. There are three parts to certification: knowledge development, skill practice, and open water dives. You can complete all three parts locally, on holiday, or split between the two. Choose a dive shop close to home to:

How deep is a deep dive?

The depths listed above are the maximum depth, your dive may be shallower. A deep dive is considered anything below 18 metres/60 feet. Put another way, a dive to just 19 metres/62 feet qualifies as a deep dive. The PADI Advanced Open Water course is like a specialty sampler platter.

What is PADI Advanced Open Water Diver?

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver eLearning is designed to improve your underwater knowledge and skills. You can enroll immediately after earning your PADI Open Water Diver certification regardless of your skill level. The course helps you build confidence in navigation, fine-tune buoyancy skills and introduces you to different diving activities such as wreck diving, night diving or underwater imaging. After completing your eLearning, you'll make five Adventure Dives: a deep dive (beyond 18m/60F), a navigation dive, and three additional Adventure Dives of your choice to earn your certification. *This course fee only covers your online training, assessments and certification card. Practical training fees, dives, dive equipment, student slate and logbook are available at additional fees via your PADI Dive Center.

Can a divemaster give medical advice?

Instructors, divemasters and dive shop staff are not physicians and should not be asked for medical advice; only medical professionals can give medical clearance to dive. If you (or your physician) have questions about medical fitness to dive, contact the experts at Divers Alert Network (DAN). Prerequisites & Minimum Age. ...

Do you need a doctor's approval to dive?

Avoid disappointment, download and review the Diver Medical form to ensure you won’t need a physician’s approval to dive before enrolling in a scuba course.

How old do you have to be to scuba dive?

As a general rule, children aged 8 and above may scuba dive, depending upon their maturity level. Most diving organizations offer special children's courses in shallow, controlled conditions for kids aged 8 and above, and allow children 10 and older to enroll in scuba certification courses. In the USA, most organizations require children ...

What is adaptive diving?

The term for this sort of diving is adaptive diving. Scuba diving is becoming an increasingly popular sport for people with physical disabilities. Adaptive diving gear has been developed for divers who may have difficulty using standard dive gear, such as webbed gloves for divers who cannot swim with fins.

Do you have to answer a scuba diving medical questionnaire before beginning a diving course?

All scuba diving students must answer a scuba diving medical questionnaire before beginning a diving course. The high pressure a diver experiences underwater effects how his body functions in a variety of ways. Physical conditions that may not be bothersome, or even noticeable, in everyday life may be dangerous underwater.

Do you have to be a scuba diver to go to high school?

Not exactly. Before enrolling in a scuba course, prospective divers should be relatively comfortable in the water. While it is not necessary to have swum competitively in high school, a diving student should not be so terrified of the water that he is uncomfortable in the deep end of the swimming pool.

Do you need specialized gear for diving?

However, in many cases, specialized gear is not necessary. Divers are weightless and move freely underwater, so the weight of the scuba gear is not an impediment. Every new diver must relearn how to efficiently use his body in a completely foreign environment.

Who owns a dive shop in Mexico?

Natalie Gibb owns a dive shop in Mexico and is a PADI-certified open water scuba instructor and TDI-certified full cave diving instructor. Scuba diving once had the reputation of being a physically demanding and dangerous activity best left to Navy Seals and Jacques Cousteau. It has evolved since its early days and this is no longer the case.

Is diving contraindicated?

Some medications are contraindicated for diving. Divers should carefully read, and then honestly answer the diving medical questionnaire before beginning to dive, and they should review it periodically throughout their diving careers.

What happens if a diving regulator fails?

So, if the regulator were to fail it wouldn’t stop giving you air. Instead, it will flow continuously. You’ll learn how to breath from a free flowing regulator in your certification course.

Can you dive in the ocean?

Great question! Yes you can still learn to dive, even if you live very far from the ocean. The majority of the certification course is spent learning theory and practicing skills in shallow water, normally in a swimming pool. Open water (not confined water of a pool) dives can be done in a lake, quarry or in the ocean.

Where do you learn scuba?

You'll develop basic scuba skills in a pool or in confined water – a body of water with pool-like conditions, such as off a calm beach. The basic scuba skills you learn during your certification course will help you become familiar with your scuba gear and become an underwater explorer.

How old do you have to be to become a PADI diver?

The minimum age is 10 years old (in most areas). Student divers who are younger than 15 earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15. Children under the age of 13 require parent or guardian permission to register for PADI eLearning.

What are the phases of scuba certification?

Scuba certification includes three phases: 1. Knowledge Development. During the first phase of your scuba lessons, you'll learn the basic principles of scuba diving such as. What to consider when planning dives. How to choose the right scuba gear for you. Underwater signals and other diving procedures.

How many yards do you need to swim in PADI?

Your PADI Instructor will assess this by having you: Swim 200 metres/yards (or 300 metres/yards in mask, fins and snorkel). There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want.

What are the problems that divers face?

Sunburn, seasickness and dehydration, all of which are preventable, are the most common problems divers face. Injuries caused by marine life, such as scrapes and stings, do occur, but these can be avoided by wearing an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.

How long can you swim without stopping?

Swim 200 metres/yards (or 300 metres/yards in mask, fins and snorkel) without stopping. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want. Float and tread water for 10 minutes, again using any methods you want.

Is it expensive to scuba dive?

Compared with other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for: a full day of surfing lessons. a weekend of rock climbing lessons. a weekend of kayaking lessons. a weekend of fly-fishing lessons.

What do you need to know about commercial diving?

What you need to know about commercial diving. There’s no doubt that commercial diving is a thrilling career that attracts adventurous people. If you’d rather tackle dynamic challenges in a high-stakes, high-reward environment than sit behind a desk, then this guide is for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re fresh out of high school ...

What are the jobs of a commercial diver?

As divers advance through their careers, they often choose roles of supervisor or manager.

How much does a commercial diver make?

What is the average salary of a commercial diver? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a commercial diver is $55,270. Because the dive technician salary is competitive, you can get a quick return on your educational investment.

Is commercial diving harder as you age?

Of course, those numbers depend on a lot of factors. No concrete number applies to everyone, but the truth is that like any job that involves physical labor, commercial diving does get more difficult as your body ages.

How many times do you have to dive to get a certification?

How many times do I actually have to dive to get certified? Here comes the fun part. To officially gain your certification, you need to complete a series of four open-water dives. You can choose to do these dives with your instructor in any large body of water—an ocean, lake, or quarry will do.

How old do you have to be to get a diving license?

The certification is open to anyone 15 years of age or older. If you’re traveling with kids younger than 15 who are looking to get certified, they can get what’s called a “junior” diver license and they’ll only be allowed to dive down to 40 feet.

What are the parts of a certification?

The certification is divided into three parts: Theoretical knowledge development, confined dives, and open-water dives. To hasten the process, Yerou suggests finding a certification program that allows you to take the theoretical part of the class via e-learning.

How many people went scuba diving in 2016?

Scuba diving is wildly popular. In 2016 alone, more than 3.1 million Americans went diving, according to a report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Good thing for us, there’s plenty of space to explore, especially when you consider oceans cover more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface. To find out how to join the legion of scuba ...

What is the most widely recognized certification?

While there are other certification programs available—including NAUI ( National Association of Underwater Instructors) and BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club)—PADI is the most widely recognized certification. “The PADI open water diver certification is the beginner certification,” Yerou explains. “It’s sort of like an Amex for diving,” he jokes.

Can you get a PADI certification for life?

No. Once you’re certified, you’re certified for life. However, if you’re feeling rusty, most dive centers and shops offer refresher courses that’ll get you up to speed. PADI recommends taking one of these refresher courses if it’s been more than a year since your last dive.

Do you need to be in tip top shape to scuba dive?

Though you don’t need to be in tip-top shape to learn how to scuba dive, you should be a relatively healthy person with at least an average lung capacity. “Smoking definitely doesn’t help, neither does a poor diet,” Yerou said, adding that consuming alcohol before diving is also a big no-no.