when do i need an open diver scuba refresher course

One such tip involves getting a refresher course if you have been out of the water for six months or more. While this may seem overly cautious on the surface, it is a practice that is rooted in ongoing diver safety. The longer you spend out of the water, the higher the likelihood that you begin to forget important pieces of the fundamentals.

Full Answer

Do I need a refresher diving course?

If you have been away from diving too long, your skills will get rusty and it might be the best course of action to do a refresher. According to PADI any diver who has not dived in six months needs to take, the course. Making such broad sweeping statements do not have any bearing on the real need.

When should I take a diving course?

If you are a novice diver who has less than twenty dives or so, with no dives in the last six months, than a course should be taken. You do not have enough experience for your body to react instinctively.

What is the best Open Water Diver course to take?

Try the Advanced Open Water Diver course, it's like a specialty sampler platter. If you don't have the opportunity to dive for six months (or longer), you can quickly refresh the knowledge and skills you learned in Open Water with the PADI ReActivate® program.

How do I prepare for a scuba diving class?

Connect with your instructor for a water session, or whenever you have a question. Complete an optional water session where you'll practice setting up dive gear, make ascents and descents, and review any scuba skills you may have forgotten. Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness.

When should you do a scuba refresher?

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) recommends divers refresh their skills after 6 months of inactivity.

How long does an open water diver certification last?

for lifeWill my certification expire? No, your certification will not expire. As an PADI Open Water Diver, your certification is good for life. If you do not actively participate in scuba for an extended period of time, however, it's a good idea to refresh your skills through the PADI ReActivate class.

Does scuba diving certification expire?

Your PADI certification never expires; but if you haven't been diving in a while, it's better to be over-prepared than risk a problem because you forget something important. Dive shops also appreciate seeing a recent ReActivated date on your certification card.

What is a refresher dive course?

Scuba Refresher Course is one of the best ways to get back to scuba diving comfortably. After some time of no scuba diving, you might feel a bit rusty and you would love to refresh yourself. The Scuba Refresher Course covers all the important scuba diving skills before your next scuba dive.

What are the 4 open water dives?

There are four components to the PADI Open Water Diver course: theory, confined water work, waterskills asessement, and open water dives.

How many dives do you need for advanced open water?

five PADIThe Advanced course takes a minimum of two days and consists of five PADI Adventure dives. PADI offers many types of Adventure Dives to choose from. Underwater Navigation and Deep Dive are required, giving you three more Adventure Dives that you can choose.

Is PADI refresher mandatory?

If a diver was certified Open Water but made no other dives after the course, then a refresher is all but essential if the next dive is anything more than a few months later. For a diver with less than 20 logged dives then 6-12 months out of the water would warrant a tune-up of some description.

Is PADI ReActivate required?

Participation in PADI ReActivate™ is not mandatory, but recommended as an easy way to refresh your foundational scuba safety knowledge and skills if you haven't been diving in a while.

How long does your PADI last?

While PADI certification doesn't actually expire, if you haven't been diving in the last 12 months (or don't remember how long it's been!), it's highly recommended that you re-certify via the PADI ReActivate program.

How long can you go between dives?

Dives Within No-Decompression Limits For a single no-decompression dive, the recommendation is a minimum preflight surface interval of 12 hours. For multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, the recommendation is a minimum preflight surface interval of 18 hours.

Does PADI eLearning expire?

PADI eLearning programs are valid for 12 months from the time you first log on. Prior to the end of this 12-month period, you're reminded via email at 90 days and again at 60 days before the expiration date.

How often should I go diving?

Once a year is not enough Once-a-year divers will often spend the first two days of a five-day dive package reestablishing comfort in the water. As a rule of thumb, the fewer dives someone has, the more important it is to dive regularly. You'll need dozens — if not more — dives to establish muscle memory.

What does it mean when you can't find your PADI certification?

Sure, someone from the dive center can call PADI ® to confirm you’re certified, but if you can’t find the card, that ’s a sign that perhaps too much time has passed since your last dive.

Where is the Sea Dwellers dive center?

“One of the first questions we ask someone who is coming in to dive is, “When is the last time you were in the water?” says Jeff Cleary, owner of Sea Dwellers Dive Center in Key Largo, Florida.

Where is the Mid Atlantic Scuba Center located?

“A lot of times, we are dealing with families that got certified together,” says Lyn Fishman, owner of Mid-Atlantic Scuba Center located in Bensalem, PA , outside Philadelphia.

Can you remember when you last dived?

You can’t remember when your last dive was. If your last dive was more than a decade ago, you may need more than just a refresher course. Fishman starts by asking folks how long it’s been since their last dive. “Then I ask about the time before they stopped diving.

Do you need a PADI certification to dive?

Sure, you have a certification card, but that doesn’t always mean you’re feeling ready to dive. If it has been awhile since your last dive, you may be in need of a PADI ReActivate scuba refresher program. Here are seven signs to look for.

What are the prerequisites for a scuba diver course?

Course prerequisites: Scuba Diver certification or proof of an entry-level certification with four training dives, such as Open Water Diver. ReActivate your scuba skills locally or while travelling. ReActivate your scuba skills locally or while travelling.

What is a PADI reactivate?

Haven't been diving lately and want a quick scuba refresher? The PADI ReActivate™ program is the perfect way to update your dive knowledge and review basic scuba skills. Whether you just need a few reminders or want a more comprehensive review, this program provides an engaging, prescriptive refresher of scuba principles and procedures.

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 ...

What are the medical requirements for scuba diving?

More Info. Medical Requirements. Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness. Chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery may require you to get written approval from a physician before diving.

How many parts are required to become a dive shop?

Choosing a Dive Shop. 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: Support your local diving community.

Can you do eLearning while on vacation?

Have the time to complete your course while on vacation. If you're not ready to try diving locally, but want to support your local dive shop, you can complete eLearning and portions of the course close to home, then complete the rest of the course while travelling.

Does a PADI certification expire?

Your PADI certification never expires, but after a long period of inactivity, you may want to brush up on diving fundamentals and safety procedures. Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort for more information.

Do you need a mask to dive?

Most dive shops require students to provide their own mask, fins and snorkel. If you already own a mask, snorkel and/or fins, bring them to your instructor before your first inwater session. Some snorkeling masks and fins are inadequate for scuba diving.

Scheduling Options

Standard courses normally take 3 to 4 hours and are conducted on Saturday mornings.

I haven't been diving in years, what should I do?

If it's been a long time since you've been underwater and you want more of a refresher than an hour of classroom time and a couple of hours in the pool will provide, ask us about auditing a PADI Open Water Diver course.