Maybe you've always been interested in scuba diving. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to learn. If your schedule permits, you can complete a traditional course at a scuba center or community college. It's also possible to fulfill your classroom requirements online, while completing your in-water training work at your convenience. You may also be able to select the location of your certification dives.
Classroom Instruction
Each scuba certification course includes a prescribed classroom segment. During this well-rounded instructional program, you'll learn about basic principles of diving. Your instructor will discuss standard diving procedures, along with critical actions for dive emergencies. Videos and instructor experiences will help to illustrate the class material. You'll need to pass a written exam based on the dive theory and applications.
Diving Skills
The SPE Dive School, serving the Washington, DC metro area, notes that you'll need to demonstrate mastery of some basic dive skills. Generally conducted in a dedicated pool setting, the challenges may include donning and doffing your tank in the water; plus losing and replacing your dive mask. You'll need to demonstrate your buoyancy control at a variety of depths, and perform "buddy breathing" techniques with your simulated out-of-air dive buddy.
Scuba teaching centers may verify your swimming skills before you begin the scuba course. You may need to demonstrate swimming techniques, ability to tread water for extended periods of time and breath-holding capability.
Certification Dives
Your practical final exam will consist of four open-water checkout dives that can be completed in one of two environments. While local quarries and lakes are popular destinations, your dive instructor may also offer scuba certification dives at tropical dive spots. Regardless of the location, you'll need to demonstrate your competence of the in-water dive skills learned in your practice sessions.
Personal Dive Gear
Although your dive outfit may vary with your environment, you'll find a short list of standard gear. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI, notes that you'll need a dive mask so you can see clearly underwater. Prescription masks are available if desired. You'll want to attach a snorkel to the mask so you can breathe while swimming at the surface. Fins will help propel you smoothly through the water.
You'll also need a wetsuit geared to the water temperature at your dive site. For example, Caribbean diving requires only a thin wetsuit. On the other hand, you'll want a thick neoprene wetsuit with a liner for cold-water Pennsylvania quarry diving.
Dive Equipment
Besides your dive outfit, you'll need a buoyancy control device, or BCD. Similar in shape to a life jacket, a BCD inflates to help control your buoyancy throughout your dive. Your air tank, along with a regulator and mouthpiece, will comprise your breathing apparatus. A pressure gauge will keep you aware of how much air remains in your tank, and you can share an alternate air source with a dive buddy who may have lost his air supply. A dive computer will provide you with a running commentary on your water depth and remaining dive time.
Finally, your dive compass will help you navigate toward, or back to, an underwater destination or your dive boat. If you're becoming disoriented, or are in distress, your dive whistle can alert your dive buddy to your predicament.
Considerations
You'll find that your scuba certification process provides a good introduction to your diving adventures. Keep in mind that you can always learn more about buoyancy control, underwater navigation and general dive preparation and safety. Before you undertake more advanced challenges such as wreck diving or deeper water diving, log some more dive time and complete specialized courses in your areas of interest.
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