Scuba diving is an activity that lets you explore undersea worlds and visit places that you would otherwise have access to only through books and television. If you long to see exotic undersea landscapes and life forms with your own eyes, consider becoming a certified scuba diver. Enrolling in a scuba diving certification program will help develop your dive skills and can open doors to exciting new recreational and professional scuba diving opportunities.
Dive Gear
One of the first things that students learn in scuba diving certification programs is how to effectively operate dive gear. Your dive gear is what enables you to move about comfortably and safely on your dive. Basic dive gear includes a mask, a wetsuit, foot fins and a scuba unit. Your face mask allows you to see clearly beneath the surface, your wetsuit helps keep your body warm when immersed in cold water and your foot fins allow you to swim about more efficiently. Your scuba unit consists of a tank containing compressed air, a dive regulator that supplies you with air from the air tank and a buoyancy control device that enables you to descend or float as needed. Your scuba instructor will show you how to prepare for a dive by making sure that your mask, fins and wetsuit are put on properly. This will help ensure that your gear provides you with the maximum amount of protection.
Diving Types
Entry-level scuba diving classes are designed for beginners who want to participate in light recreational scuba diving. Advanced scuba diving classes are designed for divers with some scuba diving experience who want to improve their dive skills. Students in advanced scuba diving classes train in waters that can reach up to 130 feet. Scuba diving also is a component of many professional fields, including search-and-rescue diving, wreck diving, marine biology and underwater exploration. These classes teach students specialized diving skills like low-visibility environment diving, current diving, underwater photography, underwater mapping, data collection and emergency rescue procedures.
Dive Training
Scuba diving certification programs typically start off by training students in a controlled pool environment so that you can grow accustomed to being submerged underwater in a safe environment. Once you feel comfortable diving, you will continue your dive training in an open water environment. According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, beginning scuba divers typically start off diving in water environments no deeper than 60 feet. Your instructor will show you how to navigate while diving in open water as well as how to handle emergencies.
Time Frame
The time frame for completing scuba certification programs can vary. Some scuba diving programs require students to complete a fixed number of classroom hours and dives, while others are more flexible, allowing students to advance at their own pace as their dive skills improve.
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