Almost anybody can learn the basics of scuba diving with the help of an instructor and discover a world of underwater wonder – all it takes is some time and dedication.
If the scuba diving bug has bit, you’re probably raring to go and want your first lesson immediately. But before you get too excited remember it’s not as easy as strapping on a tank and jumping feet first into the big blue. If you want to learn the basics of scuba diving professional training is a must!
If you’ve decided to learn the ins and outs of scuba diving you’ve probably done some searching on the Web trying to locate a good SCUBA school in your area. A number of excellent institutions, schools, and classes can help you get your feet wet. The only problem seems to be choosing the right one!
And scuba training is like any other form of instruction. Teachers and schools range from excellent to mediocre and you will find that the equipment, instruction methods, and instructors all vary from school to school. In general, larger institutes are likely to have more up-to-date equipment and more instructors per student. Your progress also depends on how quickly you grasp the basics of scuba diving.
You might find that you catch on quickly or that you learn more slowly and need extra help getting acquainted with your equipment and technique. And don’t forget that once you’ve mastered the basics of scuba diving you won’t be ready for a night dive prowling undersea wrecks on NITROX. However it will give you the basic technical skills that you need to feel comfortable in the water and attempt dives suitable for beginners.
So are there any restrictions placed on who can learn scuba diving? Yes. You can learn to dive if you are between the ages of 12 to 80 as long as you are in good health, reasonably fit, and have the commitment to learn the basics of scuba diving.
Before you are eligible to receive any scuba training you will need to pass a medical exam by your doctor to make sure you are ‘swimming fit’. This is a safety precaution to make sure that you don’t have any health problems that might become a real issue underwater. If you have any health problems that may be a problem whilst diving you won’t be permitted to learn the basics of scuba diving.
Make no mistake scuba diving can be very dangerous so you can’t and I repeat: can’t learn from a scuba diving friend or any other person who isn’t professionally qualified to provide scuba diving instruction. Scuba diving accidents aren’t very common but when they do occur they can be deadly. So knowing how to do the right thing at the right time can save your life and just because somebody know how do dive doesn’t mean they can teach you to do so.
So how are the basics of scuba diving taught? Your first few lessons will help you to learn how to set up your dive equipment and how to handle basic problems or emergencies that might occur under water. They will also teach you the jargon that is such a big part of scuba diving. You will become familiar with what decompression; narc and safety stops are, for example. This part of your training is called the ‘Open Water Class’ and once completed you will be certified to dive in open water up to 60ft. You’re on your way!
But this is the easy part. Since there are hundreds of schools where the basics of scuba diving are taught you may have trouble settling on one. The Open Water course is taught at all of them so you might want to learn about the different qualifications that might be obtained for example: NAUI, PADI, PDIC. These qualifications are all endorsed by the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). The RSTC sets the minimum requirements for diving safety standards in America.
This means that doing your scuba diving lessons through an organization endorsed by them means you will get top caliber training. But if you’re not abale to get to one of the larger centers then examine the following: the size of the class, the quality, and type of equipment on offer, the kind of pools used, and where the open water skill test is held.
Ask about the qualifications of your instructors, their training standards for safety and technique and make sure to talk to other people who have done the course. Make a call to one of the larger institutions and ask them if they know the training school and what their opinion is about their standards of training. Not all scuba diving training is created equal and you would be wise to check any potential schools out before you sign up.
And don’t forget, when it comes to learning the basics of scuba diving, price should not be your main consideration. SCUBA is fun but you do need to know what you’re doing, so get the best quality training your money can buy and stay safe during your underwater adventures! Happy diving!