Preparing For PADI Scuba Diving Certification
The ABC's of Open Water Scuba Training
Whether you’ve decided to get your scuba certification because you’ve done a “try dive” or you just want to get certified because it looks fun, the good news is, making the decision to get certified is the hard part. The bad news is — well, there isn’t any bad news! Getting a PADI certification is super fun; there are a number of ways to start on the journey that will someday take you to the depths and beyond.
Before you get started by signing up at padi.com, you might have a few questions about what’s involved in getting a scuba certification. In its simplest terms, a PADI Open Water Diver course consists of three parts: academics, confined water and open water.
Academics:
In the academic portion you learn what to do at the surface and underwater, and why; you learn about scuba rules, do’s and don’ts, safety issues and more, taking quizzes and exams along the way to check your understanding.
If you’re doing the academics on your own via PADI’s eLearning — that is, on a desktop, laptop or mobile device — don’t worry if you don’t understand a concept: The instructor you signed up with is there to help whenever you have questions.
Confined Water:
In confined water, you practice the skills and techniques you read about in academics, in a pool or body of water with pool-like conditions.
These are skills such as clearing your mask of water, breathing from a buddy’s regulator in a shared-air exercise, or even the best kicking techniques to get you through the water. Confined water is where you practice a skill until you’ve mastered it.
Open Water:
Though it’s not a linear progression, open water is where you put it all together, demonstrating the skills you read about in academics and practiced in confined water — but in real-world conditions.
Over the course of four dives, you show your instructor that you’re ready to dive with a buddy on your own. That’s when you get your certification, but it’s only the start. You’re part of the dive family now, and you’re ready for a world of adventures.
Play by the Rules:
Before signing up, make sure you meet these requirements.
- Be at least 10 years old.
- Be able to float or tread water for 10 minutes and swim 660 feet with no swim aids (or 1,000 feet with mask, fins and snorkel); no time requirement.
- Meet medical qualification. Prior to in-water activities, you’ll complete a medical statement (to get it in advance, visit padi.com and click on “Start Now”) that screens for conditions that may affect your safety while diving. Answer honestly — a “yes” to a screened condition doesn’t necessarily exclude you from diving, but it does mean you must consult your physician and, together, agree that you can dive without unreasonable risk from that condition.
Note that the PADI Open Water Diver course is highly adaptable to special needs, with many people with differing challenges able to participate. Contact your PADI Dive Center or Resort for more information.
Diving with Kids:
Would you like to introduce your children to scuba diving but don’t know where to start? Here’s what you need to know.
- A child must be 10 years old to begin training. Children 10 and 11 years old must dive with a parent or guardian; ages 12 to 14 must dive with an adult trained diver.
- Just like adults, kids must be able to float and swim (see Play by the Rules, above).
- There are depth restrictions for children in entry-level training. Children ages 10 and 11 must stay 40 feet and shallower; junior divers 12 to 14 years old must not go deeper than 60 feet.
- Proper fit and comfort are essential in learning to scuba dive. Several gear manufacturers offer gear specifically made for kids.
Interested in a family dive vacation where your child can be certified as a diver? Check out upcoming Kids Sea Camp trips, and plan a trip that will create a lifetime of memories!
Start Now
You can start now. No, seriously. Go to padi.com, click “Get Certified” and follow the links. Or contact your local PADI Dive Center or Resort (click Find a Dive Shop).