You have never tried scuba diving before and wondering how to get started?
Scuba diving is an exciting activity that allows you to explore the underwater environment and discover a completely different world! One of the major interests of scuba divers is to explore the oceans and discover all its fascinating creatures.
But scuba diving is also a great way to relax, make new friends, and discover new areas.
However, if you're new to scuba diving, it can seem a bit overwhelming and intimidating. So let’s look at potential options to start scuba diving!
Try Scuba Diving
If you're interested in scuba diving but not ready to commit to a full certification course, trying diving is a great option. A “try dive” is a short introductory course offered by most dive centers, that allows you to experience scuba diving under the supervision of a professional instructor.
Here are some tips for trying scuba diving:
Research dive shops and instructors in your area or in the area you are visiting. Safety and ratios of students per instructor are important in diving but especially when it is your first time! You can check reviews and also contact a few dive shops to get a feel for how they operate.
Complete the necessary paperwork: before trying scuba diving, you will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and liability waiver. If you have any medical conditions, you can ask to check this paperwork ahead of time to determine if you will need medical clearance to dive.
Attend a brief orientation: the instructor will provide a brief orientation before the dive to familiarize you with the equipment and basic diving skills.
Take it slow: don't rush and take your time. Scuba diving can be a bit intimidating at first (you’ll breathe underwater for starters and that is weird!), but it is important to stay calm and relaxed to enjoy the experience.
Getting Certified as a diver
If you're ready to take scuba diving to the next level or you know you will like it and become a certified diver, then you can enroll for an entry-level scuba diving course. Over the course of a few days, you will learn the basis of scuba diving and equipment, as well as how to communicate with signals underwater.
Here are some tips to plan your scuba diving course:
Research certification agencies: There are several scuba diving certification agencies, such as PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), and SSI (Scuba Schools International). For entry-level courses, the requirements for the course and what you learn are very similar from one agency to another. So it will have to do more with points 2 and 3 below.
Find a dive shop: look for a dive shop in your area that offers scuba diving courses. Make sure the dive shop is affiliated with a certification agency. It is always good to check out a few dive shops in the same area (whether in person or by sending an inquiry) so that you can get a feel for how they operate, their schedule, and their responsiveness.
Talk to the instructor if possible: you will spend a few days receiving instruction, usually with the same person. It is important to feel comfortable with the person that will teach you, so you feel fine asking questions or anything clarification about anything during the course. Of course, if they are fun and pleasant, that is even better!
Determine the schedule: most agencies now allow you to do most or all of the theory online before the course. This could save you time once you are in the dive shop. Make sure you enquire about this option if you want to take your time to do the theory before.
Take the course: depending on the dive shops, the schedule will vary but you usually need 3 to 4 full days to complete a course. If you are doing it over weekends then it will likely be done over 2 or 3 weekends. You will do some training in a pool or calm waters before doing dives in a natural environment: ocean, lake, or whatever is available in your area!
Receive your certification: Once you have completed the course requirements and passed the final exam, you will receive your scuba diving certification. This certification is valid for life and allows you to scuba dive with a buddy to a limited depth (usually 18 to 20 meters depending on the agency).
Of course, this does not mean you are now an experienced scuba diver! But it will allow you to start scuba diving in other areas and build your experience. For the first few dives after your certification, it is recommended that you go with a professional to guide you or assist if needed.
Before engaging in any training for scuba diving, here are a few extra pieces of advice for you:
- In scuba diving, cheaper is usually not better. There are some risks involved with equipment or the environment in some areas. As a novice you want someone else to carefully mitigate those risks for you. If you are willing to try diving or learn how to, it is better to try to find a good school than a good deal!
- Once you are certified, it doesn’t mean that there is nothing else to learn or that the knowledge stays there forever! If after your certification you do not dive for over a year, it is better to take a refresher course before you go scuba diving again.
- When you are learning to scuba dive, you are learning to dive independently with minimum or no supervision. Early on in the course, try to gain an understanding of the equipment, the local regulations, and safety procedures, so you can quickly be self-sufficient.
- Equipment will usually be provided, but if you can purchase your own mask you'll feel more at ease. It is an important piece of equipment for comfort and safety. Why not check out our Tidal mask range with anti-fog?
Now a little warning: learning how to scuba dive might change your life! Scuba diving is a great way to discover new areas and meet new people through dive clubs or schools. For example, it might encourage you to discover new places, did you know you can scuba dive in Iceland??
Once you have discovered the other 70% of the planet, you might get hooked!
