Dive into Adventure: Your Ultimate Guide on How to Get Scuba Certified (Plus FAQ)

Scuba diving allows us to explore the mysterious, vibrant world that exists below a seemingly ordinary body of water. Scuba diving is a unique activity that can provide both moments of exhilaration and adrenaline, or complete serenity and peace. The absolute best way to experience this is by obtaining a scuba certification. This article aims to guide you through all stages of how to get certified.  

This article is based on PADI and SSI certifying criteria. These are the two most widely used certifying agencies in the world. The course structures of these two agencies happen to be very similar. The open water diver course is the first level of certification and will allow you to scuba dive all over the world.

So get ready to discover a new favorite activity as I help you navigate from selecting the right course, understanding the prerequisites, and progressing to becoming a certified scuba diver.

Do I Need to Get Certified?

In a word, no. There are programs in both PADI and SSI that allow you to do a trial, introductory scuba dive. This is a fantastic way to test out the waters in a calm, controlled environment. You will learn the basics of scuba diving including how the equipment works, hand signals, and other important skills. These trial dives are great for getting comfortable while taking your first breaths underwater Many times these take place on a shallow reef where you get to experience and connect with the underwater world. 

After completion of the trial/introductory dive and falling in love with scuba diving, the next step is the open water diver course.

The Open Water Certification

This certification is the best way to begin a lifetime of scuba diving anywhere in the world. Having your certification card unlocks the ability to:

• Go on scuba diving excursions with a dive buddy or guide (without the supervision of an instructor).
• Rent dive gear from a dive shop for diving at your leisure
• Buy your own dive gear 
• Refill tanks from a dive shop
• Take additional continuing education courses

The training gets you comfortable and confident with all the skills needed for scuba diving recreationally. Being certified and able to explore the beauty of the underwater world is a truly liberating feeling.

How is the Open Water Course Structured?

This course covers all the basics of scuba diving, such as equipment, safety, hand signals, and dive theory. The open water course is broken up into three sections. There is the academic and knowledge learning section, the confined water diving section, and finally the open water diving section. 

Section 1: Academic Dive Theory

The academic dive theory is where you first get an understanding of how scuba diving works. Basic physics, human physiology, how to use equipment, and safety measures are all discussed. The academic portion of the course can be completed either online or in the classroom. I would recommend completing this portion online. This way you can take your time to read and understand the theory and new scuba terminology. You also have access to videos and other visuals that help to grasp many of the concepts. You can complete this portion at home, then arrive at the dive shop ready to hit the water swimming with the hands-on portions of the course.

While studying the academic material may not be the most fun, understanding things like nitrogen narcosis or how the air in your lungs reacts when diving is crucial to being a qualified scuba diver. Once you have a good grasp of the theory and pass the written exam, the next portion is the confined water dives.

Section 2: Confined Water Dives

The second phase of getting scuba certified is the Confined Water Dives. This is the first time testing out the gear and breathing underwater.

These dives involve guided instruction in basic, but crucial scuba skills in a swimming pool or other confined, shallow water area. When you first show up, one of the first things you will do is familiarize yourself with the gear. You will then learn how to assemble and disassemble all the gear.

After getting familiar with the gear, the next step is to get in the water. This is where you will get acclimated to to breathing underwater and begin the basic skills. Instructors will always demonstrate the skill first, then ask you to copy them exactly as they did. Some of the skills are regulator removal, clearing water from the mask, buoyancy exercises, and practicing hand signals. Another skill that sometimes gets overlooked is how to properly clean the gear, which should be done after each day of diving. 

The confined water portion provides you with the basic skills and hands-on practice you need to move on to the next phase, the open waterdives. 

Section 3: Open Water Dives

The open water portion of the course is the culmination of all the studying and practicing that was completed in the pool. This is where all the skills you have learned will be put to the test in a real-world natural body of water. The instructor will be with you for the entirety of the dive. During the four open water dives, you will be instructed to do underwater and above-water skills at some point during the dive.

In my opinion, one of the most important skills to practice during the open water dives is buoyancy control. Being able to control your body going up and down in the water while staying a safe distance away from obstacles is crucial. After four dives, these skills start to become more intuitive. 

Once you have completed the first two phases, you are ready to move on to the third and final portion of the course, which is the open water dives. During this portion, you will complete four dives in a natural body of water. Your instructor will be with you for each dive to ensure you a

practicing good dive safety. You will use the skills you learned during your swimming pool dives, such as regulator recovery, buoyancy, and navigation. You must complete at least 60 minutes of underwater time and can go as deep as 18 meters. If you are comfortable and confident with your dive skills, you can opt for the Adventure Dive which can include activities such as night diving or deep diving.

The open water dives can be completed in any natural body of water, like a lake, ocean, quarry, or sea. It is common to do the first two portions of the course at home with a local dive shop, then finish the course elsewhere. A great way to do the final four dives is on a vacation somewhere warm and tropical with vibrant reef life. 

After successfully completing all four open water dives, you will officially be a certified open water scuba diver! With your certification, you can explore the beautiful underwater world and experience new places, near and far. Get ready to start your scuba journey!

Conclusion

Becoming a certified diver opens you up to infinite avenues for growth, knowledge and appreciation for the underwater world. If you are following this article on how to get scuba certified, then this is just the beginning of your journey. PADI and SSI offer additional certifications aimed at the development of your skills so you can become a better, more skilled diver. As a certified diver, you will naturally become an ambassador for the ocean and all the beautiful creatures it sustains.

I hope this article on how to get scuba certified was useful and that you are excited to begin your underwater journey as a certified scuba diver!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Get Scuba Certified?

The cost of getting scuba certified can vary depending on where you are getting certified. and the type of certification you are getting. Generally, the cost of an open water scuba certification course, including certification fees, materials, and rental gear, can range from $300 to $700. 

How Long Does It Take to Get Certified?

It can take anywhere from 3 or 4 days, up to a year. The academic portion can be done in one day or online at your own pace. The confined water is usually done in one day, with the four open water dives usually taking place over two days. While I was an instructor in Hawaii, the students would come prepared with the academic portion completed online. We would then do all the confined water dives on the first morning and two open water dives in the afternoon. We would then finish the last two open water dives the following day.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Scuba Certified?

The minimum age is 10 years old to get open water certified. It is important to check the policies of the dive shop or certification agency as some may have stricter age requirements.

How Deep Can You Go After Getting Certified?

The maximum depth for an open water certified diver is /60 feet/18 meters. With specialty qualifications, the recreational limit is 130 feet/40 meters. 

Do You Need to Be Able to Swim to Get Certified?

Yes. But not on the level of Olympic swimmers. There is a basic swim test and a tread/float test.

---