Frequently Asked
Questions: General Scuba Diving Questions:
Courtesy of www.Padi.com
- I want to learn
about scuba diving.
- I want to learn
about PADI.
- I'm already
a scuba diver.
I
want to learn about scuba diving.
Is
it hard to learn to scuba dive?
No, in fact, it's probably easier than you imagine -- especially if you're
already comfortable in the water. PADI's entry-level diver course is split
into knowledge development, confined water (pool) skill training and four
scuba training dives. The course is "performance based," which means that
you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.
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How
long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
PADI courses are "performance based," which means that you earn your certification
when you demonstrate that you've mastered the required skills and knowledge.
Some people learn faster than others, so how long it takes you may vary.
The PADI Open Water Diver course (beginning course) is typically split
into five or six sessions with tremendous flexibility. The course may
be scheduled over as little as three or four days, or as much as five
or six weeks, or something in between, depending upon student needs and
logistics. As a rule of thumb, most students complete their initial certification
in three or four weeks.
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How
old do you have to be to become a certified diver?
Ten years old. If you're between 10 and 15, you receive a Junior Open
Water Diver certification. 10 and 11 year old Junior Open Water Divers
must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional to a
maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet. 12 to 14 year olds should dive with
a certified adult. When you turn 15, you can upgrade your Junior certification
to a regular Open Water Diver certification.
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Do
I have to meet any special qualifications or considerations before I can
participate in a scuba class?
No. Generally speaking, anyone in good average health and at least 10
years old can participate. As a precaution, you'll be asked to complete
a routine medical questionnaire. If anything on the questionnaire indicates
something to be cautious about, you'll check with your physician to make
sure it's acceptable to dive.
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Do
I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water Diver?
No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable
and relaxed in the water. The swimming requirement for certification is
an easy 183 metre/200 yard nonstop swim (with no time or specific stroke
requirement) or a 300 metre/yard snorkel with mask, fins and snorkel followed
by a 10 minute tread/float
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Is
scuba diving expensive?
Not really. Like any hobby or recreation, you can invest a lot or a little,
depending upon your interest level. Because most dive centers and resorts
rent equipment, you can invest in equipment over time, renting what you
don't have until you make the investment. Besides distant dive destinations,
you probably have good diving not too far from where you live, so even
travel costs are flexible enough to accommodate even the tightest budget.
To pick an average, most people find the costs of scuba diving similar
to those associated with snow skiing.
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What
equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons?
Scuba courses vary in what equipment they provide, so it's best to check
with your instructor ahead of time. Generally speaking, though, you'll
probably want your own mask, snorkel and fins, which are all pieces of
equipment that are most comfortable when personally fitted. Your local
PADI Dive Center or Resort can help you select quality equipment that
fits right and lasts.
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What's
in a scuba tank? Oxygen?
Recreational divers breathe air, not oxygen. It's filtered to remove impurities,
but otherwise, it's air like you're breathing now.
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How
long does a tank of air last?
This is a common question that, unfortunately, doesn't have a single answer.
People breathe at different rates, and you breathe faster when you're
swimming than when you're resting. Also, the deeper you go, the faster
you use your air, and, you can get different size tanks. So, the answer
is "it depends;" this is why divers have a gauge that tell them how much
air they have at all times.
As an approximation,
though, a diver sightseeing in calm, warm water in the 5 metre/15 foot
to 10 metre/30 foot range can expect the average tank to last about an
hour.
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My
ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't they hurt when I
scuba dive?
Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your ear drum. In your
scuba course, you'll learn a simple technique to equalize your ears to
the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane,
and they won't hurt at all.
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In
the movies and on TV, divers are always running into sharks or eels. Are
marine animals really much of a concern?
Virtually all aquatic animals are passive or timid. There are a few that
can bite or sting defensively, but you can avoid these simply by watching
where you put your hands and feet, and by not touching any animal you
don't recognize. Divers aren't natural prey for sharks, so shark attacks
are very rare -- more people die each year from bee stings than shark
attack.
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Is
scuba diving dangerous?
Not really. Statistics show that recreational scuba diving is about as
safe as swimming. Certainly there are potential hazards -- which is why
you need training and certification -- but like driving a car, as long
as you follow the rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe.
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I
need vision correction. Is that a problem?
Not at all. If you wear soft contact lenses, you shouldn't have problems
wearing them when you dive. If you wear hard lenses, you'll want the gas
permeable type for diving. See your eye doctor about these if you don't
have them now. Another option is to have prescription lenses put into
your mask. See your PADI professional about this service.
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Scuba
diving sounds exciting, but I'm not sure if it's for me. Can I try it
without signing up for a course?
Absolutely. The PADI Discover Scuba Diving program allows you to make
a shallow scuba dive supervised by a PADI professional after a short pool
session to familiarize you with the equipment and some techniques. You
can usually do this in a few hours. There's also a program that lets you
try scuba in a swimming pool only. This takes even less time, and it's
popular in places that may not have an actual scuba diving site at hand.
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want to learn about PADI.
What
is PADI?
PADI is the Professional Association of Diving Instructor, the largest
scuba training organization in the world. PADI develops scuba programs
and diver training products, monitors the scuba training conducted by
more than 100,000 PADI professionals worldwide, maintains diver certification
records and issues your diver certification credentials. In addition,
PADI maintains various support services for PADI Dive Centers and Resorts.
Founded in 1966, today you'll find PADI professionals in more than 175
countries and territories, and international service offices in nine countries.
Approximately seven out of ten North American divers are certified by
PADI, and approximately 55% of all divers worldwide are certified by PADI.
Find
out more
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I'm
already a scuba diver.
I
lost my certification card. Can I get another one? How long does it take?
To replace a lost card you can either go to the lost
card replace area of www.padi.com or your local PADI
Dive Center or Resort. It generally takes about two weeks to replace
a card. If you plan to dive sooner than that, have the PADI Dive Center
or Resort that you're diving with call PADI. PADI will try to FAX out
your certification information so you can dive. If your certification
was issued In PADI Asia Pacific, PADI Americas, PADI Canada, PADI International
Limited or PADI europe's regions after 1984, a PADI Dive Center or Resort
can usually verify your certification through the computerized Dive-Chek
system at any time of day.
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I'm
a certified diver through another training organization. How can I become
a PADI diver?
It's easy. Visit any PADI
Dive Center or Resort and present your certification card. After an
initial assessment of your skills and diving knowledge, a PADI Instructor
will guide you into the course you're most qualified for. Generally speaking,
to enroll in a PADI Adventures
in Diving program or most PADI Specialty courses, one must have; an
entry level scuba certification and documentation of at least four open
water scuba training dives as part of the certification course completed.
To enroll in a PADI
Rescue Diver course, one must provide;a certification beyond entry
level and documentation of at least 20 logged open water scuba dives demonstrating
experience in deep and navigation diving. To enroll in a PADI Divemaster
course, one must provide;a certification specific to scuba rescue from
a recognized organization, documentation of at least 20 logged open water
scuba dives demonstrating experience in deep and navigation diving, CPR
certification and a first aid certification within the past 24 months
and be at least 18 years of age.
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I'm
a scuba instructor certified through another training organization. How
can I become a PADI Instructor?
Simply contact a PADI Career
Development Center, 5 Star Instructor Development Center, or PADI
Course Director for assistance in determining where your instructor rating
fits into the PADI System of diver education. You may be eligible for
the a PADI Instructor
Orientation Course (IOC), which introduces you to PADI programs, materials
and philosophy, rather than developing basic teaching technique, due to
your experience and teaching ability.
Once you have successfully completed the IOC, you can take the IE, a two-day
evaluation of teaching ability, dive theory knowledge, water skill level,
understanding of the PADI System, attitude and professionalism. Success
at the IE means PADI
Open Water Scuba Instructor certification.
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