Where Can I Learn To Scuba Dive?

There are many dive shops and dive schools that offer Scuba Diving Instruction. There are even scuba trips and scuba vacations that come compete with scuba training and certification. While modern day Scuba diving is quite safe, it is still a sport with some risks, proper training is required, and there are a few things you should look for before selecting a scuba class or training course.

Make sure that the dive shop; school or course is affiliated with one of the major Scuba training organizations. PADI (www.padi.com) and NAUI (www.naui.com) are the two most recognized. With so many dive courses and scuba training programs out there, your goal should be to find one that is reliable, respectable, honest and will offer you a thorough and yet positive certification experience. Here are a few tips that can help you do that. Like when shopping for anything else, if something seems like a bargain when compared to the costs of its competitors - it probably isn't. Some less then scrupulous dive shops will bait customers with very low advertised prices that do not include the costs of equipment rentals, books, training materials or fees for open water certification dives. Make sure you know what is included in the price and select a scuba diving class that offers a comprehensive package. Ask for references, any quality scuba dive operation will gladly provide them for you, and do not settle for generic letters hanging on a wall, or yellowed in a book - insist on recent references from recently certified students who you can contact either via phone or e-mail - if they will not provide such information - move on. Get as much background as you can on the instructor. What is his/her level of certification? How long have they been an instructor, how many classes have they taught? There is a lot of turnover in dive shops especially during summer months when there are many new hires with little real world experience. Insist on an instructor with at least one year of experience who has certified at least 25 students. What other certification or accreditations does the instructor hold in terms of first aid or life saving techniques? Incidentally PADI insists that all of its Dive Instructors also are certified in CPR and Rescue Diving. The best instructors will hold not only Dive Master Instructor credentials but also multiple certifications in First Aid and Advanced Life Saving techniques. Also try to select a class where you will be taught by only a single instructor, so you do not have to be exposed to different personalities or teaching techniques, which can be confusing. Find out how do they handle the academics of Scuba training? Not all Scuba diving is fieldwork, and class instruction especially how to read and understand dive tables may just save your life.

A note about equipment. It is a good idea to select a scuba training class where the students will be learning on the exact same scuba gear that the instructors are using. This just makes it easier to learn. Imagine learning to drive with an instructor who is driving an Indy Racer, while you are sitting in a Hyundai. And also any honest and reputable dive shop will offer you a significant student discount on the future purchase or rental of dive gear if you have gone through their certification program.