| The first two steps in getting certified in scuba | | | | people. |
| diving is to make sure that you are a reasonably | | | | As for which scuba diving certification training |
| proficient swimmer and you get medical clearance | | | | agency is the best, there isn't any one recognized |
| from your doctor to take up the sport. As for | | | | organization that is better than another. PADI is |
| the swimming, you don't have to master every | | | | the most popular in the world but not necessarily |
| type of stroke. Scuba certification only requires | | | | better than NAUI or SSI. NAUI course are often |
| that you are able to swim about 200 yards using | | | | more technical in the classroom than those |
| any stroke you want and to be able to float or | | | | offered by PADI but both will adequately train |
| tread on water for about 10 minutes. If you are | | | | you to be a scuba diver. The more important |
| in good general health and are comfortable in the | | | | factor would be the individual instructor and your |
| water, then you should be able to scuba dive | | | | own effort during training/studying. In fact, many |
| without any problems. | | | | scuba diving instructors have certifications from |
| There are about 1,900 professional scuba dive | | | | several training agencies. |
| centers in North America alone and your local | | | | For people living in the more northern regions, |
| ones should definitely be checked out. Most will | | | | there are a few possible routes to take in order |
| run basic certification programs on a regular basis. | | | | to obtain certification. One can travel down south |
| These centers or shops should be listed in the | | | | to the tropics and do the entire basic certification |
| yellow pages and you can also check with | | | | course down there in warm weather. However, |
| websites of some of the major scuba diving | | | | this will take up a good portion of a vacation since |
| certification agencies such as PADI or NAUI as | | | | reading, classroom, pool sessions and open water |
| they will also have listings. Sometimes scuba diving | | | | dives all must be done during that time period. A |
| courses are offered at universities too. | | | | second option is to take the entire course |
| Make sure that the course you are interested in | | | | including the open water dives back in home |
| taking as well as its instructor are certified with | | | | territory. This usually offers beginners the most |
| one of the major scuba diving training agencies. | | | | time since courses can be spread out over a few |
| This will ensure that you get proper, safe training | | | | weeks. However, the water up north is not as |
| for both the technical background knowledge and | | | | warm as in the tropics and the scuba diving could |
| practical skills required for certification as a scuba | | | | be seasonal. A third option is to take all the |
| diver. You also want to end up with an | | | | classroom and pool sessions back home and then |
| internationally recognized certification card if you | | | | go down south to do the open water dives in |
| want to go scuba diving at various locations | | | | warm waters. Many people have taken this route. |
| around the world. | | | | Your instructor back home will give you a referral |
| Some vacation resorts offer 'resort' courses | | | | letter to bring down to an instructor located down |
| lasting a day or two which offer beginners some | | | | south who will oversee your open water dives. |
| very basic training in order to try out scuba diving. | | | | This is a good combination of taking ample time |
| These are not certification programs. Full | | | | back home to practice the skills in the pool plus |
| certification programs involve classroom work, | | | | getting the classroom work out of the way |
| exams, practical skills sessions at a pool and | | | | followed by having nice warm water to dive in for |
| usually about four open water dives in the sea | | | | the open water dives. One thing to be aware of if |
| (lake or ocean). The duration of the classroom | | | | considering this option is to make sure that your |
| work and pool sessions vary from a very | | | | travel to the tropics for your open water dives is |
| intensive weekend (with advance reading) to once | | | | not too delayed after finishing up with your pool |
| a week over several weeks. The open water | | | | sessions at home. If too much time has elapsed, |
| dives will usually take two more days. Dive | | | | one could easily forget the skills learned in the pool |
| centers located in the tropics also offer basic | | | | by the time a vacation comes along. |
| certification programs that last several days to a | | | | The underwater world has so much to offer and |
| week. Although the intensive weekend programs | | | | only a small percentage of the world's population |
| are quite feasible, many feel that basic scuba | | | | will ever have the privilege to see it in person |
| diving courses spread out over a few weeks will | | | | rather than on television. Become one of these |
| help beginners learn the skills better. Scuba diving | | | | individuals who will have the honor of exploring the |
| does involve new skills and to learn them all during | | | | oceans by getting certified in scuba diving. |
| one full weekend may be too much for some | | | | |