Posted: 2/5/2003 2:55:08 PM EDT
| How long does it take to get scuba certified? What special stuff is required? IS an open water dive part of certification or is it all pool work? |
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It's been a while since I've taught anyone, but it'll give you an idea: - About 8 hours of classroom time - Passing a (not too hard) written test - About 10 hours of pool time - Two days (about 4-6 dives) of open-water certification dives - A check to NAUI or PADI. That's it! Good luck! Zaphod PADI Divemaster since 1990 [0j] |
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Zaphod is correct. Unless you do an excellerated program it should take about a month. You'll need snorkle gear. Boots,fins,gloves(for cold water),snorkle,mask. My school also made us provide a compass.some don't. I think that is about it. Once you dive you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Have fun. |
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My finacee and I got certified a couple of years ago, and we got one-on-one instruction. You'll obviously pay a little more, but I'd definitely recommend it. We did an intensive 4-day program. 2 days of classroom in the morning and pool in the afternoon, and two days of open-water practice and check-out dives. Last year, we got our advanced certification from the same dive shop. The other alternative is to do evening or weekend stuff over the course of a month. Some programs, like YMCA, can be pretty inexpensive. Either way - it's a great hobby/activity. We both love it. [:D] Btw - to my recollection, PADI also requires a swimming test. Something like 200 yards, and 10 minutes treading water. |
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I've been diving since 1981. I spent 17 of those years as an Instructor. My Open Water class consisted of six 4 hour classroom sessions, a minimum of four 4 hour pool sessions, and two days of open water check out dives. The class could run longer based on student skill, but rarely went shorter. Most Instuctors require you to provide your own Mask, Snorkel, Booties, and Fins. Expect to pay about $150 minimum for some good quality gear. Remember, your life sort of depends on this stuff. If you are trying to push yourself and 70 pounds of gear against a 2 knot current to get back to the boat you'll be glad you didn't get those $20 Walmart fins. The Open Water dives are required for certification but many instructors charge seperately for the dives. Ocean dives cost more than quarry dives, boat dives cost more than beach dives, etc. By charging seperately the instuctor can be more flexible. I have certifications from NAUI, PADI, YMCA, and CMAS. If you want the best go with YMCA, for the easiest go with PADI. If you are traveling to Europe go with CMAS to impress the locals. My honest opinion. |
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What are you going to do with your training (why are you interested in diving)? I mean absolutely no offense by the question - just curious. While diving might be for everybody (it's actually not, despite what the promoters and posters tell you), rescue diving is, more often than not, recovery diving - searching for a body that isn't a "floater" yet. If you have never dived before, get your Open Water (OW)(basic recreational) first, and get a few dives under your belt before you start going for specialties. Besides, most cert's require Advanced Open Water (AOW)(15 to 25 dives) or equivalent before you specialize. If it's what you want to do, go for it! Tango7-FD SSI/PSD since '92 |
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Tango7 - are you asking me or Hoplite? I already have OW and AOW - with about 50 dives - and going to add another 20 before any new certification. I don't NEED rescue diver certification for anything, I just wonder if it would be a useful cert to have in terms of making me a better and safer diver, and better able to help my buddy in an emergency (especially since she's my fiancee [:D] ) |
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I would recommend you take Advanced Open Water and full blown Night Diving and Underwater Navigation Specialties. Rescue Diver is more of a SCUBA Lifeguard class and if you are going to be active in diving I'd say go for it. I've pulled plenty of divers out of the water and a proper Rescue course can really help keep one victim from becoming two. The DAN O2 course is another one to consider. Naturally, everyone should know basic First Aid and CPR. The type of diving Tango7 is refering to is the Search and Recovery course. That is a VERY difficult class if done properly. It involves lots of navigation, and rigging for lifts. You'll do some poolwork with blacked-out masks, knot tying with gloves while blacked-out, and plenty of "stress" situations. This class is gear towards finding a body, lifting a car, recovering boat motors, etc. The reason I suggest the Night course is because night diving is FANTASTIC. You see so much more when you focus one a spot of light rather than trying to see the whole ocean at once. The sea comes alive at night. It may seem a little scary the first time out, but it is exactly like day diving except darker and a little more gear intensive. Try it. |
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Man...did'nt know we had so many divers on board. You can get "certified" in Key West...in one day. Be diving the next morning. Of course you cannot dive alone or away from the instructor. Everyone is right on here about equipment and how far do you want to go? Figure out how many times you think you will actually go diving and then purchase what you need from there. You rent pretty much everything you need...as a cost effective approach. You should go for whole nine yards and get your NAUI and PADI...it will come in handy if you plan on diving the rest of your life. It is soooooo much fun and enjoyment for years to come. I just had friend who has been diving for almost 15 years, get the bends..badly! He came up too fast and did not pay attention to his computer. He had air bubbles in his back and brain from the accident...he should have died but, did not. HE spent almost three days in an isoberic chamber. NEVER cut corners when diving..never. Pay attention to your instructors. In the end..it's the funnest half hour you can have...besides being with your wife [:D] |
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I was certified through the YMCA in 1977 My instructor was an ex- Navy Seal we had a total of 30 hours pool and class time two open water dives required we had to swim any style for a quarter mile Open water dive I had to (mask and fins only) descend without a tank over 20 feet to touch a submerged plastic dome under water in Gibsonburg Ohio. 14 people signed for his coarse.. only 9 finished. He weighted 4 scuba tanks at the bottom of an olympic sized pool.. each tank positioned 3o feet from each other... You had to swim to each tank, you were allowed two breaths.. And swim to the next.. No mask, no fins... you ended up swimming 2 plus lengths of the pool under water without surfacing. I really enjoyed having a Seal as an instructor and feel I learned so much more than padi could have ever taught me. |
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certified course takes about two weeks. If you go with a private instructor, you can knock it out in 3 full days. Check out the Padi web site [url]http://padi.com/[/url] Open water cert from Padi 3 pool session of two hours or less. 2 open water dives class room session - don't remember the hours quiz/test after each class room session final test |
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Quoted: Jeep and Zaphod, Would you recommend the Rescue Diver certification? We're not necessarily planning to get certified as Divemaster, but if we were to add anything beyond that standard Advanced OW, what would you recommend? DK, I highly recommend the Rescue Diver certification. Also the DAN O2 course. (DAN = Divers Alert Network) |
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Zaphod is right... Go with PADI I had the option of doing it in my spare time... I read the training info, watched the videos, and studied in my spare time over a period of 1 week (my exGF's father was a PADI instructor too), and then take the quizzes at the end of each chapter, discussed them with the instructors, took the written test (only got 2 wrong, but my exGF only got 1 wrong), and the next day we were in the pool. Spent about 8-9 hrs in the pool (which was a lot of fun BTW). Then the following weekend we went out for the open-water stuff. MAN that was a LOT of fun!!! I still don't own my own BCD though... [:(] Then after several open waters (which were a blast, exploring some sunken aircraft & boats), and doing the underwater skills stuff, I got my certification card in the mail. I've only logged in 9 dives in 3 years, but it's still SO MUCH FUN, and WORTH THE $$! My instruction was a bit unorthodox, but I took the studying/training very seriously, as should you. Your life DOES depend upon it. I'm a full time student, so having a job, full time class load, AND THEN learning SCUBA on top of all that!? The schedules didn't work out, so we were allowed to learn it on our own time, then discuss things with the instructors for about 2 hrs of oral quizzing to see if we knew our stuff. Then we went over our quiz results, and then took the written test. HAVE FUN!!! Some of the MOST FUN you'll EVER HAVE (besides sex, but you know what they say, "Divers do it under water best")! Next on my list of fun things to learn: SKYDIVER CERTIFICATION PILOT'S LICENSE |
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Quoted: NAUI requires a swimming test. I think it's 200 yards (any style, no time limit). Oh, YEAH! I forgot about that... For PADI, I had to swim 200 yds (IIRC), and stay on the surface of the water for 10 Minutes (Any method IIRC). So I back stroked the 200 yds for fun, and then treaded water for 6 minutes, rested (dead man's float) for the other 4. It sounds more difficult than it really is... |
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Kinda depends on the shop and on if you go with PADI or NAUI (I'm PADI cert.) Ask the shop. I did mine basic class in about 2wks. 2 night classroom, 1 pool dive, and then the openwater dives were over the a weekend. Now, if you live in a crappy dive area and you have the money, you can usually strike a deal with the shop. You can do you classroom and pool dive in your town, then go somewhere nice a do your openwater. I did my basic openwater's in a spring in the middle of winter, no fun. My gf did her openwater's in the Cayman's. PS. I had a really cool instructor for all (4) of my dive cert's. @ basic he said "can everyone here swim ?"... "Okay swim to the end of the pool and that's fine." I've heard of shops that will actually sneak up behind you and turn off your air, pull of your mask, ect. I think that's BS in a basic novice class. |
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Tom, I'm open water certified and have ALL my equipment. If you're interested, I'll loan you everything you need. Contact Seascapes Dive Center in Syosset, they have an indoor pool and they do their open water dives at a quarry out on the east end. My dive was in 45 degree water in April, but if you wait another month or two, the water is nice. I am not sure at all, but I think the cost is about $200 in total. Larry is the guy that taught me, I was certified in the first year they opened and did it every sat for a month. TONS of fun! Edited: You only need a mask, fins, snorkel and swim suit to do their class. I have tons of different styles of masks, fins and a couple snorkels. When it comes time for your open water cert, you can either rent their stuff or I'll loan you my regulator. It was top notch when I bought it and I've only used it a couple times. All Dacor stuff. Anyway, your ass will definately not fit into my wet suit, so you'll need to get that. One more thing about the open water cert...if you set it up with them, they'll talk to any place that is PADI certified to do you open water test. That means you can take a trip down to FL and get it done without the hassle of waiting for warm NY water. We had 6 people drop from our class because the cold water made them throw up into their regulators and go into shock. It took me 3 hours to turn normal color again, I was blue afterwards. |
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It's great fun, especially if you have a good instructor ("Everybody should have a dive knife. Lines underwater can be a problem, and if you see a shark you can stab your buddy and swim away."). The only bad part of it was writing the check for the lenses in my mask. That hurt. |
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Tom, I'll echo what Greg said in that I too dive and have all the necessary equipment if you need them. I got my PADI OW cert at Diver's Way in Bayshore. IIRC the course took three weeks. Two evening classes per week (Mon and Thu night) followed by the open water checkout dives. Here's their info if you need it... Divers Way Scuba 596 Sunrise Hwy Bayshore, NY 11706 (631) 665-7990 |
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Seascapes Dive Center 317 Jackson Ave. Syosset, NY 11791 516-496-7833 I just called them, their price is $169, you do all the bookwork at home, then make appointments to come into the store and go through the pool work and take the test. You can probably bang it out in a week. Their facilities are really top notch and the staff was awesome when I did it. Take a look at both and see which you prefer. |
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Quoted: Tom, I'm open water certified and have ALL my equipment. If you're interested, I'll loan you everything you need.TONS of fun! Cool. Thanks for the offer Edited: You only need a mask, fins, snorkel and swim suit to do their class. I have tons of different styles of masks, fins and a couple snorkels. When it comes time for your open water cert, you can either rent their stuff or I'll loan you my regulator. It was top notch when I bought it and I've only used it a couple times. All Dacor stuff. Anyway, your ass will definately not fit into my wet suit, so you'll need to get that. I have a few suits from when i used to surf but Ill have to shrink a little more for them to fit. |
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Quoted: Jeep and Zaphod, Would you recommend the Rescue Diver certification? We're not necessarily planning to get certified as Divemaster, but if we were to add anything beyond that standard Advanced OW, what would you recommend? I'd recommend Equipment Specialist, simply because it teaches you neat ricks about maintaining and repairing your gear. I never got a chance to do much, but my passion is cave diving. Nothing like it in the world. The only reason I've not done it has been time and money. Now, additional courses are up to you based on your interests. Rescue Diver is one of those "nice to have" quals, but it's NOT easy. More fun quals are: Deep Diver Nitrox Diver Night Diver Cavern Diver Cave Diver Wreck Diver Ice Diver Muff Diver Woops! PADI and NAUI don't offer that one..... [;)] Pick the ones you like and GO FOR IT! |
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My bsic open water was 2 times a week for 3 hours. Took about 3 weeks to complete. You are in New York, take a dry suit class and then an ice diving class after you get some dives in. Ice diving isnt something you want to jump right into after getting your open water then your advanced open water considering some (most) dive places want you to take one right after the other. There is nothing like ice diving and cave diving except i get all clausterphobic just thinking about cave diving but I have done it several times without problems. If you plan on getting your own gear, go on ebay. Keving67 |
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Quoted: My bsic open water was 2 times a week for 3 hours. Took about 3 weeks to complete. You are in New York, take a dry suit class and then an ice diving class after you get some dives in. Ice diving isnt something you want to jump right into after getting your open water then your advanced open water considering some (most) dive places want you to take one right after the other. There is nothing like ice diving and cave diving except i get all clausterphobic just thinking about cave diving but I have done it several times without problems. As for ice and cave diving, F that!! [:d] Right now I just want to go beyond snorkeling and diving for as long as my breath will last. I went Snuba divin in aruba and had a blast. only down 20-30 feet or so but was in awe the whole time. If you plan on getting your own gear, go on ebay. Keving67 U sure ebay is the place to buy? I think with something that has my life in its grasp such as regulator i would rather buy at a shop incase something goes wrong, but maybe thats just the skeptic in me |
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only for 200 yards? that doesn't seem like much of a swim test, but I guess maybe they are thinking on the premise that if you can make it 200 yards, you can make it far enough to be safe?? This coming from someone who once swam a whole afternoon practice nonstop on a bet from a coach (8100 yards in 2 hrs 15 min) |
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YMCA is the oldest national certifying agency in the US. LA County is the actual oldest, but they did not certify nationally. Most of the certifying agencies in the United States are COMPANIES as in bottom line profits. Their entire existance is based on selling a product to a consumer for maximum profit. The YMCA is a family oriented service organization with the SCUBA program being a small part of the total package. In 1987 the RSTC was formed in an attempt to standardize SCUBA training in the US. The YMCA was the only one to lower their standards to meet other agencies. Later the YMCA determined that the goals of the RSTC did not meet the needs of the Y program so they left the councel. The goal of the Y isn't to make a profit, it is to train divers to a set standard. There are several certifying agencies in the US. NAUI, PADI, SSI, NASDS, NASE, PDIC, CMAS, and YMCA are the most common. I'm going to step on some toes here, but here goes anyway. I would not allow one of my family members to be trained in a PADI facility. I've been closely associated with lots SCUBA training for many years. When you read the above posts about being certified in one day, only going to the pool once, doing you own classroom sessions at home, etc I'd put money on it that all these are PADI facilities. SCUBA diving is en extremly dangerous sport without the proper training. This minimalistic approach to training put out divers who are unsafe not only to themselves, but to the guy that is unfortunate enough to be buddied up with them on a dive boat. Do you want your wife to be buddied with someone who learned to dive in a weekend, or took a quality course that covered the material and made sure the student was proficient? The rubber stamp approach to training is wrong, but I've found it to be the norm in the PADI system. Sure, they look good on paper, but not in practice. |