| Diving could be real fun. All it takes is a snorkel and a | | | | thing to do is to contact an approved PADI instructor |
| deep breath in order to enjoy the life undersea. Coral | | | | and schedule some class time. Yes, scuba certificate |
| reefs around the world offer magnificent and colorful | | | | requires three steps: class, pool training and diving, |
| worlds to anybody who is willing to give in to water. | | | | and you will need to read a manual, study and have a |
| But sometimes a snorkel is not enough and we want | | | | short exam. If you successfully pass the exam, |
| to go deeper into the mysteries of the big blue | | | | don’t go and buy expensive scuba gear yet - |
| ocean. The answer for that is SCUBA diving. Scuba | | | | the instructor should be able to provide you with the |
| actually stands for the very-long-hold-your-breath: | | | | basics. |
| Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. In | | | | The first diving you’ll do won’t have much |
| order to scuba dive you need to carry your air on | | | | of underwater scenery to it. It will mainly contain |
| your back and you will be able to stay under there | | | | some children swimming from afar and maybe you |
| without having to go up for air every couple of | | | | will get lucky and find a quarter at the bottom of the |
| minuets. | | | | pool. After the fun pool part you can go on and dive |
| Sounds nice? The problem is that diving is not much | | | | supervised in the open. |
| different than driving – mostly because of the | | | | You can get certified in a couple of days if you got |
| license part. If you want to scuba all day long, you | | | | what it takes and you pass the exam and don’t |
| need to go through a long process, and only when | | | | freak out in the water. If you plan a family scuba |
| you get certified to scuba, you can go and sleep… | | | | learning experience, remember that you have to be |
| swim with the fishes. | | | | at least 10 years old and in a good physical shape. Of |
| The scuba DMV is called PADI (Professional | | | | course that you also need to know how to swim. |
| Association of Diving Instructors) and they want you | | | | After completing the course you can happily dive |
| to learn how to dive like a shark – that means | | | | down to 18 meters or 60 feet - whatever works for |
| safely and correctly. If you don’t have a | | | | you. After you get more experience and training, you |
| certificate or a license card issued by the PADI | | | | can even use your 40 meters/60 feet diving watch. |
| SCUBA no one will rent you gear, give you air or let | | | | Don’t worry – even in the most popular |
| you dive. If they do – I’d check the air, just | | | | diving sites there is not much to see under 40 feet |
| to make sure it’s not nitrous oxide. So the first | | | | 12 meters deep. |