| You already know that diving is a lot of fun, but do | | | | taught. |
| you want to know more about what goes on in | | | | The next batch of lessons will start building your |
| those scuba diving classes before you sign your | | | | practical scuba knowledge, and yes, you will finally hit |
| name on the dotted line? This article will give you a | | | | the water this time. In what are called "confined |
| general overview of what students go through in a | | | | water dives," you will learn the skills in a pool or a |
| PADI Open Water Diver course. It's easy to pass, it | | | | similar body of water with controlled conditions. You |
| will open the doors to an entirely different level of | | | | will be taught how to set up your scuba gear and |
| enjoyment, and possibly even change your life! | | | | how to best use them. Also, you will practice |
| There are many organizations that can train you and | | | | emergency procedures to keep yourself and others |
| issue a certificate which allows you to dive | | | | safe in the water. All of this will happen in five |
| unsupervised, but here we will take a look at the | | | | confined water dives, preparing you to finally hit the |
| Professional Association of Scuba Instructors (PADI) | | | | open water. |
| course. PADI is the world's largest organization of this | | | | In this final set of dives with your instructor, your |
| type, and beginners' classes in any of the other | | | | class will go to an "open water" dive site. Although |
| organizations will more or less teach the same | | | | your site will usually be well-explored and known to |
| fundamentals as this one. | | | | be safe and easy enough for beginners to take on, |
| Don't come to your first scuba diving class in a mask | | | | the conditions will still be as nature intends them to |
| and fins, because the opening lessons will be about | | | | be. This will be the most exciting part of the class, |
| basic principles and will be done in a classroom setting. | | | | something you are bound to remember for a very |
| Here you will be introduced to the terminology, | | | | long time. |
| equipment, tables and guides which you will need to | | | | Although the confined and open water dives can be |
| frequently consult, as well as diving techniques and | | | | accomplished in as little as three or four days, PADI |
| tips. You will learn about how the human body reacts | | | | operates on the principle of checking the student's |
| when thrust into this alien environment, and what to | | | | knowledge, not on counting the hours he or she has |
| do to stay safe. PADI also offers this first set of | | | | spent in scuba diving classes. In this way, the courses |
| classes online, or on a multimedia home study set. | | | | become very flexible, and anyone will be able to |
| This batch of five knowledge sections ends with a | | | | complete them according to their own pace and |
| quiz to determine if you've absorbed what's been | | | | schedule. |