| Personally I blame Jacques Cousteau. Ever since | | | | split across different venues. The book learning is |
| watching his programs on undersea exploration during | | | | probably the most accessible component, particularly |
| the late 60s and 70s (when I was at an | | | | since PADI now do an online course that you can |
| impressionable age) I have had the urge to learn to | | | | subscribe to. Alternatively you could do this part of |
| scuba dive. It's been sitting there in the back of my | | | | the course with a local dive school. For example, in |
| mind for nearly 40 years and finally I am doing | | | | West London (where I live) there are a variety of |
| something about it. | | | | dive schools, some with specialized deep-water pools, |
| Nowadays, although scuba (self-contained underwater | | | | which offer full PADI open water diver certification |
| breathing apparatus) diving is still classed as an | | | | courses. These courses cover all three of the learning |
| extreme sport by most holiday insurance companies, | | | | stages outlined above and it seems to make sense |
| scuba diving has very much come of age and is a | | | | to do at least the first two, the academic and |
| well regulated and popular international hobby. | | | | pool-based learning locally. This will allow me to |
| I think the itch to finally do something about learning | | | | benefit from the convenience of scheduling in the |
| to scuba dive really started playing up again a couple | | | | training when it suits me without wasting part of my |
| of years ago when I was on holiday in the Canaries. | | | | holiday on it. The third phase, the open water diving, |
| Outside a couple of the hotels there were big | | | | can also be done through these schools but PADI |
| rectangular flags sporting wavy blue lines and the | | | | runs an international credit transfer system where |
| letters PADI. This is the acronym for the professional | | | | you can do different parts of the training in different |
| Association of Diving Instructors and seems to be | | | | places. This means I can do my book learning and |
| the main international body that provides training and | | | | pool dives locally and then book up for the open |
| certification in diving skills. | | | | water part at one of the dive schools while I am on |
| Their 'Open Water Diver' course and level of | | | | holiday. So I get to complete my training in the |
| qualification seems to be the basic qualification that is | | | | beautiful tropical waters where I actually want to |
| required if you want to be able to hire scuba gear | | | | dive. |
| while on holiday, as most diving suppliers will only let | | | | This is the plan but before I do anything further, it's |
| you rent gear if you have this level of training and | | | | worth checking that I really am happy with the |
| certification. | | | | practice rather than just the idea of scuba diving. |
| Getting the qualification involves three phases of | | | | Apart from signing up for the full PADI course, most |
| activity. Firstly there is the book/classroom type | | | | dive schools also offer brief scuba diving 'taster' |
| learning covering basics of diving and understanding | | | | sessions. These sessions give you the chance to try |
| scuba gear. The second stage is in-water exercises in | | | | out scuba gear and get the experience of being |
| a confined and safe environment, usually a pool. | | | | under water (and finding out if you like it) before |
| These involve getting familiar with the equipment and | | | | committing to a proper course of study. What's |
| developing the practical skills to deal with a variety of | | | | more, any time spent in the water and skills learnt |
| emergency situations (like retrieving your mouthpiece | | | | are also transferrable credits that count towards |
| and clearing you mask). The third phase is actual | | | | getting my open water diver certification if, after |
| diving under supervision, in which you get to take to | | | | experiencing the taster session, I decide I really do |
| the open water to experience diving under the | | | | want to turn my dream into reality. |
| supervision of an instructor who is also rating you to | | | | It's always a little scary pursuing something that |
| see whether or not you can be certified as able to | | | | you've quietly wanted to do for years but I think it's |
| dive without this level of close supervision. | | | | finally time to take the plunge, so to speak. |
| The beauty of these courses is that they can be | | | | |