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