| The sport of Scuba Diving can be an incredibly | | | | that resort with an instructor present while a full |
| rewarding one. The feeling of weightlessly "flying" | | | | certification allows all the normal privileges and |
| through the water is like no other on earth! However, | | | | requires a full class and safety training, etc. |
| it can also be challenging physically, dangerous, and | | | | Initial Scuba equipment you need is minimal. Most |
| expensive. Here at the Niche-Expert's Scuba Pro, we | | | | schools will provide you with everything you need to |
| aim to get you started right, with reviews of the | | | | get through the class, but if you are serious about |
| best gear, training, and links to the most exciting | | | | pursuing this we recommend that you at least |
| Scuba vacation tours and trips around. | | | | purchase your own mask, snorkel, and fins to get |
| The first step you need to take is to get certified by | | | | you started. These items are highly personal, and you |
| PADI. PADI stands for "Professional Association of | | | | wouldn't want to use someone else's snorkel, would |
| Diving Instructors. There are some other certification | | | | you? Ecchh! After you are certified, you can rent all |
| organizations around, but PADI is the "Big Dog", and | | | | the other gear you need at most any scuba resort |
| is the only one you really need to be concerned with | | | | or hotel that offers diving around the world, so there |
| as a recreational scuba diver. They will teach you all | | | | is really no need to go all-out and buy a lot of gear |
| the safety rules, best practices, and hot tricks to | | | | unless you really get into the sport and start taking |
| have you doing Guinness world record scuba diving in | | | | dive trips on your own or through clubs. For a |
| no time ;-) | | | | complete run-down on the gear you should have, see |
| A quick yellow pages search in your local phone book | | | | our gear review links. |
| will probably yield several local scuba schools for you | | | | So, as you see, there isn't much to getting started |
| to choose from. The initial requirements are that you | | | | with scuba diving. The class is relatively inexpensive, |
| take a class given by a certified diving instructor, and | | | | considering the fun you are going to have and the |
| make a certain number of dives, including an | | | | technical nature of the instruction, and as you have |
| "open-water" (as opposed to pool dives) certification | | | | to make actual "open water" dives to certify, you will |
| dive. Your instructor will give you all the details when | | | | actually BE a diver when you complete your scuba |
| you sign up. The cost for this class and your PADI | | | | diving class! Believe me, there is no feeling like scuba |
| certificate ranges from 200-300$ and includes all the | | | | diving in the world, and as a fully PADI certified diver |
| scuba equipment you need to make your dives. You | | | | you can be assured that you are using the safest |
| can also get either fully certified, or "mini" certified at | | | | and most advanced diving techniques known to man. |
| many dive resorts around the world. A mini, or | | | | Now go blow some bubbles! |
| "resort" certification will allow you strictly to dive at | | | | |