| If you have never dived before and | | | | need to be able to deal with it whether |
| aren't sure that you want to spend the | | | | it's a shark or a fish. |
| money on the certification process, you | | | | After taking all of these things into |
| can still go diving. There are popular | | | | consideration, and you are still ready |
| diving locations in the Caribbean or the | | | | to become certified there are quite a |
| Florida Keys where the resort may offer | | | | few places you can go to do so. There |
| dives. These are typically one day or | | | | are about 1,900 professional scuba dive |
| weekend crash courses, and they don't | | | | centers in just North America, so you |
| allow you the freedom you have with | | | | should be able to find one relatively |
| becoming certified, but they will give | | | | local. These centers should be listed in |
| you a chance to see what it's like. | | | | the yellow pages of the phonebook. You |
| Getting certified in Scuba Diving can be | | | | can also look online. |
| a lengthy process. Not everyone is cut | | | | You should find one where you are able |
| out to scuba dive. If you are thinking | | | | to take it and get information on the |
| of being certified, there are a few | | | | course. Courses can range in price from |
| things you should do before you go any | | | | several hundred dollars to even several |
| further. | | | | thousand dollars. You may also need to |
| One is to make sure you are a reasonable | | | | buy your own equipment, so talk to the |
| good swimmer. Part of the certification | | | | instructor and know what you will need |
| requires you to be able to swim 200 | | | | to have for the class. You may also want |
| yards and be able to float or tread | | | | to ask about the size of the class, and |
| water for roughly 10 minutes. Scuba | | | | the length. Some places offer the course |
| diving can be very tiring, so making | | | | in a weekend and others over a few week |
| sure you are in good shape is necessary. | | | | period. If this particular class doesn't |
| Second, it is a good idea to get cleared | | | | sound right for you, keep looking |
| from your doctor. Health issues can | | | | around. Lots of places offer the class, |
| occur with scuba diving, and you want to | | | | so you should be able to find one that |
| make sure that you won't have any | | | | works for you and your schedule. |
| problems. You need to be able to breath | | | | In order to become certified, there is a |
| through your mouth instead of your nose | | | | classroom portion, pool sessions, and |
| and be able to equalize your ears. You | | | | open water dives. The classroom portion |
| don't want to rupture an ear drum while | | | | will require you to take a written test |
| scuba diving because you were unable to | | | | at the end that you need to pass. The |
| "pop" your ears. Heart conditions and | | | | pool sessions also require you to pass a |
| obesity can also make you more | | | | swim test as talked about earlier. In |
| susceptible to heath conditions that | | | | the open water dives ( you will need to |
| occur with diving. | | | | show your skills such as setting up and |
| You also need to consider your mental | | | | check equipment, planning the dive, |
| health, meaning if you can mentally | | | | ascent and descent, clearing the mask, |
| handle scuba diving. You are underwater | | | | and more. |
| and cannot panic. If you are one to | | | | All must be done before you are |
| panic easily at the sight of something | | | | certified and able to venture the waters |
| you aren't familiar with, scuba diving | | | | alone. By alone of course I do mean |
| might not be for you. There is an | | | | using the buddy system because you never |
| abundant amount of sea life, and you | | | | want to dive by yourself. |