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