| The Five Ws | | | | specialist, cavern diving, wreck diving, |
| Scuba diving is a complex sport and | | | | ice diving, and technical diving |
| cannot be fully understood in one | | | | specialties. Careers include divemasters |
| lesson. Before taking your first scuba | | | | and instructors; instructor trainers and |
| class, you should have a firm | | | | examiners; resort, dive center and |
| comprehension of the five Ws (who, what, | | | | live-aboard personnel; journalists, |
| where, when, and why) of scuba diving. | | | | photographers and cinematographers; |
| Who can dive? | | | | leaders of scuba training and |
| Just about anyone can become a diver. | | | | certification agencies; sales and |
| Scuba diving is an equal opportunity | | | | marketing professionals. |
| sport open to men, women and children of | | | | - Commercial |
| any race, color, religion, sex, national | | | | Commercial divers usually, but not |
| origin, handicap or familial status. | | | | always, work for diving contractors. |
| However, there are a few limitations on | | | | They build underwater structures and oil |
| age and health for safety purposes. Here | | | | platforms; salvage ships and treasures; |
| is a quick breakdown of criteria: | | | | construct and maintain boats, bridges, |
| - Age | | | | docks, dams, nuclear power plants and |
| Anyone 15 years old or older can become | | | | coastal structures; conduct engineering |
| an Open Water Diver. Children between | | | | and scientific surveys and inspections; |
| the ages of 10 and 15 can receive a | | | | operate and maintain complex remote |
| Junior Open Water Diver certification. | | | | operated vehicles (ROVs), air and gas |
| At the age of 15 they can upgrade to a | | | | supplies, and life-support systems; |
| regular Open Water Diver certification. | | | | provide hyperbaric first-aid and diving |
| There are programs available for younger | | | | emergency medical care. |
| children that will help prepare them for | | | | - Scientific |
| certification such as the Bubblemakers, | | | | Scientific diving is different from |
| Scuba rangers, and SASY. | | | | recreational diving and commercial |
| - Fitness | | | | diving in many ways. Scientific diving |
| In general, anyone in good average | | | | is carried out exclusively for research |
| health who meets the age requirement can | | | | purposes, or in support of research |
| participate. As a safety measure, a | | | | activities that involve marine life, the |
| routine medical questionnaire must be | | | | ocean, underwater archaeology, etc. |
| completed. If anything on the | | | | - Military |
| questionnaire indicates a risky | | | | Military divers perform tasks such as |
| condition, you should get a medical | | | | underwater ship repair, salvage, and |
| checkup to make sure it's acceptable to | | | | construction, as well as dive medicine. |
| dive. Some conditions to watch out for | | | | Specialized diving divisions include |
| include but are not limited to | | | | explosives ordnance disposal and |
| neurological, cardiovascular, pulmonary, | | | | combatant divers. |
| gastrointestinal, metabolic and | | | | Where do divers dive? |
| endocrinological, orthopedic, | | | | Scuba divers dive wherever there is |
| hematological, pregnancy, behavioral | | | | water: oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, |
| health issues, and ear and sinus | | | | quarries, waterways, canals, mines, |
| problems. When in doubt, Divers Alert | | | | springs, abandoned oilrigs, and old |
| Network can answer health questions. | | | | missile silos. |
| What do divers do? | | | | When is the best time to dive? |
| Scuba divers do more than check out the | | | | Any time of year is a good time to dive. |
| fish. Depending on your interests, you | | | | Just because it is fall or winter, it |
| can specialize in a skill for your own | | | | doesn’t mean you can’t dive. There |
| pleasure or make diving a career option. | | | | are many cold water and ice divers out |
| Scuba diving can be broken down into | | | | there. You can take specialty courses to |
| four groups: recreational, commercial, | | | | prepare you for cold water diving. If |
| scientific, and military. | | | | you are a warm water fan, take a |
| - Recreational | | | | vacation to a tropical island and enjoy. |
| This is the largest group of divers – | | | | |
| those who dive for the fun of it. Once | | | | Why do people scuba dive? |
| you get your certification, you can | | | | There is no one simple answer to this |
| further your diving education by | | | | question. People dive for their own |
| specializing in a skill. Some | | | | personal reasons, which can include an |
| specializations include altitude diving, | | | | appreciation for the ocean, an interest |
| night diving, fish identification, | | | | in marine life, or just for the thrill |
| search and recovery, underwater | | | | of the ride. |
| photography or videography, equipment | | | | |