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