Learn to Scuba Dive – Northern Virginia – The PADI Master Scuba Diver

Over the past few weeks we have looked at several of the many scuba classes that are available to us in Scuba Continuing Education.   We started with the entry level scuba certification or Open Water Course and worked up to the Professional Scuba Diving Certification or Divemaster Program.

Scuba Diving Courses and Scuba Diving Certifications: Recreational vs Professional

From the beginner scuba course or Open Water Course to the more advanced like the PADI Advanced Open Water Course you learn basic scuba diving skills.  When you add the PADI Rescue Diver certification you add skills in dive accident management.  This in turn makes you a better diver and a safer scuba diver.

We spoke about the PADI Divemaster program as recognizing those that achieve professional level dive skills and entry to the professional scuba diving certification, perhaps leading on to Scuba Instructor.

However, what distinguishes the recreational diver that achieves a higher skill level?  That is one of the benefits of the PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification.

The PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification

PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water Diver

The PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification is a recreational rating that denotes a scuba diver who has achieved a well rounded background in scuba diving and has also amassed a certain amount of scuba diving experience.   Just what is a PADI Master Scuba Diver?

To earn this distinguished scuba diving certification a diver must have completed not only the Open Water Diver Certification but the PADI Advanced Open Water Certification as well.  These two scuba diving certifications show that the scuba diver possess not only the basic skills to properly scuba dive but has taken the time to add five more dives and several more  essential skills and experiences.

The PADI Rescue Diver

The PADI Rescue Diver course is also required showing that the scuba diver not only has general scuba diving skills but also has knowledge about potential problems that can occur when scuba diving and more importantly how to safely deal with these problems.  Divers completing the PADI Rescue Diver Course must also be current in CPR and First Aid and have usually completed the Emergency First Response First Aid & CPR Course.

The PADI Specialty Diver

PADI offers a host of Specialty Dive Courses that offer the scuba diver the opportunity to experience several different types of scuba diving.  A few of the more popular PADI Specialty Courses are: PADI Underwater Photography where you learn the skills required to safely take photographs underwater.  In this course you learn about underwater photographic techniques, and underwater camera equipment.  You also learn the basics about editing your photographs and proper photographic composition.  This scuba course includes completing two scuba dives using an underwater camera system.

The PADI Wreck Diver course covers the basics of safely diving and exploring sunken ship wrecks.  Proper safety techniques an precautions while wreck diving are covered and the diver will complete four dives on a wreck to enhance their experiences.

Since many ship wrecks lie in deep water the PADI Deep Diver course is another popular choice.  During the Deep Diver Specialty the diver will complete four dives at depths greater then 50 feet, learning the physiological differences in diving deep versus dives that are made to shallower depths.

As we said earlier there are literally dozens of different PADI Dive Specialties.  The PADI Master Scuba Diver is well rounded and to qualify for the PADI Master Scuba Diver certification the diver must complete any five of these exciting dive specialty courses.

Last but by all means not least the PADI Master Scuba Diver must have personally logged a minimum of 50 logged scuba dives.  This shows that the diver has a fair amount of scuba diving experience.  While the Master Scuba Diver certification is not a professional rating it does show that the diver has taken the time to become an experienced and well rounded diver.  It is an accomplishment of which to be proud.

The Best Scuba Diving Lessons Northern Virginia – The PADI Equipment Specialist Course

Every scuba diver knows that the beginner course in scuba training is the Open Water course but few scuba divers are aware of all the available scuba continuing education courses that are available.   Recently we have looked at the PADI Advanced Open Water Course, The PADI Rescue Diver Course and even the PADI Divemaster Course.   Today, we will look at an often overlooked course: PADI Equipment Specialist.

Take Care Of Your Scuba Equipment

Many scuba divers will take the PADI Equipment Specialty course after purchasing their scuba equipment.  It is a very good way to learn the proper care and maintenance on your scuba gear, which can be quite costly.  During the Equipment Specialist course you learn about the proper rinsing and storing of your scuba equipment after your dive.  You also learn about the required and recommended service of your scuba regulator and scuba buoyancy control device or BCD.   During the PADI Equipment Specialist course your Scuba Instructor will also show you many of the features that are part of your equipment so that you can get the most out of it.

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development IDC Dive Center, located in Alexandria, Northern Virginia, we give the PADI Equipment Specialist Course to anyone who purchases a complete scuba package (regulator, buoyancy control device and scuba gauges or scuba computer) at no charge.  It is our way of saying “thank you,” and it also makes sure that the purchaser knows exactly how to use and get the most out of his or her scuba equipment.

Know What To Look For When Buying Scuba Diving Equipment

Many scuba divers will take the PADI Equipment Specialist course prior to purchasing their new scuba equipment.  Since the course teaches you about the different types of equipment and the features of each the course becomes a very good primer in understanding what features that you may want when you do buy your scuba gear.  Knowing about these features will make you a more educated consumer and assist you in this important decision making process.

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, if you take the Equipment Specialist course from us and purchase a complete set of scuba equipment within 30 days, we will credit the cost of the class against your purchase.

Be a Safer Scuba Diver

Having been a Scuba Instructor for over 25 years, I know that a great majority of scuba diving problems occur due to equipment related issues.  By making sure that you properly take care of your scuba diving gear and by having it serviced properly you will be far less likely to have any equipment related issues or problems.

The PADI Equipment Course is a great course.  It will help you maintain your investment and get the most out of it.  It will help you make the right decisions on what to purchase and how to make it last.  It can save you quite a lot of money and make you a far safer scuba diver then you might otherwise be.  It is a course that just makes good sense.

The Best Scuba Diving Lessons in Northern Virginia – The PADI Rescue Diver Course

Most people who learn to scuba dive think that once they learn to scuba dive that scuba diving classes are over.   For the best scuba divers, whether they learn to  scuba dive in Northern Virginia or elsewhere, scuba diving lessons are an ongoing process.  Two weeks ago in The Best Scuba Courses Part 1 – Continuing Scuba Education we talked about the PADI Advanced Open Water Course and how important it is.  The scuba diving course that immediately follows the Advanced Open Water Course is the PADI Rescue Diver Course.

The PADI Rescue Diver Course:

The philosophy behind the PADI Rescue Diver course is that by knowing what potential problems  a scuba diver may face, the Scuba Diver will takes steps to prevent these problem from occurring.  In the unlikely event that one does occur, the Scuba Diver will not be in a panic situation since he or she will have practiced what to do repeatedly.  Rather then focusing on general scuba diving skills like the PADI Open Water Course or the PADI Advanced Open Water Course, the PADI Rescue Diver Course focuses on becoming more self reliant and how to deal with scuba diving emergencies.  In addition the PADI Rescue Diver course lays the foundation that Professional Scuba Diving courses are built upon, like the PADI Divemaster course.  These PADI Scuba Diving courses can be found at any PADI Dive Center and a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center like Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy will also offer PADI Instructor Training.

The PADI Rescue Diver course includes sections on scuba diver readiness, self rescue, assisting other scuba divers and scuba equipment readiness.  The Rescue Diver Candidate also learns how to assist a diver who is stressed or in panic and even how to deal with an unresponsive diver.

The Rescue Diver course consists of independent study, reading the PADI Rescue Diver Manual, viewing the PADI Rescue Diver DVD, and completing two days of Rescue Diver Skills in confined and open water.

Emergency First Response – 1st Aid and CPR

Since a prerequisite of completing the PADI Rescue Diver Course is being certified in CPR, the Emergency First Response or EFR Course, a recognized course in 1st Aid and CPR, is always taught at the concurrently.  The EFR Course not only includes 1st Aid and CPR but has sections on administering oxygen and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator or AED machine.

Scuba Diving Equipment

The scuba diving equipment that is used during the PADI Rescue Diver course is your basic scuba equipment, buoyancy control device or BCD, scuba regulator, appropriate exposure protection or wetsuit, scuba cylinder, scuba mask, fins, boots and snorkel.  A rescue pocket mask, and possibly a dive computer are also used. All of these items of scuba diving equipment are found at your local PADI Dive Center.

PADI Rescue Diver – Fun yet Challenging

The Rescue Diver course is a great learning experience.  It is a natural next step for the scuba diver who wants to be the best, whether they want to go on from there or not.

The fun part about this course is rising to challenges and mastering them. Most divers find this course both demanding and rewarding, and at the end, they will say it is the best scuba course that they have ever taken.

The Best Scuba Courses, Part 2 – The Divemaster

Most of us learn to scuba dive because we want to experience the underwater world as a hobby.  Very few people start off thinking that they would want to make scuba diving a career when they sign up for their initial scuba training or SCUBA diving lessons.  Once you get started you get hooked and realize not only how much fun and excitement there is in scuba diving but that you want to do it more often.  You start taking a few scuba continuing education courses and all of a sudden you find yourself not only enjoying scuba diving but getting to be really good at it.  Where do you go from there?

The PADI Divemaster Course

Whether you are envisioning a career in scuba diving or just being a dedicated amateur scuba diver, the next step could very well be the PADI Divemaster Course.  A Divemaster is the first rung of the ladder to being a professional scuba diver.  Working closely with a PADI Instructor, in this program you expand your dive knowledge and hone your skills to the professional level. PADI Divemaster training develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise dive activities and assist instructors with student divers. The PADI Divemaster Certification is the prerequisite certification for both the PADI Assistant Instructor and PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certifications.  You accomplish this by enrolling in the PADI Divemaster Course at you local PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center.  A PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center is not only a PADI Dive Center but is one that trains scuba divers not only at the beginner level but all the way through Instructor level as well.

What you learn in the Divemaster Course

During the PADI Divemaster program, you learn dive leadership skills through both classroom and independent study. You complete water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises that stretch your ability to organize and solve problems as well as help others improve their scuba. You put this knowledge into action through a structured internship or series of practical training exercises.  Practical training exercises include assisting in teaching both entry level and continuing education level, supervising certified divers, and experience in both search & recovery and deep diving.

What you can do as a PADI Divemaster

First by becoming a Divemaster you will have refined your scuba diving skills to Instructor level.  You will also have acquired Instructor level knowledge of dive theory.  Having accomplished all of this as a PADI Divemaster you are authorized to supervise both training and non-training-related activities by planning, organizing and directing dives.  You can assist a PADI Instructor during the training sessions for any PADI Diver course.  You can also conduct the PADI Skin Diver course and PADI Discover Snorkeling program.  A Divemaster who has completed the Emergency First Response Instructor program can teach the EFR Course, which is an excellent 1st Aid and CPR course.

Do I qualify to take the Divemaster Course?

A Divemaster is qualified to both assist in teaching situations and to assume responsibility for scuba divers under their care.  Consequently, the Divemaster Candidate should have some prior experience.  The Candidate needs to be Rescue Diver certified, be at least 18 years of age, and have logged a minimum of 40 dives.  The Candidate will need to have logged a total of 60 prior to certification as a Divemaster.  The course is taught according to a schedule that is prearranged.  Whether you desire a career or part time position as a scuba diving professional or just want to reach a high degree of competency as a scuba diver, this is a challenging and most rewarding course.  Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy – Northern Virginia offers the PADI Divemaster course throughout the year.