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 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.

SCUBA DIVING EQUIPMENT – WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE?

What is Personal Scuba Equipment?

Scuba diving is an equipment intensive sport.  Certain pieces of equipment are needed just to learn to scuba dive.  The big question is what to buy when taking your lessons and what scuba diving equipment to purchase later?

The most common pieces of scuba diving equipment to purchase initially is what is know as your personal scuba equipment.  That is your scuba mask, snorkel, scuba boots and scuba fins.  These are the pieces that you will use each and every time you go scuba diving.  Having your own personal scuba equipment is a good investment.  It is cost effective, much more hygienic (your own snorkel in your mouth rather then a rental snorkel), you know it fits properly and you even get to select the colors that you like!

What is the Scuba Unit?

What about the major pieces of scuba diving equipment: the scuba unit?  When they talk about the scuba unit they are referring to the scuba cylinder, scuba regulator and buoyancy control device or BCD along with your scuba diving computer.  These are all essential pieces of Scuba Diving Equipment, however, most reputable Dive Centers will provide these major pieces of Dive Equipment for students that are in the Open Water Course, which is the beginner class.  This is usually done during the beginner or Open Water course but not after that.  Anyone taking Scuba Continuing Education Courses, like the Advanced Open Water Course or Rescue Diver Course, is expected to provide or rent the scuba equipment that they will use.

Should I purchase my own Scuba Diving Equipment or continue to rent scuba diving equipment?

Now that you are a diver the question about owning your own scuba diving equipment almost always comes up.  Owning your own scuba equipment is always the preferred way to go.  When you own your own scuba equipment and you purchase it from your local PADI Dive Center, you know that it is properly fitted to you and that it is properly serviced to be a the correct factory settings.  In addition since you purchased it a an authorized dealer it will come with the full manufacturers warranty, which will save you quite a bit in repair costs down the line.  In addition to fit, by owning your own scuba diving equipment you learn it inherent characteristics and become used to it.  When you use  rental scuba equipment, you spend the batter part of the first few scuba dives of your trip just getting used to the equipment since you have never used it before.  In short owning your own scuba equipment is more cost effective, safer (since you are familiar with it) and more enjoyable.

I have learned to scuba dive, I have my own scuba diving equipment – what’s next?

Once you learn to scuba dive and have purchased some or all of your scuba diving equipment the next step is easy – get out and dive.  Go on a scuba diving vacation or a scuba diving trip.  You can schedule you scuba diving vacation or trip at your local PADI Dive Center.  There you will not only find an assortment of appropriate dive trips but you will also often find good travel companions and that will make your dive trip even more enjoyable.  Your PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center is an ideal spot to find most everything that you need from scuba equipment to scuba courses and even that next Aquatic Adventure or Dive Trip.

SCUBA DIVING LESSONS NORTHERN VIRGINIA – KEEPING CURRENT

When you were first certified as a Scuba Diver you received your Certification Card showing that you were indeed a Certified Scuba Diver!  If you look at your Scuba Certification Card you will notice that it has a date of issue but no expiration date.  That is because it is up to you as a Scuba Diver to keep your diving skills current.  It is expected that you will go Scuba Diving on a regular bases and thus keep your scuba diving skills current.  What happens if for one reason or another you do not go Scuba diving for a while?

Scuba Diving Courses Northern Virginia – Scuba Review Course or Scuba Refresher Course

If you have not been scuba diving it is a very good idea to retrain in some manner.  If you have not dived in several months or even a year or two there is a course designed to solve that very problem.  It is the PADI Scuba Review Course.   At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy in Alexandria Northern Virginia we offer the PADI Scuba Review Course every month year round.  This course consists of one night of classroom and one morning of confined water or pool.  During the Scuba Review Course at Aquatic Adventures we focus on reviewing what we had learned previously with an emphasis on those skills that you are likely to use on your upcoming Scuba Diving Trip or Scuba Vacation.

Some of the Scuba Diving Skills that we cover are Scuba Equipment assembly and dis-assembly, water entries and exits while on scuba, basic mask skills, a fair amount of emphasis on buoyancy skills, and a chance to swim around on scuba and just get comfortable.  The  classroom skills that we cover are changes in Scuba Diving since you last went scuba diving, a dive table review, current flying and diving rules, and reminders on the more important aspects of scuba diving safety.

How do I show that my Scuba Diving Certification Skills are up to date?

One of the things that you purchase when you first learn to scuba dive No Va or any place else for that matter is a Scuba Diving Log Book.   Your scuba diving log book is your scuba diving record.  You should make an entry in your log book every time you go scuba diving.   This not only shows how current your skills are but you will also record some important pieces of information like how much weight you use, what thickness weight suit you wore as well as interesting facts like what you saw and what you learned on that dive.

When you go on a scuba diving vacation the dive center at the resort may ask to see your scuba diving log book.  When ever you take a continuing education scuba course or a scuba review course the Scuba Instructor or Divemaster will make an entry in your Scuba Diving Log Book as proof of what you have accomplished.

If you decide to become  a Professional Scuba Diver like a PADI Scuba Instructor or a PADI Divemaster you will need to have a certain number of logged scuba dives to attest to your experience and your Scuba Diving Log Book will be needed for that as well.

The best way to keep current as a Scuba Diver is to simply go diving.  At Aquatic Adventures we offer Dive Trips to exotic diving destinations like the Caribbean throughout the year.  In the summer, we offer trips to Morehead City, N.C. to go wreck diving.  If you go on one or two of these trips a year you Scuba Diving Skills will always be up to date and you will be amazed at how good a scuba diver you become.  If it has been away take the PADI Scuba Review Course, and then join us for that next great Aquatic Adventure.

Scuba Classes Alexandria Virginia for Kids – Get your kids off to a great start!

“Nothing is more rewarding then teaching children about the wonders of the undersea world,” says Marty Rayman, Owner and Course Director of Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center located in Alexandria, Virginia, located in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.  I started my love of the sea as a youngster.  I can still remember watching the television show Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges, and wanting to grow up and become a scuba diver.  Now many years later I am actually living my childhood dream.

The most wonderful aspect of children learning to scuba dive is not only are they acquiring a life long skill that may shape their lives, but they are learning a skill that they can continue to use with their parents long after they have reached adulthood.  Both of my children learned to dive when they were 10 years old.  Now they are in high school and would rather be with their friends then their parents.  However, whenever we plan a scuba diving excursion they are right there ready and willing.  It is something we can always do together regardless of how old they get.

When you are ready to start your child on scuba you begin by finding a Dive Center that is knows how to teach children and offer such Special Scuba Diver Courses.  Teaching children takes patience and understanding.  It also takes specialized equipment.  Small sized adult equipment is very often not appropriate for children.  Start by looking for such a Dive Center by doing your local internet search.  I live in Alexandria, Virginia and and would search for Children’s Scuba Lessons, Alexandria, Virginia or Children’s Scuba Courses Northern Virginia.  You could also look for Scuba Equipment for Children Alexandria, VA.

Once you find a Dive Center that your are comfortable with, then you need to decide what course is appropriate for your child.  There are a lot of programs designed specifically for children.  PADI Seal Team is for children 8 to 10 years old.  It is a pool only experience where the youngster first learns to breath off of a scuba regulator, and some basic underwater skills.  Once the child turns 10 years old they can take the PADI Junior Open Water course.

At 10 or 11 years old your child can take the Junior Open Water course and will receive a limited certification to dive to a maximum depth of 40 feet.  A 12, 13 or 14 year old will receive a PADI Junior Open Water certification certification with a maximum depth of 60 feet.  Once your child is 15 years old they receive a normal adult certification.

Your 12 to14 year old child is not limited to just the Junior Open Water Course.  Just as there are  Scuba Continuing Education courses for adult divers there are Scuba Continuing Education Courses for children.  There is a PADI Junior Advanced Open Water course that takes your child to skills beyond the open water course.  This give your child a maximum depth of 70 feet and also teaches additional skills like underwater navigation and maybe even junior night diving or junior underwater photography.  Your child does not have to stop there.  They can enroll in the PADI Junior Rescue Diver course to learn about helping to assist divers with problems.  Once your child has the PADI Junior Rescue Diver course and five PADI Junior Specialty Courses, like PADI Junior Night Diver, PADI Junior Underwater Digital Photographer, etc and has logged 50 dives they can become a PADI Junior Master Scuba Diver, which is quite an accomplishment.

The PADI Junior Diver certifications become regular adult certifications automatically when the child reaches the age of 15.  Another consideration for the child diver is the appropriate equipment.  Small adult gear is usually not sufficient both fit wise and safety wise for a child.  A child get cold faster then an adult and should have a Children’s wetsuit that fits properly.  Children’s BCD or buoyancy control device is also a good investment for your child.  If the BCD does not fit properly they will not have good control of their buoyancy and that makes diving more difficult and is not the safest option.  A good, well fitted BCD is both a comfort issue and a safety issue.    An adult regulator may have hoses that are too long of a child.  Changing the hose length and putting a child sized mouthpiece on the scuba regulator is also a good safe option for your child.  I did this for both of my children and when they grew to adult size I just simply put the original hoses back on and their child sized regulator became an adult scuba regulator once again.

If your children are old enough and mature enough to start scuba lessons then you are on the road to providing them both an incredible educational opportunity, a lifetime of enjoyment and excitement and of obtaining a new dive partner or dive buddy and friend.

Selecting Scuba Diving Equipment Alexandria Virginia

Taking the plunge and deciding to purchase your own scuba diving equipment is a giant stride forward.  First let me congratulate you on the decision, which I feel is a very good one.  If you can afford to purchase everything at one time that is always your best choice.  Most Dive Centers will usually offer package pricing when you purchase a scuba regulator, alternate air source or octopus, buoyancy control device (BCD) and gauges or dive computer console.

What to buy first?
Many of us, however, cannot financially afford so large an expense.  In that case you would want to purchase the most personally fitted pieces of equipment, such as the wetsuit or buoyancy control device or BCD first.  Which ever route you choose you need to start by deciding first where you will purchase your equipment then what equipment will you actually select.

Where to buy your scuba equipment?
Always buy scuba equipment from a Dive Center.  You want to try the equipment on prior to buying it.  You want to see how it looks and how it feels.  You want the equipment to be properly serviced and put together prior to using it.  Last but by all means not least you want to have someone close at hand to explain and show you how to use it and to be there should there be a problem.  On line purchases, while looking very inexpensive always end up costing you more in the long run, and worse they often end up with you not having the best equipment for you and the type of diving that you do.

Selecting the Dive Center is the first step and often the most important.  There are a lot of very good brands of scuba diving equipment available, such as Scuba Pro, Zeagle, Sherwood dive equipment, Henderson wetsuits, and DUI Dry Suits.  If you go with any of the major brands you will not go wrong.  The real trick is finding a Dive Center that you are comfortable with, that carries reputable brands, can provide scuba equipment service for what they sell and that you are comfortable with.

Selecting you Dive Center:
Today, the internet is very useful in helping you find a Dive Center.  If you do not already have a Dive Center or Dive Shop then try some on line searches based on where you live or where you work.  I live and work in Alexandria, Virginia so I would search for: Dive Center Alexandria, VA, or PADI Dive Center Alexandria, VA or I might broaden my search to scuba equipment northern Virginia.   This should bring up a number of  responses.  Then look at their respective webpages.  Do they carry major brands of scuba equipment.  Is their webpage informative about the equipment or does it just list what they have.  The more informative the webpage the more they care about you and how the equipment will match your needs.  Stop by and talk to the sales people.  Do they seem knowledgeable and are they willing to work with you?  Will they be there for you should you have a problem?  Are they helping you select what is right for you or are they trying to sell you just what is on the floor?  It should not take you long to answer these questions and thus select who to purchase your dive equipment from.

Selecting your equipment
Now you are ready to begin the process of actually picking out your scuba diving equipment.  Take note of where you like to dive and how often you expect to go diving.  What are you favorite dive vacation locations?  Will you dive just on vacation or will you dive locally?  This information will assist the experts at the Dive Center in helping you select equipment that will match your type of diving.  Obviously, water temperature will determine the thickness of the wetsuit that you select, but it may also have a bearing on the BCD and regulator as well.  If you dive in colder water you want a regulator that is either environmentally sealed or that has heat sinks or some other accessory so that it does not freeze up and free flow in colder water.  In addition since you would wear a thicker dive wetsuit in colder water you would use more weight when diving.  Thus your buoyancy control device would need more lift then a BCD just used in warmer water might offer.  An experienced dive consultant can help you match all of these factors so that you get not only the most for your money but even more importantly, the best dive equipment for you.

Tell the Dive Center sales person where and how often you will dive.  The type of diving that you do and they type that you expect to do in the future.  He or she can then assist you in selecting what is best for you.  Be sure and ask questions.  Why is this better for me then that?  You need to be comfortable with the fit of the gear and also you should be comfortable with what you end up with.

Using your equipment:
Once you have you new dive gear it is time to get out and dive.  If you can try it out in the pool.  Dive locally and go on a dive vacation.  The most important thing is to get out and dive.  The more you dive the better you will become and the more you will enjoy it.

Learning to Dive – On Line or In The Northern Virginia Dive Center?

Once you make the decision to learn to scuba dive then you have to decide where to take these lessons?  There are a lot of reputable Dive Centers in Northern, Virginia, where my Dive Center is located.   How do you find them and once you find them how do you decide which to patronize?  Last week we discussed selecting your Dive Center now we will add to that selecting the type of course to take: On Line Training vs In The Classroom Scuba Training.

SELECTING THE DIVE CENTER:
Your On Line Search: Just as we discussed last week we need to start by selecting which Dive Center to associate with.  I live in Alexandria, Virginia so I would start by doing an on line search for any of the following: Dive Center, Alexandria, VA, Dive Lessons Alexandria, Virginia, Dive Classes Alexandria, Virginia, Dive Shop, Alexandria VA or even Scuba Certification Alexandria, VA.  Any of these should show several local Dive Centers.  Since PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the largest of the many certification agencies I would start by looking for the various PADI Dive Centers.  PADI ranks their Dive Centers by the depth (no pun intended) of the services that each Dive Center offers.  The PADI 5 Star IDC Dive Center is the highest rating so I would look to see if any of these are listed.

Evaluating the various Dive Centers: Once you find a few start by looking at their webpages.  Don’t go by how flashy the webpage is but by how informative it is.  Everything should be spelled out in an easy to navigate and an easy to understand format.  Look to see if the prices for the Open Water or Beginner Certification are listed.  No one can list all of their prices but since the Open Water Course is the most common one, the prices and schedule for that should be clear.  They should be very clear on what is involved in getting certified to Scuba Dive.  Everything that is included and all prices for not included items should also be listed.  Does their schedule and location fit your needs?

The Complete Dive Center: The last thing to look for is whether or not the dive center is complete.  Do they offer all levels of scuba diving education?  Do they offer Scuba Equipment.  Do they have major lines of equipment.  Do they offer service for what they sell?  Does the Dive Center have a Scuba Diving Travel Program?  Do they have both group trips and do they offer to assist you in booking your own trips should your schedule not match the Dive Centers.  These are all things that you would want from your local dive center.

ON LINE or IN THE DIVE CENTER CLASSES:
Once you select the Dive Center that you want to affiliate with you need to decide what format of course to take.  Today, in this modern world, many people like to do things on line whenever they can.  In fact you did just that to help select the Dive Center.  There are advantages to this and there are definitely disadvantages as well.

On Line Scuba Courses:  The advantages are that they are more convenient.  You can take them when ever you want and where ever you want.  They are great to do if you are traveling as they help fill those long hours when you are not working.  However, there are some drawbacks as well.  Even though you can complete your classroom on line you still need to affiliate with a Dive Center to complete the pool sessions and the four open water dives.  On Line Scuba Courses tend to be more expensive then in the classroom Scuba Courses.  On Line courses are written for a wide range of divers and a very wide range of diving locations.  Therefore they tend to be very general in their course content.  Since you take them on your own they are far less social then the traditional classroom Scuba Classes.

Traditional Classroom Scuba Courses: The traditional course is most often less expensive then the On Line Course and while perhaps less convenient, (you take them when they are offered) the traditional course is much more personal.  The Instructors will work with you directly and answer any questions that you might have.  The traditional Classroom Scuba Course also has you specifically in mind.  While you cover the same material that is covered in the On Line Scuba Course, your Scuba Instructor will personalize the course material to fit you.  He or she will talk specifically about you, where you plan to dive and how it relates to you. The Instructor you have in the classroom is usually the same one you have in the pool and again in Open Water.  It is very nice to know each other and it makes for a more enjoyable course.

Your Scuba Instructor can also help you select any scuba diving equipment that you might want or need.  Your Instructor knows much more about Scuba Equipment and Scuba Travel opportunities.  You Instructor can help steer you in the right direction on these.  The traditional Scuba Course is also a great social opportunity.  You will meet several other new divers with whom you have much in common.  In fact that is how I met my wife – in the Open Water Scuba Course.

ON LINE CONTINUING DIVER EDUCATION COURSES:
There are a number of different Continuing Education Scuba Courses that are also available On Line.  Like the Open Water course the big advantage to taking the classroom on line is the convenience.  The down side is that it is more expensive.  Some courses like the Advanced Open Water course have several options.  Before taking it on line be sure and speak to the local dive center and find out what dives they want you to sign up for on line.  Otherwise you may still have to repeat part of the course in the traditional manner.

Now that you are familiar with what is involved in getting started.  It is time to take the plunge.  Sign up for that Scuba Course, get certified, and go on that next great Aquatic Adventure

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