Scuba Certification in Northern Virginia: Buoyancy Control Tips

Appropriate Buoyancy Control Device:
Proper buoyancy control starts with a properly fitted Buoyancy Control Device or BCD that is also appropriate for the type of scuba diving you are doing.  Scuba diving in cold areas requires a thicker wetsuit then scuba diving in warmer or tropical areas.  The extra thickness of the wetsuit means that the scuba diver has to wear more weight then a diver with a thinner wetsuit.  The extra weight means that the buoyancy control device needs to have more lift capacity then that of a warm water diver.  You can dive in warmer water with a cold water BCD but you may not be able to dive in cold water with a tropical weight BCD.

Maintain Proper Weighting:
Scuba divers wear lead weight to offset the natural positive buoyancy of the human body and pieces of scuba diving equipment like the diver’s wet suit.  If you do not wear enough weight you will not sink properly.  If you wear too much you will have to over inflate your buoyancy control device to offset the excess weight.  This will cause extra drag and resistance when diving making the diver work harder.  Working harder means wasted energy and that the diver will breath through his or her air supply at a much faster rate.  You can check to make sure that you have the correct amount of weight by floating on the surface in a face up position.  Let all of the air out of your BCD and inhale fully.  You should float at eye level.  When you exhale you should start to slowly sink into the water.  Remember that an aluminum scuba cylinder will become more buoyant as the air within it is used up.  For this reason a diver should add four pounds of weight to offset the excess buoyancy that will be present during the latter part of the dive.  Thus the scuba diver will be properly weighted at the end of the dive when doing a safety stop.

Maintain Proper Body Positioning and Stream Line When Diving:
The best position when scuba diving at depth is to be as horizontal as possible.  This means that the diver will have less drag and resistance and will not have to work as hard during the dive.  A proper fin kick will insure that energy is not wasted.  Keep your hands together and do not skull or use hand movements when scuba diving.  Hand movements merely create more drag and causes the diver to tire and to use air faster thus shortening your bottom time.  Streamlining also means having your equipment properly secured and pinned to your BCD.  This will prevent entanglements and insure that you are more streamlined.

Scuba Continuing Education-Practice Peak Performance Buoyancy
The Professional Association of Diving Instructors or PADI has a scuba diving course called Peak Performance Buoyancy.  It is designed to teach the scuba diver to wear appropriate equipment, practice good and safe diving techniques, be streamlined and wear the correct amount of weight when diving. These are the same suggestions that we just discussed above.  The Peak Performance Buoyancy course not only reaffirms these concepts but adds new insight like using breath control for minor adjustments instead of relying on your BCD inflator.  Those scuba divers who practice Peak Performance Buoyancy find that their air lasts longer meaning longer bottom times and that they not only enjoy the dives more but are less tired post diving as well.

Scuba Certifications in Northern Virginia: On Line Scuba vs Traditional Scuba Courses

Scuba Diving is becoming more and more popular.  As a consequence there are more people wanting to learn to scuba dive then ever before, and since we are in a computer based world today, how does Scuba Instruction on line compare to traditional classroom instruction?

First, it is important to understand that there are three parts to learning to scuba dive:

1.    Classroom, where the theory and basic knowledge about scuba diving is learned.

2.    The swimming pool or other confined water where the actual scuba diving skills are mastered.

3.    Open Water Training Dives, a body of water larger then a swimming pool where the new scuba diver can demonstrate that they not only have mastered the basic skills of scuba diving but can do so without a Scuba Instructor assisting them.

Needless to say, the on line portion can only replace the classroom.  The pool and Open Water Dives cannot be mastered on a computer.

The Advantages of PADI On Line Scuba Training

If you’re looking for a flexible way to fit a scuba certification into your busy schedule or if you just prefer web based learning, then PADI’s online scuba programs are an excellent way to go.

You can get started immediately with scuba knowledge development and work at your own pace using the PADI eLearning system.  Since you log onto the classes at your convenience, any hour of the day or night, you have the opportunity to learn when you are best prepared to do so, not just when classes are scheduled.  You also have the flexibility of completing your knowledge  development at home, at work or on the go as it best fits your schedule.

The Advantages of Traditional Classroom Scuba Training over PADI E Learning

Since the traditional class is taught by Instructors who are present, they will personalize the classroom to include examples that match the type of scuba diving that you will be doing.  Needless to say, they are happy to answer all of your questions as well.  The most major disadvantage of On Line Instruction is that is very broad based to convey the general principles of scuba diving.  On Line programs do not necessarily answer personal questions.

Lastly, On Line Scuba Classes tend to be more expensive then traditional Scuba Classes.  The cost of setting up and operating a computer based system adds the the cost of the program.  Even though the Traditional Class  & Pool price is often discounted for those taking the On Line Program the extra costs of the computer learning exceed the discount for not taking live classroom.

Other On Line Scuba Training Classes:

In addition to the Open Water Course, PADI offers an array of classes that have portions that can be taken On Line.  Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, PADI Enriched Air – Nitrox Diver and Scuba Tune Up – a review course for certified divers who have not scuba dived in a while are all popular options.

Which ever you decide upon, you can be assured that you will receive the most up to date knowledge available.  Scuba Diving is fun, enjoyable and exciting.  It is definitely worthwhile whichever way you take it.

Scuba Courses in Northern Virginia: PADI Multi Level or Computer Diver

The amount of time that a scuba diver can spend underwater is called bottom time and is determined by how deep he/she is diving and how long he/she stays down.  This resulted because scuba divers absorb more nitrogen the deeper they scuba dive.   In the early stages of scuba diving your bottom time was set by the maximum depth of your scuba dive, whether or not the diver stayed at that depth the entire dive.  That was because there was no reliable way of calculating how long you were at each depth.  Now with the advent of scuba diving computers, bottom time can be lengthened if a diver spend part of the dive at shallower depths.

Scuba Continuing Education: Multi Level Diver

The Multi Level Diver Course teaches divers how to plan dives that extend your bottom time by crediting you for slower nitrogen absorption when you ascend to a shallower depth.

You learn how to:

• Plan and execute multilevel dives (different depths on the same dive)
• Back up your dive computer and plan multilevel dives
• Maximize your no stop time

Scuba Diving Equipment: Dive Computers

Dive computers have made scuba diving not only more convenient but safer as well.  The accuracy of the depth gauge component and the ability to calculate the exact time at each depth adds to the accuracy of the calculations making scuba diving safer then ever before.  Since diving at multiple depths, beginning from the deepest depth and working to the shallowest, the scuba diver using a computer can be credited with the time at the shallower depths resulting in longer bottom times.  This adds to the lure of computer diving and makes it a great value as well.  Longer bottom times and thus more enjoyment for each scuba dive made using the computer.

In addition to the three course objectives listed above the course participant will learn about different styles of dive computers and desirable features of each.  The course consists of a classroom session and two open water dives using a dive computer.

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy, a PADI 5 Star Dive Center in Northern Virginia, we value the importance of multi-level diving and we offer a multi-level dive as part  of our Open Water Course, the Advanced Open Water Course and as a Specialty Diver Course as well.

Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy - Learn to Scuba Dive in Northern Virginia: Dry Suit Diving

When people think of scuba diving they most often think about warm tropical exotic locations.  While this offers great scuba diving many other colder regions have a lot to offer in quality scuba diving.  In addition even more temperate areas are cooler in the winter.  In order to scuba dive in many of these areas, or to scuba dive year round a Dry Suit is very helpful.

Scuba Diving Equipment: Why Scuba Dive with a Dry Suit?

A scuba diving wet suit helps you stay warm by allowing small amounts of water to enter the suit and become trapped.  The trapped water is then heated by body temperature, thus helping to maintain body heat.  A Scuba Diving Dry Suit keeps water out.  Since you loose body heat in water 20-25 times faster in water then air, just being dry helps maintain body temperature.  In addition to keeping you dry, a Dry Suit is often accessorized with special insulated under garments to provide more warmth.  Consequently, a Dry Suit can be warm in much colder climates and conditions.

Learn to Scuba Dive: Diving with a Dry Suit

When you first start scuba diving with a dry suit it is a very good idea to obtain  instruction.  The PADI Dry Suit Specialty course is an excellent way in learning how to scuba dive with a Dry Suit.  This course is designed to safely introduce the scuba diver into the proper way to scuba dive with a Dry Suit.  The main focus is on safety and buoyancy control.  It also covers the different types of Dry Suits and Dry Suit liners and how to properly care for them.   A Dry Suit is a major investment and you definitely want to get the most of your Dry Suit.  In addition, scuba diving with a Dry Suit requires special buoyancy skills, not usually needed with a Wet Suit.  The PADI Dry Suit Diver Course is one of the very best ways of covering all of these bases.

Learn To Scuba Dive: What Skills Does the Dry Suit Specialty Course Cover?

The following skills are covered during the Dry Suit Specialty Diver Course:

• Dry Suit Familiarization
• Safety Checks
• Entry Techniques
• Bubble Check
• Buoyancy Check
• Descent techniques
• Fin Pivot
• Hover
• Excess gas in feet emergency roll drill
• Stuck inflator emergency drill
• Stuck exhaust valve emergency drill
• Ascent procedure·
• Remove and replace scuba unit and weight belt on the surface
• Exit techniques
• Removal of dry suit, storage and maintenance

The Dry Suit Diver Course includes both classroom, a confined water or pool session and two open water dives.  It is a fun course and will not only improve your scuba diving skills but will enable you to dive in more areas and at different times of the year.

Learn to Scuba Dive Safely: Pre-Dive Safety Procedures

Scuba Diving is a fun and safe sport.  Safety is dramatically increased, however, by following a few common sense safety procedures that are taught during the initial scuba diver training.

Dive Training – Pre-Dive Safety Checks: BWRAF

Every scuba diver should go through a routine Pre Dive Safety check with his or her dive buddy prior to the dive.  Even airline pilots do a flight check prior to taking off.   Similarly, scuba divers should follow the routine pre-dive check as well.  It consists of BWRAF and stands for Buoyancy Control Device, Weight System, Releases, Air and final OK.  The acronym “Begin With Review And Friend”  is taught in the beginner Open Water Course, and should faithfully be practiced prior to every scuba dive.

Scuba Diving Training: Listen to the Dive Briefing

Most of us have traveled on airplanes so frequently, that we often tend to tune out the pre-flight instructions from the flight attendants. Prior to all boat dives the Divemaster usually gives a dive briefing on the safety aspects and parameters of the dive such as depth and bottom time to be followed.  The Divemaster will also talk about any safety procedures to be followed as well as things of interest on the dive.  Since every scuba dive location is different, it is important to listen carefully to the briefing, you will be expected to follow these instructions, and that can often prevent problems.

Review and Discuss your Scuba Diving Hand Signals

Scuba divers speak to each other underwater by using hand signals.  You and your dive buddy should review these signals prior to the scuba dive.  That way you will both be on the same page so to speak, and that can prevent a host of problems that might arise due to a failure to communicate properly.

Review your Emergency Action Plan

Dive teams need to decide on just how to carry out the dive plan. Who will navigate and who will be responsible for other aspects of the dive.  Other dive procedures need to be discussed, such as how close the divers will be to each during the dive and what to do if they become separated.  This sounds very basic but by reviewing them prior to the scuba dive may make a major problem only a minor annoyance.

Scuba Diving Safety: Maintain Your Physical Fitness

Last but by no means not least, all scuba divers should maintain their physical fitness.  While scuba diving is not a cardiovascular sport, it does require some physical effort.  Being in reasonably good physical condition will help prevent or lessen the likelihood of over exertion.  It will also go a long way in insuring that the scuba diver has an enjoyable experience.

Maintain Your Scuba Diving Equipment

Scuba Diving Equipment, just like your automobile, needs periodic maintenance to run efficiently.  By having your scuba diving equipment serviced annually, you will prevent many of the possible problems that often occur due to worn or out of tune scuba equipment.  Regulators and Buoyancy Control Devices (BCD’s) should be serviced annually.

Maintain Your Scuba Fitness: Scuba Continuing Education

If you have not been diving in a while refresh your scuba diving skills.  Take a Scuba Review  Course to refresh those skills.  Consider taking a Scuba Continuing Education Course, like the Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver Course.  The very best Scuba Divers are the one’s who scuba dive regularly and thereby keep their scuba skills sharp.

Scuba Diving is fun and exciting. By practicing these few safety rules and procedures you will make sure that the exciting part is not life threatening.

Scuba Diving Travel – Cane Bay St Croix

On of the most popular activities at my Dive Center in Northern Virginia is our Dive Travel.  Scuba Travel is very popular today and by providing Scuba Diving Trips it gives our former scuba students and current customers an opportunity to stay active as Scuba Divers.  In February of 2013 we are going on a dive trip to St. Croix.

Cane Bay cottages are located directly across the street from the palm tree lined Cane Bay Beach and affords guest unlimited shore diving access to Cane Bay Wall, one of the Virgin Island’s most popular and accessible dive sites.  Although several dive sites are easily dived from shore, most do require boats.  Cane Bay’s Dive Shop is strategically located to allow short boat rides to the heart of the best diving in the area.

The Cane Bay Wall, rated as one of the top dive sites in the entire Caribbean, offers something for every level of diver.  Less then 150 yards from shore, at a depth of only 25-30 feet is the reef terrace.  This beautiful living coral garden is filled with soft and hard corals of every type.  Teeming with tropical fish and aquatic life, this site is truly a diver’s dream.  The Wall begins in 40 feet, plunging to 3,200 feet in areas of vertical drops, or more gradually in slow sloping areas.  Nineteenth century anchors and large deep water sea life can be found along the wall.

We will spend an entire week (February 9 – 16, 2013) at Cane Bay Cottages in St. Croix.   Included in this 8 day, 7 night package is five days of two tank boat dives, and unlimited beach diving.  Cane Bay Cottages are located directly across the street from Cane Bay and is near Cane Bay Wall for convenient shore diving.  The Cottages are also within walking distance to restaurants ranging from barefoot and funky to romantic fine dining.

Airport to hotel transfers when we arrive and depart are also included.  The entire package is incredibly priced at only $1089.00 in the Mountain View and $1199.00 in the Ocean View Superior Cottage.  Prices are per person double occupancy and is based on two divers per room.

This is very good price for the diving and amenities and a vacation that you would not want to miss.  There are only two Cottages in each category so available space is limited.

Join us on this or one of our other Dive Trips.  All of our Scuba Vacation Trips are led by a Scuba Instructor, which makes these trips a great place to complete some of your Scuba Diving Continuing Educations Courses.  We try to offer scuba travel trips throughout the year in many different exciting locations.

Join us for your next great Aquatic Adventure.

Learn to Scuba Dive the Right Way

When you decide to Learn to Scuba Dive in Northern Virginia or anywhere else  it involves much more then just learning the basic scuba diving skills and theory.  It involves understanding them and putting them to practice the proper way.  At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy in Alexandria Northern Virginia, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Center, we pride ourselves on not only teaching scuba diving but making our graduates safe divers that actively dive and enjoy the sport.  Just what is involved in becoming a safe and active scuba diver?

Learn to Scuba Dive the Right Way

Learning to Scuba Dive the right way involves taking classes at a Northern Virginia Dive Center or a Dive Center located elsewhere that is dedicated to teaching the proper techniques and safety protocols rather then just turning out divers.  Today many dive centers skip the basics like dive tables.  Yes, most of us dive with Dive Computers today but we still need to follow the basic principles of safe scuba diving and the best way to learn those is to learn how to use the Dive Tables and follow those principles whether we are using the tables or a scuba diving computer.  A simple analogy of this is almost all of us use a calculator but we could not use it properly if we did not learn the basics of math (times tables, etc) as a child.  The same is true for Scuba Diving Computers.  If we do not follow the basic rules we learned as a new diver, do your deeper dive first regardless of whether we are using a dive computer or not we are putting ourselves at greater risk of problems by ignoring these rules.

The Proper Scuba Diving Equipment is Essential: Know How to Use It and Care for It

A Dive Center that truly specializes in Scuba Dive Equipment in Northern Virginia or anywhere else that people dive will make sure that their patrons understand and properly use the equipment that they sell.  At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy we instruct all purchasers of equipment on how to safely use the equipment and how to take care of it.  If a diver purchases a package (Scuba regulator, buoyancy control device and computer gauges) we even give them the PADI Equipment Specialist Course at no charge to make sure the they get the most out of their new equipment.  Proper instruction on scuba equipment use and safety is paramount and it is also something that is not received by those who buy equipment on line.

Always follow the manufacturers recommendations as to routine maintenance and care.  Annual Scuba Diving Equipment Service is essential for not only safety but to maintain the warranty that came with the scuba diving equipment.

Scuba Dive Travel: The Best Scuba Divers are Active Scuba Divers

First you Learn to Scuba Dive, then you obtain good quality Scuba Diving Equipment.  The next step is to go scuba diving.  The more that you scuba dive the better the scuba diver that you become.  Practice makes perfect and do not forget that all important Scuba Continuing Education class.  PADI Specialty Diver Courses such as the PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Course are great for honing skills and becoming a safer scuba diver.  Courses like the PADI Aware Fish Identification course are great for learning more about what you are looking at and enjoying your scuba dives more.    When you are on that next great Aquatic Adventure you will appreciate the time you spent learning to scuba dive, getting the proper scuba diving equipment and learning how to use and just plain getting out and scuba diving.

LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE NORTHERN VIRGINIA – ADVANCED OPEN WATER COURSE

PADI Open Water Diver Course in Northern Virginia

Most of us think that once become a Certified Scuba Diver then our scuba diving training ends.  That it definitely not the case.  All beginning Scuba Divers start with the Open Water Scuba Course.  The PADI Open Water Diver Course is designed to teach the new diver to be, just the very basics.  Topics of learning include Scuba Diving Equipment, basic Scuba Skills, and the bio-mechanics involved in scuba diving.  The Open Water Course is designed to allow a Scuba Diver to dive safely but only in depths of 60 feet or less.

PADI Advanced Open Water Course in Northern Virginia

PADI Peak Performanc Buoyancy:

The PADI Advanced Open Water Course is designed to continue the Scuba Diver’s skills from where the Open Water Course leaves off.   In the PADI Advanced Open Water Course that we offer in Northern Virginia we include an introduction to five Scuba Diving Specialty Dives.  We start with a PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Dive where the scuba diver learns the bio-mechanics of maintaining good buoyancy.  Emphasis is placed on proper weighting, the use of an efficient fin kick, streamlining your body, and overall scuba diving efficiency.

PADI Underwater Navigation:

The buoyancy dive is followed by an Underwater Navigation Dive.  On land we have maps and can follow a course because it used street names, mileage distances, and today even a GPS.  Underwater these are not available to us, consequently, the PADI Underwater Navigation Course teaches us how to measure distances underwater, how to navigate using an underwater compass, how to navigate using natural navigational landmarks and even the animal life underwater to lead our way.  This course goes a long way to making the scuba diver more comfortable in the water and less likely to get lost on a dive.  The Navigation dive requires the use of a compass, which is a very valuable piece of scuba diving equipment.

PADI Night Diver:

The third scuba dive in the PADI Advanced Open Water Course that we teach Scuba Divers in Northern Virginia is a Night Dive.  The PADI Night Diver is one of the most popular and useful specialty dives that PADI has to offer.  Many of the more interesting creatures that we wish to encounter when scuba diving are nocturnal.  Lobster,  moray eels, shrimp and the octopus may been seen during the day hiding in a hole but they are often out and touring the reef at night.  In addition to the many critters that may be seen at night the Night Diver certification also teaches better buddy team work due to the lower visibility at night.  Navigation skills and communication skills are also enhanced as a result of this course.  Scuba diving equipment used for night diving include a primary and back up dive light and a scuba regulator marker light.

PADI Deep Diver:

The fourth scuba dive that we complete during the PADI Advanced Open Water course is the Deep Dive from the Deep Diver Course.  During this dive we learn about the physiological differences in deeper diving such as shorter bottom times, more rapid air consumption, loss of color at depth and the added element of nitrogen narcosis.  This is a fun dive that adds to the divers experience level and builds confidence.  The need for specialized scuba equipment for Deep Diving, such as a balanced regulator for better breathing at depth is also covered.

PADI Specialty Diver:

The fifth and final dive of the Advanced Open Water Course is one that the student gets to select.  Some of the better options are a dive from the Wreck Diver Course, Multi Level Diver Course, Search & Recovery Diver Course or perhaps a dive from the Digital Underwater Photography Course.  All of these dives are fun and add quite a bit of knowledge and experience to the Advanced Open Water Diver.
Advanced Open Water Course Dives & Specialty Diver Course Dives:

In addition to all of the great advantages of taking the PADI Advanced Open Water Course, there is an added bonus.  The dives completed as part of the PADI Advanced Open Water Course count as the first dive of the respective PADI Specialty Diver Course should the diver decide to pursue one of these Specialty Diver Courses.  The most important feature of the PADI Advanced Open Water Course is that is greatly increases your experience and comfort while under the direct supervision of a PADI Instructor, making you ready for that next great Aquatic Adventure.

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.

What to look for in a Dive Center in Northern Virginia?

The three things that a Scuba Dive Center in Northern Virginia, or anywhere else for that matter, can offer you are the three E’s: Education, Equipment and Experience.  These are the three things necessary to be a Scuba Diver and a quality Dive Center will offer you all three.

Location: Alexandria Northern Virginia & Fairfax County, Virginia

That may sound like a simple question but it is really very important if you want to get the best in service, training and sales support in scuba diving.  We are all somewhat lazy at heart and would naturally prefer that any Dive Center that we patronize be conveniently located.  Since I live in Alexandria, Northern Virginia I would want a Dive Center that is located in that area.  There may be more then one dive center in that particular are so then you have to look at other criteria to narrow your search.  I might start by searching for Scuba Classes Northern Virginia or Scuba Lessons Northern Virginia.

Scuba Diving Training – PADI Certification in Northern Virginia

What certification agency to choose is an issue we have discussed before.  There are several reputable certification agencies and they all offer many quality courses.  Some, however, have advantages over the others.  While all of the Scuba Certification Agencies follow the same guidelines there are some very distinct differences.  The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, or PADI is the Largest Scuba Certification Agency in the world.  Any certification that you earn at a PADI Dive Center is recognized world wide.  However, PADI does stand out in one area that I find to be extremely important.  PADI has by far the finest support materials, books, DVDs, Videos, etc of any Scuba Training Agency.  Thus a PADI course is easier to learn and to master.

Scuba Diving Training – Certification and Continuing Scuba Education – Northern VA

If we are a new diver then we are interested in Learning to Scuba Dive.  If we are already certified as a Scuba Diver then we might be interested in continuing your scuba education.  In addition there are several types of continuing education Scuba Diving Training Courses available.  There are the recreational courses such as the PADI Advanced Open Water or the PADI Rescue Diver.  There are “PADI Specialty Diver Courses” such a Underwater Photography,  PADI Underwater Digital Photography, PADI Wreck Diver, PADI Night Diver, PADI Underwater Navigation, PADI Multi Level or Computer Diving, PADI Deep Diving, PADI  Boat Diving and PADI Equipment Specialist just to name a few.  These are all courses that are available for the recreational diver to assist him or her in discovering new areas of interest.

Scuba Diving Training & Certification for Scuba Divemaster and Scuba Instructor in Northern VA

There are a lot of Dive Centers and they all offer some Scuba Diving Certification.  Only a select few can offer Professional Level Scuba Certification beyond Divemaster Level.  Those that can are knows as PADI 5 Star Instructor Development IDC Dive Centers.   These Dive Centers will also offer training and Certification for Assistant Scuba  Instructor and Open Water Scuba Instructor as well.

The mark of the finest of the PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Dive Centers are the ones that offer the Master Scuba Diver Trainer and the IDC Staff Instructor Course as well.

Major Brands for Sale and Service of Scuba Diving Equipment in Northern Virginia

There are often several Dive Centers in a town or city.  While most of them may offer the courses that you want you will also want Scuba Diving Equipment.  You will want to patronize a Dive Center that offers many different lines of retail scuba diving equipment.  There are many reputable brands available.  Some of the best brands of Scuba Diving Equipment are Scuba Pro, Sherwood, Zeagle, Aeris and Mares Diving Equipment.  Finding all of these quality brands in one Dive Center is very unusual.

Many Dive Centers will carry one or maybe two of these brands.  The advantage to patronizing a Dive Center that carries so many is that such a Dive Center like Aquatic Adventures will offer the best Scuba Regulator, Scuba BCD and Scuba Computer of each brand of Scuba Diving Equipment, giving you a wider selection and more quality and choices often at better prices.  Your quality Dive Center should also offer service on these items once they are sold so that you can get the most out of them.  Here I would conduct a search for Scuba Equipment Northern Virginia or Scuba Diving Equipment Northern Virginia.

Scuba Dive Travel – Dive Center sponsored offered and led Scuba Dive Trips in Northern Virginia

We have looked at the first two E’s – Education or Scuba Certification Courses and Scuba Diving Equipment.  Now we need to look at when and where we will have the opportunity to try and put these things o use.  We all want to go diving but many of us do not know where is the best place?  What is the best time of year to dive at a particular location?  Where to stay?  How to get there?  Your local Dive Center can be a great resource in this area as well.

At Aquatic Adventures Scuba Academy we offer Scuba Dive Trips year round. We try to have at least one every quarter.  We will vary our Dive Destinations to offer a variety of trips throughout the Caribbean and Pacific.  We have been leading Dive Trips for over 25 years and know where and when to dive.  We offer local trips to places like Morehead City, North Carolina for wreck diving,  we offer trips to Florida to dive with the Manatee and get away from the winter cold, we offer live-a-board dive boat trips to the Bahamas, and we also offer trips to the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean.

The Final Test – What Others Think if the Best Dive Center in Northern Virginia?

Once you have narrowed your selection to one or two Dive Centers be sure and ask other Scuba Divers what they think of your choices?  Once you find a Quality Dive Center be sure and let others know about them.  In today’s world any business that does things well and stands behind their product or service is worth keeping.