Outdoors

Scuba diving has been around for over forty years and was first developed and used by the Navy and oceanographers.  It has recently grown into a sport among many people. Before you jump in scuba dive training courses are a necessity and certification is required.

If you are traveling to a location where you would like to scuba dive ask if the hotel or resort where you will be staying offers scuba dive training. Many do offer classes to their guests and well have certified divers on staff as well as the necessary equipment rentals.

Once you get a taste of this exciting sport you may want to go more and more often. There are scuba diving clubs that plan trips for their members and offer diving gear to purchase or rent at a discount.  You may want to venture into more extreme scuba diving as you advance in your skill level.  This of course will require a higher degree of certification and scuba dive training.

Prerequisites: You must be a strong swimmer of course.  You must be knowledgeable in snorkeling.  Snorkeling is the basis of and is used in scuba diving.

General Scuba Certification:  This is a scuba dive training class that introduces you to the basics of scuba diving.  It is usually a 4 to 6 week course and classes are held in a swimming pool.  The last 2 classes will be in the ocean where you will be tested.  For most people who plan on just a few recreational dives a year this is adequate.

Open Water Scuba Dive Training:  This is for the diver who plans to deep water dive off a boat several miles from shore.  It is necessary to know how to operate a boat.  Special equipment is another necessity for deep water dives you will be educated as to what equipment is needed and how and why it is used.

Rescue Scuba:  this is a special training course that focuses on rescue operations for other divers. Those who usually take it are employed in the search-and-rescue business. Training includes first aid, obviously, as well as underwater techniques for getting people out of hazardous situations like underwater caves. There is also training in the use of specialized equipment used in such rescues.

Scuba Dive Training for Deep Dives:  Deep diving is an extreme sport that requires specialized training and special equipment.  Underwater exploration is one reason to go to such depths where the water pressure could crush a person not wearing the proper gear.

Scuba Dive Training for Hazardous Conditions:  Focusing on scuba dive training for divers  who may find it necessary to dive in a hazardous area for a rescue, exploration or for work.  A hazardous area may be a shipwreck, toxic waters, shark habitats, or underwater caves.

For more information on scuba diving go to Scuba Diving Club.