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Scuba
Diving Frequently Asked Questions |
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Is
it hard to learn to scuba dive?
No, in fact, it's probably easier
than you imagine -- especially
if you're already comfortable
in the water. Learning to dive
involves three phases:
1. Academic study that includes
the physics and physiology of
diving;
2. Confined-water training (often
called pool training) to learn
and practice basic skills; and
3. Open-water checkout dives to
prove mastery of basic dive skills.
To better understand this process,
read "Getting Started"
The course is "performance
based," which means that
you progress as you learn and
demonstrate knowledge and skill.
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What
is the age requirement for scuba
certification?
To obtain an Open Water Diver
Certification, you must be 15
years old. Young adults (ages
12-14 for NAUI and 10-14 for PADI)
can receive a Junior Open Water
Diver Certification.
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Do
I need to be physically fit to
scuba dive?
Before getting certified, you
should be in good physical health.
If you are not sure that you're
fit enough, see your doctor. |
Do
I have to be able to swim?
You don't need to be an Olympic
swimmer, but you do need to have
a few basic skills. The scuba certification
process includes a swim test that
you must pass. If you can't swim,
sign up for lessons. Click
HERE
for Swimming Lessons
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How
do I choose a scuba instructor?
It is important to choose an instructor
that you trust and feel comfortable
with. He/She should be thorough,
patient, and supportive. Don't
stick with someone you are not
comfortable with. Scuba diving
is a dangerous sport. You need
the proper training to be successful
and safe. Don't be afraid to ask
for references from the instructor's
previous students.
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How
long is the scuba course and how
much does it cost?
First, the course length depends
on you and your schedule. If you
had nothing but free time on your
hands, you could be an Open Water
Diver in One week or 2 weeks to
1 month. However, you must study
your dive manual before your lesson
commence. Get your manual from
the dive centre you sign up before
your lesson start. you can choose
to start your lesson in island
(fast and convenience) or partially
in town and partially in island
(more time and more practice).
A complete course could cost between
RM1,300 and RM1,500 depend on
which resort and room type you
choose to stay or either fall
on holiday which you have to pay
extra surcharge. The cost includes
books, tables, license and some
rental equipment. You may spend
more if you prefer to buy your
own personal equipment (mask,
snorkel, fins, weight, weight
belt, and boots) or take a resort
course. |
Buy
Some Gear
To learn to dive, you'll at the
very least need at least a mask,
fins and snorkel. The other stuff,
including a buoyancy compensator,
regulator, wetsuit, etc., can
come later on when you've got
a better idea of what you'll need.
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Meeting
Other New Divers
All divers were new once. You're
joining an elite group of people
who enjoy exploring a seemingly
hostile environment. Talking to
other new divers, as well as experienced
ones, will help you get through
your jitters, provide you with
tips and techniques for making
diving safer, easier and more
fun, and answer any questions
you might have. Jump into a conversation
with other new divers now! |
What
is PADI?
PADI
is the Professional
Association of Diving Instructor,
the largest scuba training
organization in the world. PADI
develops scuba programs and diver
training products, monitors the
scuba training conducted by more
than 67,000 PADI professionals
worldwide, maintains diver certification
records and issues your diver
certification credentials. In
addition, PADI maintains various
support services for PADI Dive
Centers and Resorts. Founded in
1966, today you'll find PADI professionals
in more than 170 countries and
territories, and international
service offices in nine countries.
Approximately seven out of ten
North American divers are certified
by PADI, and approximately 55%
of all divers worldwide are certified
by PADI. |
Why
are some Scuba Instructors so
much cheaper than others?
Most
SCUBA Instructors charge about
the same for complete certification.
The difference is some instructors
do not tell you about all the
costs. Be caution, if the lessons
price sounds very inexpensive
it might not include everything.
Dive Centers have to pay rent
and labor. So they will typically
charge more. Find a good Dive
centre or Private Scuba Instructor
who will give you better friendlier
personal service.
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Scuba
diving sounds exciting, but I'm
not sure if it's for me. Can I
try it without signing up for
a actual dive course?
Absolutely. The PADI Discover
Scuba Diving program allows you
to make a shallow scuba dive supervised
by a PADI professional after a
short pool session to familiarize
you with the equipment and some
techniques. You can usually do
this in a few hours. There's also
a program that lets you try scuba
in a swimming pool only. This
takes even less time, and it's
popular in places that may not
have an actual scuba diving site
at hand.
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What
exactly will I have to do to get
PADI certified?
Scuba Certification is completed
in 3 parts.
1. Class room (Academic book work),
2. Pool Training
3. Four Scuba Dives
PADI
Certification is performance based.
You must comfortably perform and
show mastery of all the skills to
earn your certification.
1.
"Class" Knowledge Development
- 5 Knowledge Review Modules
Read the Book and Watch the
DVD. There 5 Chapters or modules.
For the 5 modules of theory, you'll
read the PADI Open Water Diver manual
in conjunction with watching the
PADI Open Water diver video and
complete the five knowledge reviews
at the end of each chapter. After
I have made sure you understand
everything in the knowledge review
questions, you'll be given a ten
question quiz for that module. Don't
worry I'll go over any questions
that you don't understand. At the
end of the 5th module and knowledge
review you'll be given the PADI
Open Water diver final exam. Just
like the quizzes this is multiple
choice and, again, just like the
quizzes I'll go over anything you
don't understand. Hopefully by then
you'll pass with 100%. But all is
not lost as long as you score 75%
or better you passed! And I'll go
over any questions you get wrong
so you are completely happy and
understand them all. If you score
less than 75% we'll go over everything
you missed and you may take the
test again.
2.
"Pool Training" Confined
Water Pool Skills
You must complete the following
skills before the end of the course.
200m/yard
continuous swim (or 400m snorkel
swim)
10
minute swim/float
Module
1: Prior
to completing Open Water dive 1
you must practice and master the
following skills in confined water
dive 1
Equipment
assembly and disassembly
Equipment
donning and adjustment
BCD
inflation and deflation at the surface
- low pressure
inflation
- oral
inflation
Regulator
recovery
Regulator clearing (blast and purge
methods)
Mask
clear (partial)
Underwater
swimming
Submersible
pressure gauge use
Alternate
air source use
Hand
signal recognition
Ascent
Module
2 & 3:
Prior to completing Open Water dive
2 you must practice and
master the following skills in confined
water dives 2 & 3.
Pre-dive
safety check
Deep
water entry
Snorkel
clearing - blast method
Snorkel/regulator
exchange
Descent
Surface
swimming with scuba
Mask
removal, replacement and clearing
No
mask breathing
Disconnect
low pressure inflator
Proper
weighting
Air
depletion exercise
Weight
removal at the surface
Deep
water exit - remove equipment
Fin
pivot (both methods)
- low pressure
inflation
- oral
inflation
Neutral buoyancy swim
Cramp removal
Tired diver tow
Air depletion exercise/1 min alternate
air source swim
Free flow regulator breathing
Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent
Module
4 & 5:
Prior to completing Open Water dives
3 & 4 you must practice and
master the following skills in confined
water dives 4 & 5
Equipment assembly and disassembly
Equipment donning and adjustment
Proper hyperventilation
Headfirst surface dive
Skin dive ascent and snorkel clearing
No mask swim
Hovering
Scuba unit removal and replacement
- underwater
- surface
Weight removal and replacement
- underwater
- surface
3. "Check-Out
Dives" 4 Open Water Scuba Dive
- Skills
For Open Water Dive 1 of the course
a PADI instructor must lead the
entire dive. For dives 2-4 however,
a PADI Divemaster may lead the underwater
exploration part. With adult student
divers, dives 1 & 2 are completed
to a maximum depth of 40 feet and
dives 3 & 4 are to a maximum
depth of 60 feet.
Dive
1
Equipment preparation, donning and
adjustment
Predive safety check
Entry
Buoyancy check/weight check
Controlled descent
Underwater exploration
Ascent
Exit
Dive
2
Equipment preparation, donning and
adjustment
Predive safety check
Entry and weight check
Descent
Buoyancy control (fin pivot - with
low pressure inflation)
Mask clearing (both partial &
full flood)
Alternate air source use (donor
& receiver + oral inflation
on surface)
Regulator recovery/clear
Underwater exploration
Ascent and exit
Weight removal at the surface
Dive
3
Equipment preparation, donning and
adjustment
Predive safety check
Entry and weight check
Free Descent
Buoyancy control (fin pivot - with
oral inflation)
Mask clearing (full flood)
Underwater exploration
Ascent and exit
Dive
4
Equipment preparation, donning and
adjustment
Predive safety check
Entry and weight check
Free Descent
Buoyancy control (hover)
Mask removal, replacement and clear
Underwater exploration
Ascent and exit
Open Water Dive - Dive Flexible
Skills
These are the dive flexible skills
that must be completed. Surface
skills may be completed on any dive,
but underwater skills may only be
completed on Open Water Dives 2,3
or 4.
Cramp removal
Tired diver tow
Surface swim with compass
Snorkel/regulator exchange
Remove/replace scuba
Remove/replace weights
Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent
(CESA) + (oral inflation on surface)
Underwater compass navigation |
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