Taking Padi Advanced Open Water Again Because Its Cheaper

Updated: June 2019

Fearfulness holds united states back in and then many ways: it can dictate what nosotros do—or don't practise—and oftentimes has united states of america questioning ourselves…

what if?

It's funny how our fears volition keep u.s. from doing something before we've e'er even tried it. After skydiving for the first time (which holy smokes, I was petrified!), I got to see the world from an entirely new perspective and felt an adrenaline rush, unlike annihilation I could have e'er imagined. It was incredible.

And and so I was wondering, "How else had fear inhibited me?"

I've mentioned before that I'k absolutely terrified of heights and the open sea (honestly, I'1000 not sure if information technology's the fear of going up or going downwardly that scares me more). Well, I wanted to finish asking myself, "What if?" and conquer my fears head-on. So naturally, to conquer the things that make me panic, I jumped out of a plane at 12,000 anxiety and cycled the world's deadliest road!

Only now it was fourth dimension to jump, or rather dive, into the deep bluish and get open up water scuba certified!

So all the overwhelming questions began to have concord: How do you get scuba certified? Where exercise you go? Which company should I go with? How much does it toll? How long is the process? What if I feel claustrophobic?

But I wasn't going to permit those questions deter my quest…and neither should you lot! Forget watching dives on the Discovery Aqueduct, and see what life is like under the surface of the ocean for yourself!

Hither are the ins and outs of getting your scuba diving certification!

Which Company Should I Get Certified With?

When your curiosity is piqued and you begin searching about which company to become certified with…it might be a trivial overwhelming. Truth be told, in that location are countless diving companies around the world. Seriously, there are hundreds.

That said, for the sake of making things less overwhelming, two of the top (and globally recognized) agencies to become certified with are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and SSI (Scuba Schools International). I personally just recommend PADI as they're the most globally recognized certification in the world!

So, for the rest of this postal service, I'll exist covering PADI's Open Water Diver Certification.

The first certification you will need is your Open H2o Diver, but yous tin can continue your instruction to get your Avant-garde Diver, Rescue Diver, or even Divemaster certification. I get-go got Open Water Certified, but am at present Advanced Diver Certified and take completed my Enriched Air Course.

How Do I Get Scuba Certified?

First things first.

To get scuba certified, you have to be able to swim. I'one thousand sure you probably already know that, but yous should be comfy in the water. Y'all'll exist required to swim 200 yards—that's eight laps in a standard 25-yard pool (but no pressure level every bit there isn't a time requirement, only no stopping); you'll also exist asked to tread h2o for ten minutes.

Side by side, select a dive shop.

A lot of people cull to go certified on trips somewhere tropical, while others choose to do it a bit closer to home so they can get the hang of things in an environment they're familiar with. Information technology'southward truly up to you!

One time you've called your dive store, you lot'll begin the course on diving knowledge.

There are v sections you lot'll have to learn, with questions at the end of each department, and your swoop instructor will guide you through this. This may seem daunting, but it's really not that bad, especially with your instructor there to assistance with annihilation you don't understand!

(Annotation: PADI does offer an online course if you lot'd prefer to exercise the coursework at home.)

After y'all're familiar with those five sections, the swimming begins in a pool or pool-similar environment.

Here, you'll practice all the essential scuba skills necessary for open h2o training—things like putting on your gear, sharing air, buoyancy control, safety procedures, and taking your mask off. The basics.

Then the open water dives brainstorm!

There are four open water dives you'll practise, where you lot'll demonstrate all the skills yous learned in the pool. This is typically over the course of two days.

Once you've completed those dives, the concluding stride is to take an examination…and laissez passer!

Once more, this might seem scary, only this is all nigh conquering your fears, right? The test is kind of similar to the one you would take when getting a learning allow for driving—as in a lot of practical questions about signaling and data y'all learned along the way.

It's really non that bad. 🙂

How Long Does the Certification Process Take?

Around three to four days is pretty common! If yous cull to exercise the online grade and larn diving cognition at home, that volition quicken the process. As for the 4 open water dives? They normally span two days.

Here's what a typical certification schedule looks like:

• Solar day One: Coursework, quizzes, and instructional videos.
• Solar day Ii: Certification testing in the morning time, do in the puddle (or pool-similar surround) in the afternoon.
• 24-hour interval Three: Open water dive in the morning, open water dive in the afternoon.
• 24-hour interval 4: Open h2o dive in the morning time, open water dive in the afternoon. So have and pass the final examination!

If you're getting certified closer to home, some dive shops offering training in the evening or on weekends to conform for work and schoolhouse schedules—making it a couple of hours one twenty-four hour period a week, over the course of a month or and so.

What Gear Volition I Need?

Your dive center volition sort you out with all the gear you demand. Yous can check with your PADI dive shop to see what gear is included in your form package and what gear is available for rent.

You can rent a mask, wetsuit, snorkels, and fins (the shop will aid notice ones that all-time fit you!). Other things you'll exist using are a regulator, buoyancy command device (BCD), dive computer, scuba tank, wetsuit, and a weight system (sometimes gloves and boots are required—particularly for colder and rockier environments).

Some people choose to invest in their own scuba gear after they get certified and accept washed a bit more diving…but again, totally up to you!

I personally invested in my ain mask, wetsuit and dive computer after I got Open Water Certified, but I even so rent the rest of my gear from dive shops since most of my dive trips require lots of travel.

The only other detail I'd consider investing in is my own regulator (the piece that fits into your mouth and connects to your oxygen tank) because information technology can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable if it'due south non the correct fit.

Cheque out my guide on What to Pack for a Diving Liveaboard Trip for my complete setup!

How Much Does it Toll?

Costs will vary depending on where in the world yous're doing your training. Typically you can wait between $300 – $600. Some things y'all'll want to ask the dive shop are:

Is rental gear included? Are the form materials included in the price? Are there any additional fees?

Does My Certification Ever Elapse?

Nope, it's practiced for life! Nonetheless, just like any skill, yous'll want to castor up on it from fourth dimension to time. PADI does take refresher courses for those that desire to touch up their grooming. A good dominion of thumb is if you haven't been diving in over a year, you lot might desire to review your skills!

What if I Feel Claustrophobic?

I think this is a big fear for many, myself included!

During the training, your swoop instructor will coach you through many unlike scenarios and teach yous the necessary tools so you feel comfy under the water. Your instructor will work with you at whatever pace you need to make certain you main the skills.

Many folks who scuba dive actually notice that the sort of "weightlessness" experienced underwater is more freeing than anything! One of the benefits of learning to scuba is that it gives y'all greater control of your breathing, which tin can help yous gainsay claustrophobia and reduce anxiety.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Where Can I Scuba Dive?

After y'all're certified, the possibilities are countless! I've been diving in Iceland (yes, actually!), Raja Ampat, the Republic of the maldives, Seychelles, Cozumel, Bocas del Toro, the Cracking Barrier Reef, the Komodo Islands, the Cherry-red Sea in Jordan and countless other destinations. I've even been night diving with manta rays in Hawaii!

Read More: All-time Places to Scuba Dive Around the World

What to Look for in a PADI Dive Middle

At that place are some important factors to consider when choosing where to go your certification:

• PADI v Star Dive Center:PADI is the world'southward leading scuba diving training arrangement so y'all'll want to observe a 5 Star rated swoop heart. These dive shops actively promote underwater environmental awareness and encompass the PADI System of diver education, with a delivery to providing quality training, products, services, and experiences.
• The Quality and Intendance of Dive Equipment: Always put your safety first. The equipment should exist in adept working club and carefully looked subsequently.
• Well-Organized Dives: Getting certified should be fun! Make certain you're signing upward for an unforgettable experience!
• Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff: The staff should be warm, helpful and at that place to aid y'all through the whole PADI process.

What to Expect in a PADI Course

In that location are a few things to expect in getting PADI Open Water Diver Certified:

• It Takes Time: While yous can't go certified in a day, it's entirely possible to consummate the course in 3 to four days.
• Dive Theory: You lot'll be given a Scuba Manual and accept necessary sections to study throughout your course. Each chapter includes a quiz and the staff should review the answers with you to ensure you understand all of the material.
• Bars Diving: The showtime time yous have a breath underwater will be in a very secure and comfortable confined environment before going into the open ocean. Your teacher volition walk you through the full dive procedure step-past-step.
• Open Water Diving: You are required to continue four open water dives. You lot'll exist guided by your instructor at each dive while practicing diving techniques and prophylactic procedures.
• Passing the Final Exam: You'll demand to pass an exam after y'all've finished all v quizzes from your transmission and completed your open and bars dives.

You might be thinking, "What? An exam?!" The exam is implemented to make sure you understand very important factors of diving that could impact your prophylactic, ie. water pressure level and breathing underwater.

Trust me, you want to know this stuff!

TBA Takeaways

How practice I become scuba certified? Be able to swim, observe a dive shop, sign up for a form, learn the essentials, do some dives, take some tests. Boom.

Which company should I go with? PADI, hands down.

How long does the certification process have? Typically most three to iv days.

What gear will I need to scuba swoop? You don't need annihilation to get-go! You may opt to get your ain mask, wetsuit, computer, and regulator down the line, but I'd recommend renting these from your swoop store before yous go certified.

How much does it cost? Normally between $300 – $600, depending on where in the world yous're getting certified.

What if I feel claustrophobic? Your instructor will teach you the necessary skills so you feel comfortable under the water.

Does my certification ever elapse? Nope!

What should I look for in a dive center? A PADI five-Star Dive Center that takes care of their equipment, offers well-organized dives and has a friendly staff!

My Overall Feel

I got my Open H2o Certification in Bocas del Toro, Panama in 2013! I saw sharks, seahorses, a shipwreck, a lobster and countless tropical fish during the three days information technology took me to complete my PADI Open Water Diver Course.

And I was officially certified to dive around the globe!

I received my actual PADI Certification Carte at my home address in the USA in less than two weeks, which fabricated me feel pretty darn cool, I might add. Every bit I mentioned earlier, I've gone on to get my Advanced Diver Certification in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and completed my Enriched Air Course in French Polynesia!

If you haven't caught on, scuba diving is my favorite way to explore the world!

Still have questions nigh getting Open up H2o Diver certified? Let me know in the comments below. I'm an open up book!

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Source: https://www.theblondeabroad.com/getting-padi-diver-certified/

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