It doesn't take long to become a certified scuba diver. There are a variety of options depending on how experienced you are. PADI offers a beginner course that focuses on the basics of diving. PADI Open Water Divers allows you to become certified.
PADI's entry-level diver course
PADI entry level diver course comprises five chapters, four Knowledge Reviews as well as a final test. Although it takes three to four working days, the majority of the course can be completed within three to five days. You can also take the online version. This course covers the fundamentals of diving and includes several open-water dives.
PADI Open Water Diver Manual is your basic guide to diving. It covers terminology, safety, equipment, and much more. Five videos are included to explain each topic and answer your questions.
Open water certification dives
You need to take a few steps before you can get your open water certification. Start by getting your training. Before you dive open water, you'll need to have several sessions in the pool. These sessions will be used to refresh your skills in the water. The orientation dive focuses on the water, while the second dive focuses on scuba skills. Relaxation is the goal of the third dive, while the final dive is intended to consolidate all that you have learned.
You can get your certification done in a weekend if you are a member of a local dive club. However, if you choose a different location, you may need to work around the schedule of the dive center or instructor to get your training completed. It takes approximately three to four working days to become open water certified.
Next-level certification dives
An instructor can give a beginner scuba diver a few try-dives in a pool before moving on to the next level. Most dives are performed in shallow water, usually less than 6 feet. Open water diving requires that you are more confident in all aspects. Open water diving can be done in any body of water, including the ocean, lakes and even flooded quarry pits.
You can get certified in a few days, although it may take longer. If you take an online course, you can complete the entire process within a week or two. Entry-level courses have no deadlines, but waiting periods may be necessary for professionals.
Prerequisites needed for next-level certification
You should get some water experience before you can get your next-level certification. To get a feel for the sport, you can try scuba diving in a pool. Divers can also take to the water in lakes or flooded pits. Open water diving is more difficult than a simple try-dive.
For those who want to further their scuba training, the SDI open-water course is ideal. It will teach basic scuba skills and problem solving skills. This course will teach you how rescue divers use self-rescue. Open water training must be completed before you can dive on more difficult dive sites or liveaboards.