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FAQ'S
What is PADI?
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PADI stands for: Professional Association of Dive
Instructors.
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PADI is the largest most widely recognized SCUBA
certification agency in the world.
- PADI has the widest network. Most Dive Instructors, dive
shops and resorts around the world are PADI.
If you forget or loose your card or want more training
you'll always be able to find a PADI instructor.
All Scuba Certification agencies use the same standards
and teach about the same scuba certification course.
Just like a learning to drive a car, all driving schools
will teach you the same rules. Some scuba instructors
claim their agency is better and their competition is
bad, but in fact we are all about the same. Find an
instructor you like and be happy.
Scuba is a recreation sport and is fun relaxing and
safe.
Make sure you don't support a scuba instructor or dive
shop who criticizes other scuba shops or agencies. It
has been my experience that mostly only the bad
instructors have bad things to say about other
instructors and agencies. The worse the scuba instructor
the more they complain about other scuba instructors and
agencies.
Ask a Question or join our email list.
I've always wanted to learn to scuba dive (or snorkel).
How do I get started?
How old do I have to be to get scuba certified?
Why do I have to get Certified to dive?
For how long will I be certified?
Will the fish bother me?
How expensive is SCUBA diving?
How long do scuba lessons take?
How deep may I go?
Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?
Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a
PADI Open Water Diver?
How long does a tank of air Last?
My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of the pool.
Won't they hurt when I scuba dive?
Is scuba diving dangerous?
Do I have to buy scuba gear?
Why are some Instructors so much cheaper than others?
What do I need to ask about the price?
What are the bends?
Dive Tables help Link
Lost Card?
What exactly will I have to do to get PADI certified?
For how long will I
be certified?
Your PADI SCUBA certification does not expire. It is
highly recommended that you keep in practice. You should
dive more than once a year. You may take a SCUBA Tune Up
from any PADI instructor. PADI offers continuing
education classes which are very informative. Continuing
with your SCUBA education is an excellent way to keep in
practice and learn more safe diving skills.
How old do you have
to be to get certified?
PADI requires you to be at least 10 years old to become
a PADI certified Junior Open Water Scuba Diver. Ten and
11 year olds must dive with a certified parent, guardian
or PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 40 feet.
Twelve to 14 year olds must dive with a certified adult.
At age 15, the Junior certification upgrades to a
regular Open Water Diver certification.
Why do I have to get certified to dive?
In the scuba class, you will learn how to dive safely
and correctly. Your PADI SCUBA certification card is
proof that you have taken and passed the SCUBA course.
No reputable Dive Center will rent you gear, fill your
tank , or let you dive at their facilities unless you
are a certified SCUBA diver.
How deep may I go?
PADI is a recreational SCUBA organization. The maximum
depth for a recreational SCUBA diver is 130 feet. I do
not recommend you ever dive the maximum depth. You
should not dive deeper than 60 feet without proper
training. In the PADI Advanced Open Water course, divers
are shown the correct and safe way to make a deep dive.
Will the fish bother me?
Most fish are afraid of you or will ignore you. It is
very exciting to see fish. The larger the better. The
prettiest and most abundant fish are in the ocean. The
best place to see fish is near shipwrecks and reefs.
Some fish will let you get close to them but will stay
out of your reach. Some fish are curious and will follow
you around. I have been diving for a long time and have
seen many sharks, eels and barracudas. The sharks and
eels are very shy and are difficult to see. Barracudas
are curious and might follow you around making it easy
to photograph them. Game fish seem to know when you are
looking for dinner. Grilled snapper or flounder taste
great. Most of the time I just take pictures, but every
now and then I get hungry for sea food. You are more
likely to be attacked by a cow or a pig than by a fish.
Be safe stay off the farm and go diving.
How expensive is SCUBA diving?
Once you are certified, SCUBA diving costs about as much
as 18 holes of golf, or a good ski-lift ticket. Starting
out is the most expensive. You have to pay to get SCUBA
certified, and buy some gear. Classes cost between $350
and $450. The minimum amount of gear will cost about
$150. You should have your own mask, fins, and snorkel
for the class.
A two-tank dive in the Caribbean will cost about $90, in
FL you can expect to pay about $60. Most SCUBA quarries
charge about $20 for all day diving. Air fills:
Caribbean=$8, FL=$5, Rock quarries=$5. You can rent a
tank with air for about the same amount it will cost you
to fill your own.
You don't have to buy all your gear. Most dive shops
rent gear and don't charge students rental during class.
A complete set of dive gear rents for $40 to $60. You
can buy all of your own gear (BCD, Regulator with SPG
and Octo) for as low as $600. I recommend you buy good
gear. Don't skimp on your life support gear. Mine cost
about $1400.
I've always wanted
to learn to scuba dive. How do I get started?
The easiest way to get started is to sign up for one of
our classes. You will get a Starter kit. The Starter kit
contains; an Open Water dive manual, dive tables, and 2
videos. You read the book while you watch the videos at
home. We will schedule a convenient time for you to take
the short quizzes and the final exam. Then we are off to
the pool to practice what you read and watched. Once you
have mastered the pool skills we go diving and you are
certified after the fourth dive. You can be a PADI
Certified SCUBA Diver in three easy steps; class, pool,
diving. It's that easy! your instructors believe the
best way to learn how to SCUBA dive is by actually
diving. your instructors emphasize diving and maximize
your time underwater practicing Scuba diving.
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.
PADI's entry-level diver course is split into knowledge
development, confined water (pool) skill training and
four scuba training dives. The course is
"performance based," which means that you
progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and
skill.
Does it only take
three days!?
PADI courses are "performance based," which
means that you only earn your scuba certification when
you demonstrate that you have mastered the required
skills and knowledge. Some people learn faster than
others, so how long it takes you may vary. The PADI Open
Water Diver course (beginning scuba) is typically split
into five or six sessions with tremendous flexibility.
The course may be scheduled over as little as three or
four days, or as much as five or six weeks, or something
in between depending upon student needs and logistics.
As a rule of thumb, most students complete their initial
certification in about twenty-five hours spread over 2
or 3 weekends. The academic session takes about 8 hours,
the pool a minimum of 4 hours, usually in three 4 hours
sessions. You must master all the pool skills before
going on the 4 Checkout dives. The 4 checkout dives are
completed over 2 days with no more than 3 dives
completed in one day. So yes, it is rare but you could
complete your PADI scuba certification in as little as 3
days. We can do class and pool on Friday and go diving
Saturday and Sunday. Your instructors teach most scuba
lessons over 2 or 3 weekends.
Do I have to be a
great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water
Diver?
No. All you need to be is a reasonably proficient
swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water. The
swimming requirement for certification is an easy 183
meter/200 yard nonstop swim (with no time or specific
stroke requirement) and 10 minute tread/float.
What's in a scuba
tank? Oxygen?
Recreational divers breathe air, not oxygen. It's
filtered to remove impurities, but otherwise, it's air
like you're breathing now.
How long does a tank
of air last?
This is a common question that, unfortunately, doesn't
have a single answer. People breathe at different rates,
and you breathe faster when you're swimming than when
you're resting. Also, the deeper you go, the more you
use your air, and, you can get different size tanks. So,
the answer is "it depends;" this is why divers
have a gauge that tell them how much air they have at
all times. As an approximation, a diver sightseeing in
calm, warm water at 20 to 30 feet deep can expect the
average tank to last about an hour.
My ears hurt when I
dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't they hurt when I
scuba dive?
Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your
ear drum. In your scuba course, you'll learn a simple
technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding
pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane,
and they won't hurt at all.
Is scuba diving
dangerous?
Not really. Statistics show that recreational scuba
diving is about as safe as swimming. Certainly there are
potential hazards -- which is why you need training and
certification -- but like driving a car, as long as you
follow the rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe.
To put it in perspective, the drive in your car to go
diving is more dangerous than the diving.
Do I have to buy
SCUBA gear?
No you don't have to buy SCUBA gear. I provide Scuba
tanks, buoyancy compensator, regulator, and weight belt.
You will have to have a mask, fins and snorkel. Most
dive shops rent gear and don't charge students rental
during class. A complete set of dive gear rents for $40
to $60. You can buy all of your own gear (BCD, Regulator
with SPG and Octo) for as low as $600. I recommend you
buy good gear. Don't skimp on your life support gear.
Mine cost about $1400. You can always get the best gear
at the best prices at Parrot Island Dive Shop
Why are some Scuba
Instructors so much cheaper than others?
Most SCUBA Instructors charge about the same for
complete certification, between $350 and $450.The
difference is some instructors do not tell you about all
the costs. Be careful, 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 Independent or
Private Scuba Instructor who will give you better
friendlier personal service.
Questions to ask your instructor.
-Does that price include the four Open Water Dives?
Where? (+ $180 to $380)
-Does that price include the book? The book, log book
and dive tables retail for about (+$59).
-Does that price include the SCUBA gear or free rental
for the four Open Water Dives?(+$60)
-How many students will be in your class? Some dive
shops wait until they have a big crowd of students for
class.
-Does that price include the PADI registration and your
Scuba Certification card? (+$25)
You might end up paying more than you expected. Beginning SCUBA is taught in three parts Class, Pool
training, and Diving. You must complete all three Parts
to be a certified scuba diver. Some instructors break up
the payments and advertise only the first payment. You
end up paying 2 or 3 time what you expected. Your
instructors suggest you ask how much for each part and
what is included in the price. Add them ALL up, you
might be surprised. Also make sure you know when and
where you will make your four Open Water Checkout Dives.
A Florida trip can add another$380 to your cost. Your
instructors charge $250 for a Texas Certification trip.
It is recommend that you meet and talk to each instructor face to
face before you make a decision.
What are the Bends
A long time ago when the workers were breathing
compressed air while working underwater, sometimes they
would get decompression sickness or "the
Bends". Their joints would hurt and make them bend
over. This is caused by staying under water too long and
coming up too fast. Tiny bubbles would form in their
joints, something like the tiny bubbles form in a soda
bottle when you open it. Just like the soda bottle, if
you shake it and open it too soon or fast too many
bubbles will form. With all the new technology "the
bends" is easily avoided. PADI divers are
recreational divers. Your instructors will teach you how
to safely dive within the limits so you will never get
the bends. Don't worry diving is fun, easy and safe.
Your instructors will teach you how to relax and enjoy
your dive.
I lost my
Certification card how can I get it replaced?
The best way is to tell you instructor, he can take care
of it for you. Any PADI instructor can help you. Most
instructors charge between $20 and $25 to replace your
card. You may need another passport sized picture. If
you forgot your C-Card while on vacation, PADI has a
member check on-line or by calling 1-800-729-7234,
1-800-SAY-PADI.
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 your
instructors 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 your
instructors 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 your instructors 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% your instructors 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
Prior to completing Open Water dive 1 you must practice
and master the following skills in confined water dive 1
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
Prior to completing Open Water dive 2 you must practice
and
master the following skills in confined water dives 2
& 3.
2 and 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
Prior to completing Open Water dives 3 & 4 you must
practice and master the following skills in confined
water dives 4 & 5
4 and 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
"Scuba
Diving For Fun" is a diving group out of Lubbock
Texas.
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