Scuba Diving 101: Everything You Need to Know About Getting Certified

Inspired by your friend’s scuba diving pictures or are those underwater Instagram reels calling to you? Then, it’s probably time to dive in—literally. Start with getting a scuba diving certification. Then take a holiday and explore a kingdom that is as far away from what we know on land you can’t even imagine! Here is all you need to know about doing it the right way.

Is a scuba certification worth it?

Yes, since without a scuba diving certification you are only allowed to dive under supervision, to a certain depth, and under certain conditions. You don’t actually get to explore the underwater world with this. Think about it. I mean, you can drive without a car license but you probably shouldn’t!

Is scuba diving dangerous?

Like any sport, scuba diving has inherent risks. This is especially true of water sports. Not to scare you, but these dangers include drowning, arterial air embolism, and decompression sickness (DCS, the “bends”).

How do I get started?

With all the scuba diving organizations and information online, starting this journey can be quite confusing. Make that your instructor is in a “teaching” status and has a current membership in their training organization. Their C-Card will reveal this to you.

All About Scuba Dive Certifications

Picking the right diving certifications or organizations

How can you pick the best company for you when there are so many options? Here is a table of the top 4 to make it simple for you.

Scuba Certifications Comparative Table

PADI

SSI 

SDI

NAUI

Discover Scuba Diving

Try Scuba

Scuba Discovery

Try Scuba

Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

Open Water Diver

Scuba Driver

Advanced Open Water Diver

Advanced Open Water Diver

Advanced Diver

Advanced Scuba Diver

Rescue Diver

Diver Stress and Rescue 

Rescue Diver

Rescue Scuba Diver

Dive Master

Dive Master

Dive Master

Dive Master

Becoming a Qualified Diver

Pick a reputable organization

There are other organizations that offer scuba diving certifications, but the Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the most well-known and reputable one.
Choose one of the large ones as a general rule. You will thereafter be able to dive anywhere in the globe thanks to your certification

Get the right certification

It’s crucial to get the best scuba diving certification course for your safety and enjoyment of the sport. There are many variables that influence your choice, but there are a few crucial aspects you should take into account before deciding.

What kind of diving (recreational, technical, rebreather, etc.) do you wish to be certified in, if you have a choice? How long will the course last, and how much is each day/weekend session going to cost? What the diving course you wish to take covers, as well as your time constraints, such as job or school schedules that may make this difficult.

Study, study study: Do your coursework

For the majority of dive courses, online learning, or eLearning programmes, are offered, and these come highly recommended. Nobody likes spending their vacation days in a classroom, so many individuals believe that studying theory online before their trip is a far better way to go about it. Additionally, it gives you extra time to go diving on your holiday

Get real: Open-water dives

Open water scuba certification is unrestricted water used for underwater diving, such as a sea, lake, or flooded quarries. It is the complete opposite of training in enclosed water, which is typically a swimming pool. The most widely recognised scuba certification in the world is a PADI Open Water Diver card, which is an open water diver certification.

Certification Time and Costs

How long does it take to get scuba certified?

This question’s response is highly dependent on your schedule. Self-study is required for the first certification phase, allowing you to read and learn the material at your own leisure. While some people need several days, others finish it in a few hours.

How much does a scuba certification cost?

Depending on the organization and the location of the course, the cost of scuba diving certification varies. Whether it is in-season or out-of-season will also affect the cost!
Your overall certification fee might be somewhere in the range of $400 and $600.
Scuba diving is arguably the best way to explore the incredible undersea realm, getting up close and personal with the marvels and secrets of this marine cosmos, with its breath-takingly vibrant and varied inhabitants. Happy diving, folks!

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