Scubba Diving Certification

[suwoogie]

Can you get certified on one of the islands, or do you have to be certified before you get there?

 

[myboysmom]

Hi,

I don't know about getting certified while you are on your trip. I do know that it takes some time to get certified. You have classroom or book time, pool diving time and then ocean diving time. I don't know how you would manage to get certified while on a cruise.

I know that people on week long trips to the Keys and have wanted to get certified while they are there have spent. They spent much time in class and pool. I believe 32 hours in total are required to be certified.

You may want to get your certification done ahead of time at a local Y or dive shop. 32 hours is a lot of time when you are on a vacation.

 

[lrodptl]

Some vacation spots do offer quickie certifications but they carry no weight outside of that resort.My certification was 5 3 hour classes followed by 5 2 hour pool slots. It was followed by 2 6 hour ocean dives and 5 quizzes and 1 written exam.

 

[tinksdad]

You've gotten some good info so far. It's been my understanding that the "resort" scuba courses are a good choice for those who have limited time. They will give you the basic skills, and take you underwater on scuba WITH an instructor or Dive Master. You can't go off on your own since you are not certified. This is a great way to see if you like scuba.

If have the opportunity to get the basic class work done prior to your vacation, you can do a "Referral" which takes the open water part of the class to a tropical location. Check with your local dive shop about the options.

My preference would be to recommend that you get certified prior to going. This way you stay with the same instructor which keeps the information and his/her understanding of your strengths and weaknesses known.

The shop I work with has basically two different types of classes; The two times a week for about 4 hours for eight sessions (pool work is 2 hours for seven of those) and a four session Saturday class for about 7 hours. The open water portion of the classes take place a our local dive spot which is about 2 hours away and last a weekend.

It's always a good thing to get comfortable in the water with the gear prior to heading out on vacation too.


hope that helped.

 

[TiggerKing]

Some resorts, and some dive shops in the Carribbean offer what is called a "Resort Certification". This is where you attend a class which lasts approximately 1-2 hours, and are then allowed to make a dive with a certified divemaster. The dives are normally kept to minimal depths (i.e. no deeper than 30 to 40 feet).

The drawback to this type of "certification" is that it is only good for the company teaching you, and only for that day. You would not be able to hook up with any other diving excursions.

My suggestion is that you find a local dive shop with an indoor pool that offers a compressed certification. These courses are normally held Friday evening, and then all day Saturday and Sunday. There is a cost factor, plus you will still have to make a series of open water check out dive. So, there is a monetary and time commitment.

Hope this helps.

 

[AKB]

Does anyone know how old you have to be to get certified? I have a 12 and 15 year old who would like to go scuba diving.
Thank You,
Kathy

 

[RickW]

Originally posted by AKB
Does anyone know how old you have to be to get certified? I have a 12 and 15 year old who would like to go scuba diving.

A lot of info can be found at http://www.padi.com/

To answer your specific question:

5. How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?
You must be at least ten years old to receive a Junior Open Water Diver Certification. Ten and 11 year old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet. 12 to 14 year olds must dive with a certified adult. At age 15, the Junior certification upgrades to a regular Open Water Diver certification.

 

[AKB]

Rick,
Thanks for the information!!!
Kathy

 

[tvguy]

I got my certification in college as part of a class. It was a combo Marine Biology P.E. class. It took several weeks working in the University pool (in December, DURING dead and finals week).....then did my certification dive in Hawaii when we got there. Spent 3 weeks camping on beaches in Hawaii and doing 2 or 3 dives a day. Most of the time was on Lanai, mind you this was in 1977 when there were no hotels at all on Lanai, it was still owned by Dole....and you had to have a permit to camp out.
It was a great experience, but haven't scubaed since. I would have to redo everything anyway............and I just got new life insurance, and the additional premimum they charge for certified divers who actively dive is crazy. Glad I got a chance to do it, but I won't be doing anything but snorkeling anymore.

 

[MCazer]

My husband and I took a Princess cruise a few years ago, and after doing a search on Google, they still seem to offer PADI certification onboard

"Princess Cruises, for example, offers full PADI certification on all seven day cruises to the Caribbean in their "New Waves" scuba program. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers their "Dive In" scuba program"

Princess New Wave. Always wanted to learn to scuba dive? On selected seven-day itineraries you can earn your certification as you cruise the Caribbean. Princess' unique New Waves program offers full P.A.D.I. Open Water scuba certification and snorkeling instruction as well as guided certified scuba and snorkeling tours, snorkeling equipment rentals and a variety of related retail items.

 

[Scott H]

"Princess Cruises, for example, offers full PADI certification on all seven day cruises to the Caribbean in their "New Waves" scuba program. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers their "Dive In" scuba program"

I wish DCL would do this, because I know a PADI instructor and Divemaster who would love to do this.

 

[TiggerKing]

Margaret:

Great picture with the shark! I haven't had the opportunity to dive since 1992, and it is driving me crazy. Last dive (in St. Thomas), I was introduced to a 4 ft. barracuda. We were a little closer than I desired.

 

[suwoogie]

Thanks for all the great information on scuba diving! WOW, I never expected all this.

Thank you

 

[lrodptl]

The benefit of certification classes that extend over weeks vs. days is absorption of content and repetition. Cramming uses a lot of short term memory and weekly classes require getting in and out of equipment more frequently,very beneficial. I've seen countless people on dive boats connecting tanks wrong etc. Makes me wonder. Remember you're in over your head!

 

[MCazer]

We got certified in 1992 on Long Island, and did our check out dives in Bayville on Halloween and the day after. It was so cold, in full wetsuit with hood.

We could not see further than 2 feet. We were on our knees holding onto a line so we could remove our mask and put it back on and clear it.

But as we were waiting for the instructor to get to each of us, and not being able to see anyone else there, I tell you, you became very nervous that you were all alone!

Well, not a week later I was diving in Grand Cayman on our Majesty of the Seas cruise! The visibility that day was about 150 feet. Big difference, especially with no wetsuit and hood!

We try to scuba dive every chance we get. On our honeymoon in 1993, we went to Turks and Caicos for 9 days, with 2 dives a day for 7 of those days!

The best dives were the shark dives in Nassau (Oct 2000) That is where the picture is from. One of the sharks actually brushed my face with his fin! I have 4 shark teeth from that feeding!

I'd do it again in a minute!