Scuba Diving Classes - Do I Need Them If I Only Want to Dive Once?
"I've never gone diving but I'm going on a vacation and the resort features a dive spot.
I just want to try it once or twice.
Do I still need to take scuba diving classes?" People ask this question all the time and the answer is, theoretically, no.
But it goes deeper than that and the answer is seldom so simple.
In theory, you can dive every day for the rest of your life without ever taking scuba diving classes.
The catch is that without an open water certificate, you have to be with a dive master or an instructor every single time.
Still, this is fine if you are going on a vacation and happen to have a couple of dives included in the package.
The resort should include the dive master as part of it.
It will be a nice introduction to the pleasures of scuba diving.
We did say that it is seldom so simple, and here's why: it is the rare individual who gets to try scuba diving without getting hooked.
Chances are he or she will want to do it again and again; the activity is simply too enjoyable to just do once.
As for the people who don't enjoy this introductory dive, a lot of the time the reason can be precisely because they didn't have the skills, knowledge, or comfort level that one will acquire in scuba diving classes, and therefore were not able to make the most of the dive.
Unless you are in very singular (and lucky) circumstances, diving with a dive master all the time will cost a lot more than getting your open water certification.
Completing scuba diving classes is not particularly hard for anyone who is reasonably fit, and in North America a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified course should cost around 300 to 500 dollars, and that earns you a non-expiring Open Water Certificate allowing you to dive to 60 feet (18 meters) with a buddy with a similar, or higher level, certificate.
Note that diving with a buddy is always the way to go, unless you are qualified for solo diving which uses a different set of techniques and equipment.
In any case, you will need that basic Open Water Certificate before you can take any other advanced courses.
In short, if you are ever able to go diving once, then chances are you will want to do it again and as often as you can.
If you get bitten by the bug then the most practical, least expensive, and all-around best route is to take your scuba diving classes first and earn your certificate.
I just want to try it once or twice.
Do I still need to take scuba diving classes?" People ask this question all the time and the answer is, theoretically, no.
But it goes deeper than that and the answer is seldom so simple.
In theory, you can dive every day for the rest of your life without ever taking scuba diving classes.
The catch is that without an open water certificate, you have to be with a dive master or an instructor every single time.
Still, this is fine if you are going on a vacation and happen to have a couple of dives included in the package.
The resort should include the dive master as part of it.
It will be a nice introduction to the pleasures of scuba diving.
We did say that it is seldom so simple, and here's why: it is the rare individual who gets to try scuba diving without getting hooked.
Chances are he or she will want to do it again and again; the activity is simply too enjoyable to just do once.
As for the people who don't enjoy this introductory dive, a lot of the time the reason can be precisely because they didn't have the skills, knowledge, or comfort level that one will acquire in scuba diving classes, and therefore were not able to make the most of the dive.
Unless you are in very singular (and lucky) circumstances, diving with a dive master all the time will cost a lot more than getting your open water certification.
Completing scuba diving classes is not particularly hard for anyone who is reasonably fit, and in North America a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified course should cost around 300 to 500 dollars, and that earns you a non-expiring Open Water Certificate allowing you to dive to 60 feet (18 meters) with a buddy with a similar, or higher level, certificate.
Note that diving with a buddy is always the way to go, unless you are qualified for solo diving which uses a different set of techniques and equipment.
In any case, you will need that basic Open Water Certificate before you can take any other advanced courses.
In short, if you are ever able to go diving once, then chances are you will want to do it again and as often as you can.
If you get bitten by the bug then the most practical, least expensive, and all-around best route is to take your scuba diving classes first and earn your certificate.