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Is it hard to learn to scuba
dive?
How do I get started learning to scuba dive?
How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
How old do you have to be to become a certified diver?
Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as an
Open Water Diver?
Is scuba diving expensive?
What equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons?
I have a medical history. Can I still dive?
My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Will they
hurt when I dive?
What are the different certifications?
How long does a tank of air last?
Which piece of equipment should I buy first?
Can I dive in contact lenses?
Are sharks a big concern?
Is scuba diving dangerous?
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. 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.
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How do I get started
learning to scuba dive?
The best way is to visit a local Dive Center. See our
Links page for some recommendations.
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How long does it take to become
a certified scuba diver?
The PADI Open Water Diver course (the beginning course) is typically
split into five or six sessions with tremendous flexibility. The
course may be scheduled over as little as 3 or 4 days, or as much as 5 or 6
weeks, or anything in between, depending upon the student needs and
logistics. As a rule of thumb, most students complete their initial
certification in 3 or 4 weeks.
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How old do you have to be to
become a certified diver?
12 years old. If you're between 12 and 15, you receive a Junior Open
Water Diver certification, which means you should dive with a certified
adult. When you turn 15, you can upgrade your Junior certification to
a regular Open Water Diver certification.
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Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as an Open Water Diver?
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
200 yard non-stop swim (with no time or specific stroke requirement) and 10
minutes treading water.
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Is scuba diving expensive?
Like any hobby or recreation, you can invest a lot or a little, depending
upon your interest level. Because most dive centers and resorts rent
equipment, you can invest in equipment over time, renting what you don't
have until you make the investment. Besides distant dive destinations, you
probably have good diving not too far from where you live, so even travel
costs are flexible enough to accommodate even the tightest budget. To pick
an average, most people find the costs of scuba diving similar to those
associated with snow skiing.
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What
equipment do I need before I take scuba lessons?
Scuba courses vary in what
equipment they provide, so it's best to check with your instructor ahead of
time. Generally speaking, though, you'll probably want your own mask,
snorkel and fins, which are all pieces of equipment that are most
comfortable when personally fitted. Your local Dive Center or Resort can
help you select quality equipment that fits right and lasts.
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I have medical history. Can I still dive?
To do a diving course you will first be required to have a dive medical.
Failing this medical, or having certain pre-existing medical conditions such
as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and epilepsy will prevent you from
diving. So will pregnancy.
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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 eardrum. 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.
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I'm planning on getting
certified. I've been to several shops, and they all offer different
certifications. I've heard of PADI, NAUI, YMCA, NASDS and SSI. Which one
should I go with?
This question is frequently asked. The short answer is that agencies
all must follow a minimum standard set by an industry organization, so they
differ less than you might expect. However, instructors differ a lot, and
you should try to talk to the instructor you will be taking the course from
and determine exactly what will be offered, and how you feel about them.
Finally, some instructors add significantly to the standard course (and may
also charge more). You should ask exactly what you are going to get for your
course fees, what else you will have to buy, and where you have to buy it.
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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
faster 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, though, a diver sightseeing in calm, warm water in the
15 foot to 30 foot range can expect the average tank to last about an hour.
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I'm new to diving, and I want
to buy some equipment. Which piece of equipment should be the first?
There are two schools of thought on this. One is that you should
consider only purchasing your personal gear until you are sure what type of
diving you like. This school believes you should buy only mask, fins, and
snorkel, for fit and sanitary reasons. The other school of thought is that
the rental gear you can rent, especially in tropical locations, is second
rate and poorly maintained, and that gear you purchase will be better and
more reliable. Typically, people agree that you should not buy a tank until
you believe that you will be doing a significant amount of local diving.
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Can I dive in contact lenses?
The safety of contacts revolves around several issues:
Will nitrogen absorption affect the contacts?
It is possible that non-gas-permeable contacts will get bubbles under them. For this reason, if you do wear contacts, they should be gas permeable or soft, or they should have holes drilled in them.
What is the likelihood of losing a contact under water?
If you get water in your mask, and you open your eyes, you might lose a contact. It might stay in your mask, in which case you can possibly recover it. If you will be dangerous to yourself without contacts, (not able to see well enough to find the boat, and not used to dealing with things by sound) then this could be serious. You also have to consider the possibility that your mask will come off underwater, and that you will have to open your eyes to find it and replace it, and that your contacts might come off during this process. Losing contacts in the water has happened to a number of people.
What about the possibility of infection?
You are always at increased risk of eye infection when you wear contacts. There is some possibility that there are bacteria in the water that will increase the risk of eye infection. Quick treatment in the case of contact related infection is important.At least one study has indicated that there is an increased possibility of Acanthamoeba infection when swimming with contact lenses. Other practitioners, who do prescribe soft contacts for swimmers, claim that there is no proof that the contacts were the proximate cause of the infections, but give no arguments as to why they feel that there is no correlation.
Are there any special considerations regarding soft contact lenses?
Yes. Dr. Soni, Associate professor of Optometry at Indiana University has participated in a study which showed that 100% of soft contact lenses used in pool swimming were contaminated, when cultured. Normally, soft contact lenses are made up of a certain percentage of water. They absorb this water from your tears, and the amount of water they absorb is at least partially dependent on the salt content of your tears. When you swim with contact lenses, and you open your eyes, the lens readjust to the water content of the liquid you are swimming in. This causes them to stick to your corneas. It is claimed that it takes 1/2 hour after swimming for the lenses to equilibrate to tears, and that removal of the lenses before they equilibrate can damage the cornea, creating a "clear passage into the cornea for the bacteria from the contaminated lenses, which will cause infection." Even practitioners who strongly believe in swimming with contact lenses feel that disclaimers should be given when prescribing the lenses for this purpose. The lenses are not approved by the US FDA for swimming, but this may be just because no tests have been done.
Now, many people wear contacts
in the ocean without problems, whereas others prefer prescription masks. If
you have simple myopia, there are several brands of masks with snap in
lenses that can be made up quickly in your dive shop. If you have a more
complex prescription, there are optometrists who can glue lenses into your
mask. Many people seem to really like these.
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In the movies and on TV, divers
are always running into sharks or eels. Are marine animals really much
of a concern?
Virtually all aquatic animals are passive or timid. There are a few that
can bite or sting defensively, but you can avoid these simply by watching
where you put your hands and feet, and by not touching any animal you don't
recognize. Divers aren't natural prey for sharks, so shark attacks are very
rare -- more people die each year from bee stings than shark attack.
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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.
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For more information e-mail us at
info@southshoreneptunes.org