So, you’re about to take up scuba diving— lucky you! Scuba diving is an exhilarating new experience and one which will provide you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. But although it’s super simple to learn, there’s more to scuba diving than popping on a mask and jumping in. In fact, before you ever take your first dive, it’s important to get your diving certification. If this is news to you, you’re not alone— many people are unfamiliar with the certification process, and that’s why we’ve made a list of our top tips to help you get started.
Can You Dive Without Certification?
The short answer is yes, but please don’t stop reading there! Because unlike the process of learning to drive— you pass a test, get your license, and you’re good to go— learning to scuba dive doesn’t work that way. Similarly, if you fail to get proper certification and obtain a diving license, you’re not in danger of legal action in the same way you would be if you drove without a license. But not getting arrested isn’t really the point. Rather, being certified to scuba dive is important because it can save your life.
That’s why, even if you start your first dive in the context of a vacation package, pretty much any dive center, dive boat, or other type of scuba diving operator has the mandatory requirement that you become certified before diving with them. And if you’re thinking it’s better to avoid the hassle and find someone who won’t insist on that, we would suggest that you exercise extreme caution, as the companies who are lax about these safety regulations are likely to risk your safety in other areas as well.
So, while it is possible to dive without certification, we strongly advise against it for your safety. We would also caution you never to dive alone.
Why is it so Important to Get Certified?
Although we’ve already mentioned that scuba diving can be dangerous, it’s important for new divers to get the facts about why. Although our goal is not to scare new divers, we do want you to be aware of the risks so that you can protect yourself accordingly and have a fun and safe dive. With that said, you should be aware that some of the biggest risks associated with diving include:
- Decompression sickness
- Arterial air embolism
- Drowning
Decompression sickness occurs because the ocean is not our natural environment; unlike fish, people aren’t designed to withstand the weight of so much water or to breathe naturally whilst underwater for long periods of time. Tanks of compressed air help us, of course, but they bring their own risks. Because when we breathe in compressed air while we’re also deep under water, our bodies can absorb more nitrogen than it’s safe for them to handle. So, when you return to your land, you may find that your body has absorbed too much nitrogen and thus resulting in nitrogen bubbles arising within your body’s tissue.
Arterial air embolisms are a direct result of decompression sickness because they occur when nitrogen bubbles form in an artery as you resurface. This can in turn block blood flow throughout your body. And although these complications can be extremely painful— and even result in death— the good news is that they are both rare and preventable through the practice of appropriate diving safety protocols. But unless you take a diving course from a certified diving instructor and learn those safety tips, you won’t know how to prevent any of these dangers.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Scuba Certified?
By now, we’re hoping that you agree with the importance of getting your scuba certification. And if you are, the first question on your mind is probably, “How much does it cost?” The simple answer is that it varies depending on your location and circumstance. If your dive occurs in the context of a vacation package, the fee for your certification and first test dive might be included, although some resorts do require that you get certified before diving with them. So, if you’re checking out a dive center near you, your costs can vary based on the facility and the type of training they provide. However, a quick survey of basic certification courses offered by diving centers all around the US indicates that you’ll be looking at an average cost of between $350-$450.
Purchasing your own diving equipment incurs additional costs, of course, but unless you plan on taking up diving as a hobby, you may be able to avoid this cost if you simply go on a quick vacation dive.
What do You Have to do to Get Certified?
Much like taking your driving test, the process of getting certified to dive involves a few different components: the academic part, which is typically taught in a classroom and involves learning a lot about diving basics, confined dive training, where you’ll practice your technical diving skills in a safe space like a pool first, and finally, open water training, when you’ll get to practice in the ocean for the first time. Although it might sound like a lot of work, in practice, it’s really not too bad!
Learning about best diving practices through an online course prepares you for knowing what to do when you get in the water, and practicing in a pool gives you a chance to get comfortable applying what you’ve learned before you’re (literally) thrown into the deep end. It also doesn’t take as long as you might expect, either! In fact, your entire diving certification can be completed over the course of two or three weekends, which means that you get to learn a fun new skill without sacrificing too much of your time. Win-win, right!
So, while there are lots of cool things to learn about scuba diving, the steps to getting your certification are some of the most important. We hope these tips help you get started, and if you have any questions that aren’t answered on this list, feel free to reach out to us! We’d love to help!