How to Get Started in Scuba Diving

Have you ever have dreamed of floating weightlessly like an astronaut, investigating unusual species like a field researcher, or looking for lost objects like a treasure hunter? Scuba diving can make these dreams a reality! Scuba diving is relatively easy and only requires a short period of training to get started. Whether your goal in diving is fish watching, ocean conservation or simply meeting other adventurous people, 70% of the globe becomes accessible to you the moment you learn to breathe underwater!

Here are three easy steps to start your journey into the underwater world:

Step One: Determine If You Meet The Physical Prerequisites for Scuba Diving
With contemporary advances in dive equipment, medicine and training, people of all ages and sizes can safely learn to dive. Most people who have a basic level of physical fitness and are comfortable in the water can scuba dive.

There are, however, a few medical conditions which are contraindicated for scuba diving. Be sure to read the fitness for diving/ dive medical questionnaire before enrolling in a scuba diving course.

• Health and age prerequisites for scuba diving.

• Open Water Diver Swimming Tests

Step Two: Choose a Scuba Diving Course
While diving (like any sport) has some inherent risks, these risks can be effectively managed when divers learn to check and use their gear properly and to follow safe diving guidelines. A wide variety of scuba diving courses is available to allow divers to start enjoying the underwater world safely.

Most scuba diving centers offer everything from “try dives” (where curious people can show up and try scuba diving in a pool with no commitment) to open water courses which certify a diver for life.

Scuba Diving Certification Agencies
Decide on an Open Water Course Format
One Day Experience Courses
What Is Open Water Certification?

Step Three: Buy or Rent Dive Gear
Scuba diving is an equipment-dependent sport. A diver needs a full set of well-maintained, properly fitting scuba gear before he can start diving. Most scuba diving courses include rental gear in the price of the course, so it is not essential that a diver own a complete set of gear. In fact, many divers never purchase a full set of gear but prefer to rent gear or purchase only personal items such as wetsuits, fins, and masks.

Of course, owning your dive gear has many advantages. Divers who own dive gear can be certain of its fit, function, and maintenance, and they are usually more comfortable and confident underwater than those who do not.

Masks
Fins
Snorkels
Regulators

There you have it! Three easy steps to start your journey into the underwater world of scuba diving. Whether your goal is fish watching, ocean conservation or simply meeting other adventurous people, 70% of the globe becomes accessible to you the moment you learn to breathe underwater!