So You Want to Learn to Scuba Dive? Here’s What You Need to Know

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 a few things you need to know before learning to scuba dive:

1. Anyone Can Learn to Scuba Dive

Most people think that scuba diving is only for the young and athletic. But that’s not true! People of all ages and sizes can learn to dive. In fact, many diving instructors are retired people who have been diving for decades.

2. You Don’t Need to be a Strong Swimmer

You also don’t need to be a strong swimmer to scuba dive. As long as you can swim 200 yards (182 meters) and float for 10 minutes, you can scuba dive. Of course, being a strong swimmer will make diving more enjoyable.

3. Scuba Diving is Safe

Scuba diving is actually one of the safest sports in the world. The chance of having a serious accident while diving is about the same as the chance of being struck by lightning.

4. You Don’t Need to Hold Your Breath

One of the most common misconceptions about scuba diving is that you need to hold your breath. This is not true! In fact, it’s dangerous to hold your breath while diving because it can cause an air embolism.

5. You Don’t Need to Be Certified to Dive

While it’s not necessary to be certified to dive, it is strongly recommended. Divers who are not certified are not covered by dive insurance and are not allowed to rent dive equipment. Most importantly, certified divers have a much better understanding of dive safety and are less likely to have an accident.

6. Certification Takes Less Than a Week

Getting certified is easy and only takes a few days. The first step is to take a scuba diving class, which will teach you the basic safety skills you need to know. Once you’ve completed the class, you’ll need to take a written exam and a practical exam. The practical exam is usually a series of simple skills, such as clearing water from your mask and regulator (your breathing apparatus).

7. You Can Start Diving Right Away

Once you’re certified, you can start diving right away! Most diving destinations have dive shops where you can rent equipment and sign up for dives. You can also join a dive club or take a liveaboard trip.

8. You Don’t Need Expensive Equipment

While scuba diving is not a cheap sport, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on equipment. If you plan on diving regularly, it’s worth it to invest in your own equipment. But if you’re only going to dive a few times a year, you can easily rent equipment from a dive shop.

9. You Don’t Need to Be in Shape

You also don’t need to be in shape to dive. Of course, being in good shape will make diving more enjoyable. But you don’t need to be a super athlete to dive. In fact, many divers are retired people who are not in excellent shape.

10. Diving is Addictive

Once you start diving, it’s hard to stop. Diving is an addictive sport because it’s so much fun! There are so many different things to see and do underwater, and each dive is a new adventure.