Scuba Diver Course

Description
This entry level scuba certification course provides the fundamental knowledge and skills to scuba dive.

Goals
Upon successful completion graduates are considered competent to engage in open water activities without supervision provided the areas dove and conditions approximate those used in training.

Prerequisites
Age 12-14 for junior certification and 15+ for Scuba Diver

Gear required
Students must have their own mask, fins, booties, snorkel and wet suit if desired. If you do not own them already you may wait for the first class which will be held in a local dive shop and teaches how select and care for your equipment.

Academics
Approximately 14 hours. Topics to include how pressure affects the body, buoyancy, underwater environment, how to calculate maximum dive times using both the NAUI dive tables and dive computers, and the number one topic through-out the course "Dive Safety". Learn how to prevent and handle emergencies.

Pool work
Swim test. How to setup and use your equipment. Basic skills such as clearing your mask of water, sharing air from one tank by both the use of an alternate air source (octopus regulator) and by passing one regulator back and forth (buddy breathing). For those of you who are already divers I just want to state that we do not preach buddy breathing as an acceptable alternative in a real situation. It is however a great pool drill. It teaches how to effectively work as buddy teams and t builds confidence. After completing the drills included in our course, our divers not only know the skills they need but they have confidence in this fact.

Dives
1 beach entry skin dive
2 simple beach entry scuba dives to complete drills
2 boat dives to put those skills to work

Included in the course
Pool charges, plastic dive tables, book, dvd, audio cd, scuba diver certification associated fee and the use of all major gear (buoyancy compensator, regulator with octopus, pressure gauge, compass, depth gauge and tanks with air fills)