Scuba Certification:
Questions to Ask Before Getting Certified
Learning how to scuba dive is your
ticket to the ultimate underwater adventure. The scuba
certification that you earn is internationally recognized,
never expires, and allows you to rent or purchase your own
diving equipment.
You’ll soon discover, however, that there is no shortage of
dive companies out there competing for your hard earned
dollars. It can be a daunting task trying to find one that has
a proven track record of honesty, integrity, and reliability,
while at the same time providing a positive certification
experience for both you and your family.
To help you comparison shop, I’ve compiled a list of
questions any potential certification student needs to ask
before getting certified. (There are a number of different
scuba training organizations that a dive company can be
affiliated with. This article deals primarily with
certification courses sanctioned by PADI: Professional
Association of Diving Instructors, the largest scuba training
organization in the world).
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How Long Does The Certification Course Last?
Scuba certification is performance based, meaning
there is no set amount of hours required for
completion. You move from one level to the next during
the course at your own pace. You will find that most
PADI certification courses advertised are based around
an estimated 3 day time frame for completion. For the
average person, however, this may not be enough time. 4
days for certification is a much more realistic
goal.
-
How Much Does The Certification Course Cost?
Lowball prices are designed for 2 reasons.... to
attract your attention, and to get you in the door. The
hidden charges for the course, such as books and
equipment rental, are conveniently never advertised.
Look for an all inclusive certification course
experience. Remember, in the end, you always get what
you pay for.
-
Are References Available From The Most Recent
Students?
Always ask for phone or E-mail references from the
most recent certification students who have just
completed the course. Don’t settle for written quotes
that are years old and taken from some database of
generic customer comments. If a lame excuse or
noncommittal answer is given, take your business
elsewhere. A quality dive operation that has nothing to
hide will be happy to provide such references.
- Who Is The Instructor?
- How Long Have They Been An Instructor?
- How Many People Have They Certified?
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How Many Certification Courses Have They Taught?
Good instructors, who have an extensive resume of
experience teaching scuba certification courses, are
extremely hard to find. Dive shops have a notoriously
high turnover ratio of scuba instructors to staff. Many
of the ones who are there are recent hires, and have
very little real world experience. They also work long
hours for very little money, generally getting paid by
the activity, not by the hour. Insist on someone who
has certified at least 25 people, and has been teaching
a minimum of one year.
-
Is The Instructor First Aid/CPR Certified?
While PADI doesn’t require its scuba instructors to
hold these important certifications, any instructor
who’s serious about teaching a certification course
needs to go the extra mile and make this a requirement,
not an option.
-
Will The Course Be Taught Using Rotating
Instructors?
This is a common practice some dive operations use
where one instructor “Team Teaches” the course with
another, exposing you to differing personalities and
teaching methods that will only confuse you. Unless you
are doing a referral certification, where you are
starting and finishing your course in different
locations, steer clear.
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Will Both Instructor And Student Use Similar
Equipment Setups During The Course?
When both instructor and student are using the same
brand of scuba gear, and have similarly designed
equipment configurations, it allows students to learn
faster and easier, both in and out of the water, during
the certification course.
-
Will The Course Incorporate A Giant RDP Table Into
The Academic Sessions?
Learning how to use the dive tables is perhaps the
toughest academic challenge a student faces during the
certification course. A quality dive operation will
have available a giant version of the standard dive
table, allowing students to more easily master this
important academic information.
-
Can I Get A Student Discount After Getting
Certified?
Any reputable dive operation should give you a
generous student discount towards future diving
activities and/or equipment purchases you make from
them, in appreciation for taking their certification
course.
About The Author: Jay Umbenhauer has been a
PADI instructor in Hawaii for more than 12 years, and
has certified 100’s of individuals who now travel this
Earth in search of the ultimate dive. His dive company,
Scuba Gods, based on Maui, features first class
service, professional scuba instruction, and
all-inclusive pricing. Learn more at www.scubagods.com thescubagod@hotmail.com
Scuba Diving
This is the official
manual for the YMCA Scuba Diving Program, so this is book
you'll want to have before AND after you get
certified. Well written and easy to
understand so beginners can feel confident when making
dives. Click here >>
Official Scuba Diving Manual
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