Share The LOVE Open Water Courses and Why They Are Important These courses are your step into having the freedom to dive independently, and they lay the foundation for future certifications. They provide essential knowledge and skills for safety and enjoyable diving experiences. Overview of PADI and Its Open Water Course Offerings The PADI Open Water Diver course is a PADI certification that can be done in as little as three days, but it’s recommended that you take at least 4-5 days to complete the course. This will give you enough time to learn the skills and knowledge needed to become a safe and confident open-water diver. The first step of your training will be learning how to use various equipment such as regulators and BCDs (buoyancy control devices). You’ll also learn how dive computers work and how they can help you while diving. Next comes knowledge development, where you’ll be taught about various marine life species found underwater so that when you see them during dives or anywhere else for that matter, they won’t seem like aliens from another planet! Once all this information has been absorbed by your brain cells, it’s time for skill development, where we teach all kinds of techniques, including buoyancy control techniques, such as hovering motionless underwater without kicking, and finning techniques, such as frog kick. Snorkeling techniques like clearing mask fogging up due to heavy breathing, etc. Surface swimming techniques such as treading water without sinking into deeper waters. List of Alternative Open Water Courses The following are examples of alternative open-water courses: PADI: Open Water Diver Course (PADI OW). The PADI Open Water Diver Certification is the most popular scuba diving certification in the world, with over 2 million students certified since it was first introduced in 1966. SDI: Open Water Diver Certification Course. This course is based on the same standards as PADI’s OW course but uses different materials and techniques to teach you how to scuba dive. It can be completed in as little as two days if you already have some experience with snorkeling or shallow water diving–or up to five days if this is your first time learning how to scuba dive at all! ISSDAC – International Scuba Schools: If you’re looking for an alternative way into this exciting sport, why not try something completely different? You could always opt for a freediving course instead! RAID: Rebreather Association of International Divers offers an Open Water 20 course emphasising buoyancy control and environmental awareness, creating responsible and skilled divers. SSI: Scuba Schools International offers an Open Water Diver course that is flexible in course structure, allowing for a more personalized learning experience tailored to each diver’s needs. NAUI: National Association of Underwater Instructors offers a Scuba Diver course focusing on individualized instruction and in-depth dive theory, creating knowledgeable and competent divers. Comparison to PADI, Highlighting Any Unique Features or Benefits There are a few key differences between these organizations. The first is the way that they teach you to dive. SDI, RAID, and SSI all follow a progressive skill development model, meaning you learn new skills as you progress through your course. This can be great for people who want to get into diving but don’t want to jump into it all at once. You can start with basic skills like buoyancy control and environmental awareness, then move on to more advanced ones like navigation and underwater communication later in your training program. NAUI takes an individualized approach instead of following this structure; they believe that each student learns differently so should have their personalized curriculum explicitly tailored around their needs and goals as divers (and this includes having less rigid requirements). Additional Resources for Learning More About Open Water Courses and Choosing the Right One If you’re interested in learning more about open water courses and choosing the right one for you, check out these resources: Dive center websites. Most dive centers have detailed information about their programs on their websites. You can also contact them directly if you have questions or want to schedule a lesson. Online forums and social media groups. There are many online forums where scuba divers discuss everything from favorite dive sites to equipment recommendations. Some popular ones include ScubaBoard (www.scubaboard.com), Scubaboard Open Water Forum (www.scubaboardopenwaterforum), and Reddit’s /r/ScubaDiving community (https://www.*reddit.*com/r/scubadiving). Scuba diving magazines and websites like Diver Magazine (http://divermagazine.*com/) provide valuable information about new trends in the industry as well as tips for beginners looking into taking an open water course at their local dive shop Researching Dive Centers Read reviews– You can find a lot of information about dive centers in online reviews, including how well they cater to beginners and what their customer service is like. Ask questions- Before you sign up for any kind of course or certification, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into–and ask plenty of questions! Talk to other divers (or even just friends who have been scuba diving)- People who have already gone through the process will be able to give you insight into what it’s like at different dive centers and help guide your decision-making process Choosing an Instructor When choosing an instructor, you should look for someone with experience. It’s also important to ask questions about their qualifications and references. If you have a friend who has taken an open water course from this person, ask them about their experience with the instructor. Choosing the Right Open Water Scuba Diving Course There are a few things to consider when looking for an open water course. First, the structure of the course will vary depending on where you take it and what level of certification you want. Some courses are taught in a classroom setting, while others occur entirely on-site at your chosen dive location. You should also inquire whether your instructor has any certifications themselves (some instructors may be certified but not to teach). Additionally, think about how much time you want to spend learning to dive before heading out into open waters. Then compare this with how much money is being charged by each school/instructor so that there’s no sticker shock when it comes time for payment. Finally, don’t forget about safety. While some locations may seem safer than others based on their reputation alone (for example some people think Hawaii is better than Florida), there are still risks with any scuba diving experience regardless of location. So make sure whoever teaches your class knows what they are doing before signing up with them. Purchasing Equipment When you’re ready to purchase your gear, think about a mask/snorkel, fins, and dive computer first. These three things are easy to transport and the something that you want to fit and work well. Be sure to consider these factors: Quality– Make sure that the equipment is well-made and durable. You don’t want it falling apart on you during training or in open water! Comfort– This includes both physical comfort (e.g., whether the mask fits well) and psychological comfort (e.g., knowing that if something goes wrong underwater, your buddy will be there). Budgeting– Multiple purchases over time may be necessary if you need new gear every few years due to wear-and-tear or growing out of sizes quickly as children grow up into adults Safety and Preparation Before you start, it’s important to understand the risks involved in open water courses. These courses can be dangerous if you don’t prepare properly or have a good instructor. Review safety procedures– Reviewing safety procedures with your instructor is crucial because it’s important to know what to do in case of emergency situations. Practice skills- Practicing skills such as swimming and treading water will help build confidence before taking an open water course so that you feel prepared when it comes time for real-life situations! In Summary Open water courses are the first step towards becoming a certified scuba diver. They provide essential knowledge and skills that help you decide whether or not you want to pursue diving as a hobby. Check out our comparison table above to learn more about open water courses! Written By: Teagan Kane (Teagan the Vegan) PADI Master scuba diving instructor and Molchanov’s Wave 3 instructor. Ultra runner, and vegan lifestyle advocate. See author's posts
