Frequently Asked Questions
1. Knowledge Development - Learn the lingo.
During the first phase of your PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification, you develop an understanding of the basic principles of scuba diving. You learn things like how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best scuba gear and what to consider when planning dives.
You briefly review what you have studied in the five knowledge sections with your instructor and take a short quiz to be sure you’re getting it. At the end of the course, you’ll take a longer quiz that makes sure you have all the key concepts and ideas down. You and your instructor will review anything that you don’t quite get until it’s clear.
Select the knowledge development option you prefer:
2. Confined Water Dives – Scuba Skills Training
This is what it’s all about – diving. You develop basic scuba skills by scuba diving in a pool or body of water with pool-like conditions. Here you’ll learn everything from setting up your scuba gear to how to easily get water out of your scuba mask without surfacing. You’ll also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air or replacing your scuba mask. Plus, you may play some games, make new friends and have a great time.
There are five confined water dives, with each building upon the previous. Over the course of these five dives, you attain the skills you need to dive in open water.
3. Open Water Dives — Locally or on Vacation
After your confined water dives, you and the new friends you’ve made continue learning during four open water dives with your PADI Instructor at a dive site. This is where you fully experience the underwater adventure – at the beginner level, of course. You may make these dives near your home or at a more exotic destination while on a scuba vacation.
Q: How long does it take to get certified?
A: It’s possible to complete your confined and open water dives in as few as three or four days. Our group class structure covers the academic and pool material over a Tuesday night and full Saturday, or you may begin your training immediately by completing the academics online via PADI eLearning. If you prefer a different schedule, private one-on-one instruction is the perfect option. Contact us if you'd like to pursue private instruction.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is incredibly flexible and performance based, which means that Bluewater Scuba can offer a wide variety of schedules, paced according to how fast you progress.
Your instructor’s interest is in your learning to scuba dive, not in how long you sit in a class. So, training is based upon demonstrating that you know what you need to know and can do what you need to do. This means that you progress at your own pace – faster or slower depending upon the time you need to become a confident scuba diver who dives regularly.
Q: How much does it cost to take scuba lessons?
A: Our rates change seasonally and we offer different promotions throughout the year. Visit our online reservation system for current pricing. Compared with getting started in other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for:
Q: What scuba gear do I need to learn to scuba dive?
A: Choosing and using your scuba gear is part of the fun of diving. Bluewater Scuba has several gear packages to help you find the right gear. Each piece of scuba equipment performs a different function so that collectively, it adapts you to the underwater world.
When you start learning to scuba dive, as a minimum, you want your own
As part of the enrollment fee for all of your PADI Open Water Diver course, we provide a rental:
But some students prefer to purchase their own equipment to dive in gear that is custom fit for them, and in brand new condition. It’s recommended that you invest in your own scuba equipment when you start your course because:
Layaway Plans are available.
Q: How do I know what’s the best scuba gear?
A: Easy. There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you. The professionals at Bluewater Scuba are trained to help you find scuba gear that best matches your preferences, fit and budget. These professionals can get you set with the right stuff, plus they provide service and support for years of enjoyable and dependable use.
Q: What’s required to take scuba lessons?
A: If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid PADI scuba diver. You'll also want to keep in mind these requirements:
Minimum Age:
Download the scuba medical questionnaire.
Water skills: Before completing the PADI Open Water Diver course, your instructor will have you demonstrate basic water skills comfort by having you:
Learning Materials : You will have unlimited access to the PADI eLearning curriculum.
Q: Where can I scuba dive?
A: You can dive practically anywhere there’s water – from a swimming pool to the ocean and all points in between, including quarries, lakes, rivers and springs. Where you can scuba dive is determined by your:
Your local dive site can be anything from a special pool built just for divers like one found in Brussels, Belgium, or more typically natural sites like Belize’s Great Blue Hole, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or Japan’s Yonaguni Monument. It may be a manmade reservoir or a fossil-filled river. It’s not always about great visibility because what you see is more important than how far you see.
The only truly important thing about where you dive is that you have the scuba diving training and experience appropriate for diving there, and that you have a dive buddy to go with you. We're happy to help you organize great local diving or a dive vacation. Visit us today to get started.
Q: My ears hurt when I go to the bottom of a swimming pool or when I dive down snorkeling. Will that keep me from becoming a scuba diver?
A: No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your ears. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how. If you have no difficulties adjusting to air pressure during flying, you'll probably experience no problem learning to adjust to water pressure while diving.
Q: Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking preclude someone from diving?
A: Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function or heart function or may alter consciousness is a concern, but only a physician can assess a person’s individual risk. Physicians can consult with the Divers Alert Network (DAN) as necessary when assessing a scuba candidate. Download the Medical Statement to take to your physician.
Q: What are the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
A: Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.
Q: What about sharks?
A: When you’re lucky, you get to see a shark. Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very, very rare and with respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behavior. Most of the time, if you see a shark it’s passing through and a relatively rare sight to enjoy.
Q: Do women have any special concerns regarding diving?
A: Aside from pregnancy, no. Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation is that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Menstruation is not normally a concern.
Q: How deep do you go?
A: With the necessary training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 130 feet. Beginning scuba divers stay shallower than about 60 feet. Although these are the limits, some of the most popular diving is no deeper than 40 feet where the water is warmer and the colors are brighter.
Q: What happens if I use up all my air?
A: That’s not likely because you have a gauge that tells you how much air you have at all times. This way, you can return to the surface with a safety reserve remaining. But to answer the question, if you run out of air, your buddy has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to share a single air supply while swimming to the surface. There are also other options you’ll learn in your scuba diving training.
Q: What if I feel claustrophobic?
A: People find the “weightlessness” of scuba diving to be quite freeing. Modern scuba masks are available in translucent models, which you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed in. During your scuba diving training, your instructor gives you plenty of time and coaching to become comfortable with each stage of learning. Your scuba instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each skill necessary to become a capable scuba diver who dives regularly.
During the first phase of your PADI Open Water Diver scuba certification, you develop an understanding of the basic principles of scuba diving. You learn things like how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best scuba gear and what to consider when planning dives.
You briefly review what you have studied in the five knowledge sections with your instructor and take a short quiz to be sure you’re getting it. At the end of the course, you’ll take a longer quiz that makes sure you have all the key concepts and ideas down. You and your instructor will review anything that you don’t quite get until it’s clear.
Select the knowledge development option you prefer:
- Start right now and learn to scuba dive online with PADI eLearning at your own pace—anytime, anywhere (great for busy schedules)
- Attend a scheduled scuba diving class at Bluewater Scuba (great for meeting new friends and dive buddies)
- Take advantage of home study using PADI multimedia materials (manual, video, CD-Rom) purchased through Bluewater Scuba
2. Confined Water Dives – Scuba Skills Training
This is what it’s all about – diving. You develop basic scuba skills by scuba diving in a pool or body of water with pool-like conditions. Here you’ll learn everything from setting up your scuba gear to how to easily get water out of your scuba mask without surfacing. You’ll also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air or replacing your scuba mask. Plus, you may play some games, make new friends and have a great time.
There are five confined water dives, with each building upon the previous. Over the course of these five dives, you attain the skills you need to dive in open water.
3. Open Water Dives — Locally or on Vacation
After your confined water dives, you and the new friends you’ve made continue learning during four open water dives with your PADI Instructor at a dive site. This is where you fully experience the underwater adventure – at the beginner level, of course. You may make these dives near your home or at a more exotic destination while on a scuba vacation.
Q: How long does it take to get certified?
A: It’s possible to complete your confined and open water dives in as few as three or four days. Our group class structure covers the academic and pool material over a Tuesday night and full Saturday, or you may begin your training immediately by completing the academics online via PADI eLearning. If you prefer a different schedule, private one-on-one instruction is the perfect option. Contact us if you'd like to pursue private instruction.
The PADI Open Water Diver course is incredibly flexible and performance based, which means that Bluewater Scuba can offer a wide variety of schedules, paced according to how fast you progress.
Your instructor’s interest is in your learning to scuba dive, not in how long you sit in a class. So, training is based upon demonstrating that you know what you need to know and can do what you need to do. This means that you progress at your own pace – faster or slower depending upon the time you need to become a confident scuba diver who dives regularly.
Q: How much does it cost to take scuba lessons?
A: Our rates change seasonally and we offer different promotions throughout the year. Visit our online reservation system for current pricing. Compared with getting started in other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive isn’t expensive. For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for:
- a full day of surfing lessons
- a weekend of rock climbing lessons
- a weekend of kayaking lessons
- a weekend of fly-fishing lessons
- about three hours of private golf lessons
- about three hours of private water skiing lessons
- one amazing night out at the pub!
Q: What scuba gear do I need to learn to scuba dive?
A: Choosing and using your scuba gear is part of the fun of diving. Bluewater Scuba has several gear packages to help you find the right gear. Each piece of scuba equipment performs a different function so that collectively, it adapts you to the underwater world.
When you start learning to scuba dive, as a minimum, you want your own
- scuba mask
- scuba fins
- snorkel
- boots
- wetsuit (recommended)
As part of the enrollment fee for all of your PADI Open Water Diver course, we provide a rental:
- dive regulator
- scuba BC
- scuba tank
- weight system and weights
But some students prefer to purchase their own equipment to dive in gear that is custom fit for them, and in brand new condition. It’s recommended that you invest in your own scuba equipment when you start your course because:
- you’re more comfortable using scuba gear fitted for you
- you’re more comfortable learning to scuba dive using gear you’ve chosen
- scuba divers who own their own scuba diving equipment find it more convenient to go diving
- having your own scuba diving gear is part of the fun of diving
Layaway Plans are available.
Q: How do I know what’s the best scuba gear?
A: Easy. There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you. The professionals at Bluewater Scuba are trained to help you find scuba gear that best matches your preferences, fit and budget. These professionals can get you set with the right stuff, plus they provide service and support for years of enjoyable and dependable use.
Q: What’s required to take scuba lessons?
A: If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid PADI scuba diver. You'll also want to keep in mind these requirements:
Minimum Age:
- 10 years old
- Students younger than 15 years, who successfully complete the course qualify for the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to PADI Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15. You must be at least 13 years old to take scuba lessons online with PADI eLearning, due to international internet laws. If you’re younger, you can still learn to dive – just have your parent or legal guardian contact us.
Download the scuba medical questionnaire.
Water skills: Before completing the PADI Open Water Diver course, your instructor will have you demonstrate basic water skills comfort by having you:
- swim 200 yards (or 300 yards in mask, fins and snorkel). There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want.
- float and tread water for 10 minutes, again using any methods that you want.
Learning Materials : You will have unlimited access to the PADI eLearning curriculum.
Q: Where can I scuba dive?
A: You can dive practically anywhere there’s water – from a swimming pool to the ocean and all points in between, including quarries, lakes, rivers and springs. Where you can scuba dive is determined by your:
- experience level
- site accessibility
- conditions
- interests
Your local dive site can be anything from a special pool built just for divers like one found in Brussels, Belgium, or more typically natural sites like Belize’s Great Blue Hole, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef or Japan’s Yonaguni Monument. It may be a manmade reservoir or a fossil-filled river. It’s not always about great visibility because what you see is more important than how far you see.
The only truly important thing about where you dive is that you have the scuba diving training and experience appropriate for diving there, and that you have a dive buddy to go with you. We're happy to help you organize great local diving or a dive vacation. Visit us today to get started.
Q: My ears hurt when I go to the bottom of a swimming pool or when I dive down snorkeling. Will that keep me from becoming a scuba diver?
A: No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your ears. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how. If you have no difficulties adjusting to air pressure during flying, you'll probably experience no problem learning to adjust to water pressure while diving.
Q: Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking preclude someone from diving?
A: Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function or heart function or may alter consciousness is a concern, but only a physician can assess a person’s individual risk. Physicians can consult with the Divers Alert Network (DAN) as necessary when assessing a scuba candidate. Download the Medical Statement to take to your physician.
Q: What are the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
A: Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.
Q: What about sharks?
A: When you’re lucky, you get to see a shark. Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very, very rare and with respect to diving, primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger feeding behavior. Most of the time, if you see a shark it’s passing through and a relatively rare sight to enjoy.
Q: Do women have any special concerns regarding diving?
A: Aside from pregnancy, no. Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation is that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Menstruation is not normally a concern.
Q: How deep do you go?
A: With the necessary training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 130 feet. Beginning scuba divers stay shallower than about 60 feet. Although these are the limits, some of the most popular diving is no deeper than 40 feet where the water is warmer and the colors are brighter.
Q: What happens if I use up all my air?
A: That’s not likely because you have a gauge that tells you how much air you have at all times. This way, you can return to the surface with a safety reserve remaining. But to answer the question, if you run out of air, your buddy has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to share a single air supply while swimming to the surface. There are also other options you’ll learn in your scuba diving training.
Q: What if I feel claustrophobic?
A: People find the “weightlessness” of scuba diving to be quite freeing. Modern scuba masks are available in translucent models, which you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed in. During your scuba diving training, your instructor gives you plenty of time and coaching to become comfortable with each stage of learning. Your scuba instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each skill necessary to become a capable scuba diver who dives regularly.
