| Many people dream of scuba diving on their | | | | pool work, and open water dive skills. You will |
| exotic vacations, but are afraid that if they learn | | | | learn to dive through handbooks and videos, not |
| to dive, they will end up wasting a lot of their | | | | just underwater, but many of these materials can |
| vacation time and money on one activity. The | | | | be studied at home to maximize the amount of |
| truth is, there are diving courses and schools all | | | | time students spend in the water. |
| over the world, and it is possible to begin your | | | | Some schools place restrictions on whom they will |
| learn to dive course in your native country and to | | | | accept for their learn to dive programs. Most |
| complete it while you are on vacation. Or better | | | | places have a minimum age, but this is rather |
| yet, you can learn to dive before you go on | | | | young, usually around twelve. For those who have |
| vacation and earn a diving passport that will | | | | medical conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, |
| enable you to scuba dive anywhere in the world. | | | | their might be certain restrictions, unless a doctor |
| So before you go on vacation, look into your | | | | approves the course for the patient. Some |
| options carefully if you want to learn to dive. | | | | schools will require you to take a medical exam, |
| When you learn to dive, you will be taught basic | | | | and others will allow anyone to begin the course if |
| mechanics in a swimming pool. This might seem | | | | they seem to be in good general health. |
| simplistic, but even the best swimmers need to | | | | Many scuba dive schools offer refresher courses; |
| learn special techniques for movement when they | | | | anyone who wants to learn to dive and to |
| learn to dive, since mechanics are not the same | | | | continue diving as a hobby will need to take a |
| as those used with regular swimming, especially | | | | refresher course if they do not perform a dive |
| since divers have equipment to deal with as well. | | | | every six months; diving passports expire if too |
| The beginning course also teaches the prospective | | | | much time has passed between dives. Some |
| diver equipment use and maintenance. This is the | | | | students who learn to dive at certain schools will |
| most intimidating aspect for those who want to | | | | want to continue and take more advanced |
| learn to dive, but once you get the understand | | | | courses, such as open water and ocean diving. |
| how to handle your equipment, you can begin to | | | | Some will want to quit their dull 9 to 5 grind and |
| dive with confidence. | | | | become full-time scuba diving instructors. It is a |
| Of course, safety is an important component of | | | | great job for those who like to be in the water |
| your course as you learn to dive, and the buddy | | | | and to travel to exotic places. However, given the |
| system is essential, even for seasoned divers. | | | | safety considerations, certification for scuba dive |
| Other concepts taught in beginning and | | | | instructors is usually quite rigorous, and many |
| intermediate courses include: | | | | would rather simply learn to dive than to |
| - Buddy diving | | | | contemplate a career in scuba diving. |
| - Human life support | | | | Whether you want to learn to dive or need to |
| - Gases under pressure | | | | take a refresher course, it is not difficult to find a |
| - Ocean diving | | | | course available within a reasonable distance. Soon |
| - Rescue skills | | | | after you learn to dive, you will want to try out |
| Most beginning courses will teach you dive theory, | | | | your skills on an exotic vacation in the tropics or |
| which might include some classroom as well as | | | | elsewhere. |