It takes approximately two years to become scuba certified. There are many options available depending on your level of experience. PADI offers a beginner course which teaches you the basics of diving. PADI Open Water Diver allows you to be certified.
PADI's entry-level diver course
PADI entry-level divers course consists five chapters, 4 Knowledge Reviews and a Final Exam. The entire course takes approximately three to four hours. However, you can do it online. This course covers the fundamentals of diving and includes several open-water dives.
PADI Open Water Diver Manual is your basic guide to diving. It includes information on proper equipment, terminology, safety procedures, and more. Five videos are included to explain each topic and answer your questions.
Open water certification dives
There are several steps that you need to complete in order to be certified open water. Start by getting your training. Before you can begin open water diving, you will need to spend a few sessions in the pool. During these sessions you will redemonstrate your skills in the water. The orientation portion of the first dive is focused on scuba skills, while that of the second is for orientation. The third dive focuses on relaxation and consolidating all you have learnt.
Local dive centers can usually complete your certification in less than a weekend. However, if you choose a different location, you may need to work around the schedule of the dive center or instructor to get your training completed. Open water certification takes about three to four days.
Next-level certification dives
A beginner scuba diver can start with a few pool-side try-dives before progressing to the next level. Try-dives are usually done in shallow water (under 6 feet). Open water diving requires you to be more confident in all aspects of the aquatic environment, from navigating the waters to staying safe. Open water diving is performed in bodies of water such the ocean, lakes or even flooded quarry holes.
It takes approximately four days to get certified. However, the process can vary. You can complete the whole process in one week if you take an online course. For entry-level courses there are no set deadlines. However, some professionals may need to wait.
Prerequisites to next-level certification
You should get some water experience before you can get your next-level certification. You can start by taking a few dives in a pool to get familiar with the sport. You can also dive in lakes or flooded quarry pits. Open water diving requires more than just a test-dive.
For those who want to further their scuba training, the SDI open-water course is ideal. It will teach basic scuba skills and problem solving skills. It will also teach you how to perform a self-rescue, a technique used by rescue divers. Open water training will be required to access many dive sites, including those with more difficult dives.