Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?
No, especially if you already are comfortable in the water and don't panic when you dive underwater. All it takes is good overall health, a basic level of comfort around the water-and the desire to explore the water world. Every year, thousands of people from all walks of life become certified.

Are there age requirements for enrolling in a scuba course?
There is no maximum age limit for learning to dive, the oldest person I know if to get certified to date is 76 years old. As long as you pass the medical requirements you should be able to dive. Minimum Age listed below, some agencies also offer snorkeling programs that are not listed, please visit their website for more information.

PADI - If you are between 10 and 14 or have a child between these ages, there is a PADI Junior Open Water Diver program available.
NAUI - Minimum is 15 years for Scuba Diver certification. Minimum is 12 years for Skin Diver program (8 for Junior Skin Diver)
SSI - Scuba Rangers is an activities club for kids 8-12. (www.scubarangers.com)
YMCA - In order to take a YMCA SCUBA certification course, individuals must be 15 years of age or older. Children ages 12-14 may earn the Junior Open Water Diver certification that requires them to dive with an adult diver.

What are the medical requirements?
Asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and pregnancy are the most common are a few medical conditions that may preclude you from diving. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian during the medical assessment. This is a copy of The Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) medical form, if you answer yes to these questions you should consult a physician before scuba diving.

How long does it take to get certified?
Scuba dive courses "performance based" completion of the course built on the mastery of classroom knowledge and water skills. How long it takes to achieve that depends on the individual. Generally speaking, there will be four to six classroom and pool sessions that take place over a period of three to six weeks. Most dive operators in Hawaii offer "Open Water" dive certification courses that can be taken over three days.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
You need to be able to swim 200yards and tread water for 10 minutes, you don't need diving experience and you don't need to be a strong swimmer. All divers wear an automatically inflating jacket (Buoyancy Control Device), which acts as both a harness for the scuba tank and a floatation device enabling divers to be able to float effortlessly on the surface.

What does the classroom portion of the course cover?
The main focus is on the physiology of diving, equipment, physics, safe diving practices and emergency management and practices and how to use dive tables. Dive tables are charts that show how much nitrogen has been absorbed into your bloodstream. This is the cause of injuries such as DCS (Decompression Sickness - also known as the Bends).

What are the pool dives?
This is where the fun begins: putting on the equipment and getting wet! Few things in life compare to the thrill of your first breaths under water on a scuba regulator. The pool is also where you begin mastering basic skills in a safe enclosed environment: breathing from a regulator, safe descent and ascent procedures, proper buoyancy and so on.

Can I get fully certified while on vacation?
Yes, most dive shops and operators offer 3-day diving courses and upon successful completion of your course you will be fully certified. You may also want to consider a referral program, where you complete your classroom and pool sessions in your hometown. Then you have only to complete four or five training dives while on vacation, normally taken over two or three days.

Can I dive on vacation without getting certified?
Yes, pretty much all dive operators offer introduction or beginner dive experiences. These are shallow dives normally in approximately 30-40ft maximum depth and you will be with the dive instructor at all times. Some operators provide a pool dive in the morning and then you are taken on a guided shallow dive, closely supervised by your instructor. These courses are a safe, inexpensive way to gain familiarity with the sport and decide if you wish to pursue full certification.

Do I need to worry about sharks?
Many people have been made to fear sharks and other marine animals because of the false image given them by movies and television. Fact is, most marine animals-including the shark, octopus, barracuda and moray eel-are shy and passive around humans. None are more misunderstood than sharks. Humans are not the natural prey of sharks and almost all shark attacks happen by accident to swimmers and surfers. The shark mistakes them splashing on the surface for a seal or sea lion, and takes a bite. We taste pretty bad to them, so that's usually the end of it. If you would like to learn more about sharks please visit this website, or if you would like to swim with sharks click here.

I have heard my ears will hurt when I dive?
The pain you feel is caused by the pressure of water pushing against your eardrum. One of the first things you'll learn is a simple technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure. This is similar to "popping" your ears while flying.

Will I be required to buy equipment?
If you are doing your dive course while on vacation most operators will provide all the gear you need included in the cost of certification. Some centers vary in what gear they provide during training. Most people prefer to have their own mask, snorkel and fins, these are items can fitted to you personally and will make diving more comfortable if they fit well. It is advisable not to purchase regulators, BCs, dive computers until you've earned your certification, have a better idea of what diving is all about and work out how often you will be diving.

How long does a tank of air last?
People breathe at different rates, the deeper you go dive the faster you use your air, and you breathe faster when you're swimming than when you're resting. This is why divers have a gauge that tells them how much air they have at all times. When you first start diving you may find your use your air quickly but as dive more and gain more experience your air should start lasting longer.

Will I run out of air?
You will have a gauge that tells you exactly how much air you have left at all times and during your training dives you'll always be diving at a shallow depth. During your course you will learn safety requirements for the minimum quantity of air that you should have left when you surface.