Prepare For Padi Courses

If you want to get certified to scuba from one of the best certifying agencies in the world, you’ll want to prepare for PADI courses. PADI, or the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, offers many levels of scuba certification, ranging from basic to advanced professional options. You’ll need to prepare for your PADI open water certification before going any further.

To prepare for PADI Courses, you’ll need:

• Basic scuba diving gear
• To be in good shape (performance ability is more important than size or weight)
• A computer and Internet connection (for those who access the study materials online)
• Time for studying

1. You’ll need to be a good swimmer. You will need to pass a swimming test before you get to the more physical aspects of scuba courses. You won’t need to be an Olympic swimmer, but you will need a good amount of swimming endurance. Your life and enjoyment of the activity may be at stake if you don’t take the time to strengthen your swimming skills. Try swimming three times a week for up to half an hour if you’re just beginning.
2. Find a scuba learning venue. Places where you can learn scuba are at a PADI dive shop, scuba diving shops, a sports-themed shop (such as Sports Chalet) or a dive resort. Online learning options are available as well.
3. Set some time aside for studying for your courses. This may be the agonizing part of the course for some, but in no way should you diminish its importance because it’s not actual “hands-on” training. The studying/reading/video material will lay the foundation for you to have safe and fun diving experiences.
4. Register for courses. There are many ways to do this, but it may be easiest to sign up at the PADI website and get access to their eLearning courses. However, there are books and more tangible study materials available for those who prefer it. For those who are signed up at a dive shop or resort, materials will be provided for you. You’ll need to pass a multiple-choice exam to move on from this stage.
5. Purchase personalized, fitted equipment. While you’ll be able to rent scuba equipment such as scuba tanks, regulators and etc., you’ll need to personalize gear such as fins, masks, wetsuits—which is dependent on your foot size, body weight/size and circumference of your head.
6. Never let you’re ego get in the way of learning and training. Scuba diving can be a very dangerous activity, especially if you don’t listen to your teacher. Keep a student mentality and hang on to ever word your instructor utters; he or she is the professional—you are not. It doesn’t matter how hot your instructor is; you won’t impress her with acts of brash bravado and potentially your safety and the safety of others may be at stake.