It takes approximately two years to become scuba certified. There are several options that you can choose from depending on your experience. PADI offers a beginner course that focuses on the basics of diving. You can also get certified through the PADI Open Water Diver program.
PADI's entry-level diver course
Five chapters, four Knowledge Reviews, and a final exam make up the PADI entry-level diver course. You can complete the course in 3-4 days. If you prefer to take the online course, it may take less time. This course covers basic diving skills and includes open water dives.
The PADI Open Water Diver Manual is your guide to the basics of diving. This manual covers proper equipment, terminology and safety procedures. The book also includes five videos that will explain each topic in detail and answer any questions.
Open water certification dives
Open water certification requires a few steps. Get your training. You will be spending several sessions in the water or in a shallow area before you start open water diving. These sessions will be used to refresh your skills in the water. The first dive is dedicated to orientation, while the second dive is devoted to scuba skills. The third dive is designed to relax and consolidate what you have learned.
A local dive center can help you complete your certification in just a few days. To complete your training, however, you might need to adapt to the schedule of the instructor or dive centre if the location you chose is not available. Open water certification usually takes 3-4 days.
Next-level certification dives
For beginners, you can start by trying out a few dives at the pool. Then, you can move on to the next level. You can usually do try-dives in shallow water (less 6 feet). Open water diving demands that you be more confident in all aspects. Open water diving can be done in any body of water, including the ocean, lakes and even flooded quarry pits.
It takes approximately four days to get certified. However, the process can vary. The entire process can be completed online in a matter of days or two if you are taking an online course. There are no pre-set deadlines for entry-level courses, though waiting periods can be required for some professional ranks.
Prerequisites to next-level certification
Before you get your next-level scuba certification, you should first get some experience in the water. It is a great way to learn the sport. You can also go diving in lakes, or in flooded quarry pits. Open water diving takes more practice than a "try-dive".
This course is for people who wish to continue their scuba diving training. It will teach you basic scuba skills and problem-solving skills. This course will teach you how rescue divers use self-rescue. Open water training will be required to access many dive sites, including those with more difficult dives.