JUN 26, 2022
You were envious when you saw your friends posted many cool photos in social media and you think it will be cool too to do the same ? You dropped your wedding ring in the ocean and want to recover it to save your marriage? Your other half forced you into it?
Whatever the reason maybe, take a step back and read before spending your parents'/sugardaddy's/sugarmommy's money.
Remark : If you want to learn how to dive just to tick off the bucket list or to impress your crush, you are wasting your time reading this article.
Ask yourself and think carefully why you want to learn SCUBA diving. You will more likely to complete the course if you have good reasons and appropriate mindset prior to enrolling the course. When you finally decided to do it, read below :
1. There is a compulsory waterskill assessment part in the course to test your swimming/float ability.
If a dive centre / a person offering you the course says you dont have to be a swimmer, run for your life.
You should have basic swimming skill and more importantly, comfortable around and in water.
2. Main parts in PADI Open Water Diver Course
(a) Theory (video watching , reviewing knowledge and exam)
(b) Confine water (generally practicing skills in shallow and safe water environment ; can be more than 1 session)
(c) minimum 4 open water dives (need to perform skills again) 12-18m max depth
3. Full set of scuba equiments weight about 20kg-ish. If you cannot carry such load comfortably while walking 10-50 meter without whining, forget about this sport. You dont have to be an olympian, just fit enough. If you still want to do the course to look cool but do not want to carry heavy loads, you can always opt for the courses for people with "special needs".
4. You will received a course Manual (either in digital or physical form) prior to or at the start of the course. If you dont, ask for a refund and then run for your life.
5. 1 instructor to 4 student is probably the maximum ratio that I can recommend. More than that, the course will take too long time (tiring for everyone)*if the instructor follows teaching standard and probably the instructor wont be able to give equal attention to all students. The lower the instructor-student ratio, the better. Pay extra for private lesson if possible.
6. Cheapest course price (they need cut corner somewhere and hopefully not the teaching quality or your safety)
7. When a friend recommends you to a dive centre or an instructor, politely ask them how many times have they dive with dive centre/instructor? Friend's recommendation may not always be the best. And don't believe everything you see in social media too. Try to choose a "good" instructor over a cheap course.
8. Ask options for course extension if you cannot finish the course as scheduled. Some people learn slower and you might be one of them.
9. A 4D3N course over the weekend can be very rushing and tiring. It is not for everyone. The level of mental & physical stress is different for everyone. There are other arrangements if you really want to take your time and learn how to dive properly at your own pace. Ask around and do your research.
10. After completed the PADI's Open Water Diver Course, you should be able to dive without any supervision or with minimum supervision without killing yourself or your fellow divers. You are supposed to be trained to be an independent diver. If you are unable to do that, you should not be certified in the first place.
11. Completing the PADI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE does not make you an expert diver just like you will not become an F1 driver soon after getting a driving license. But it is a starting point to more amazing experiences ahead. The more you dive, the better you will become.
12. There is a medical questionaires form that you have to fill in prior to course enrolment and you must be "healthy". If you have an underlying medical condition, you will not be accepted unless there is a "formal" clearance by a medical practioner. (forgot this one earlier)