Benefits Of Becoming A Certified Scuba Diver

Scuba diving opens up a whole new underwater world – giving you the opportunity to go sea and reef diving, explore cenotes, or dive with bull sharks. It’s also good for your health – improving strength and flexibility, reducing blood pressure, and relieving stress! All you need to get started is your Open Water scuba diving certification – the courses are fun and you’ll happily learn all you need to know about the basics and the benefits of becoming a certified scuba diver…

Scuba Diving Equipment

The dive shops in Playa del Carmen, Mexico carry all the equipment you need – but your Open Water course fees will actually include the rental of gear. If you want to buy your own for more practice you’ll need:

• Snorkel
• Mask
• Fins or boots
• Wetsuit
• Buoyancy control jacket
• Dive computer
• Regulators

Diving Certification

When you want to get your scuba diving certification in Playa del Carmen simply learn to dive with dive masters from Koox Diving. You’ll be guided through your certification path with comfort as you learn the skills and take part in practice dive drills. All course materials and manuals are included so that theory and practice will go hand in hand – as well as complete diving equipment, and the exam conducted by a DEF certified Scuba Explorer instructor.

You can choose from Dive Explorer Foundation courses that include DEF Open Water options through to Instructor Training courses – or PADI courses focusing on scuba diving. Recreational diving limitations are dive times of up to one hour to a depth of nine to 18 metres, with dive gear consisting of one or two tanks, scuba mask, wetsuit, buoyancy control jacket, and boots.

Scuba diving certification levels are:

• Open Water – beginner scuba education level
• Advanced Open Water – focusing on specific dive locations
• Rescue Diver – with responsibilities for diving buddies
• Dive Master /Guide – leading groups and planning dives

A Guide to the Certification

There are a few performance requirements you need to consider and these include:

• Being older than 10, but there’s no maximum age if you’re fit with a medical statement
• Having no medical conditions that means you’re unfit to dive
• Being able to swim for at least 100 metres without stopping using a mask, snorkel, and fins
• Showing that you’re comfortable in the water and able to float and tread water for 10 minutes
• Holding your breath for at least 35 seconds

The Theory

To become a scuba diver you’ll start with classroom or online preparation – studying dive manuals and watching scuba skills videos. The manuals are available in many different languages and classroom sessions will cover some of the more complex parts of the theory – and explain the dice tables and how to plan your dives.

The theoretical part of your scuba diving certification can be done online – this has two advantages – you can do everything in your own time and at your own pace, and if you’re planning to do your scuba certification abroad this’ll save you time within the classroom.

The Practice

These basic skills are then practised in confined water – in a shallow cenote or off a calm beach in Tulum. You may have up to five confined water sessions then as you progress you’ll be taken into deeper waters to learn more techniques and practise your newly acquired skills. The final open water dives are carried out in the ocean where you’ll gain in confidence – diving with your instructor and then alongside buddies or in a guided group.

Here’s a list of essential diving skills you’ll gain:

• Setting up your scuba gear
• Cleaning and clearing your scuba mask
• Getting in and out of the water
• The principles of buoyancy control
• Safety procedures
• Underwater communication and navigation
• Diving in shallow confined water
• Diving in open water

The Certification

When you’ve completed and passed all sections of the open water diver certification course and the final exam you’ll be officially PADI certified. Depending on where you completed your course you’ll either have an actual or online envelope that includes all relevant details and is sent to the PADI headquarters – they’ll then send you your certification card.
Some cards may be handed to you directly on you completing the course. Certification cards are now available digitally – making it simple to access them on your phone or tablet.

So Many Benefits

Once you’ve gained your certificate you’ll be able to put all your training into practice – and safely dive with your buddies. Scuba certification requires the teaching of a professional scuba instructor – so you’ll know how all the equipment works, and all of the varied safety procedures.

You’ll have easy access to professional dive shops worldwide to buy or rent your scuba gear – and booking dive tours will be simple and straightforward. Rental shops have to ensure that clients renting their equipment have a scuba diving certificate – some shops simply won’t rent gear to unlicensed divers at all.

You have the freedom to explore deeper waters – with instructors able to take you on safe diving adventures taking in all of the breath-taking sights beneath the surface of the waves. You can also easily dive by yourself or go with a group to experience more challenging dives – with stronger currents or specific environment locations for example.

As soon as you’ve taken this step you’ll then qualify for advanced and speciality courses. Depending on your interests you can try deep and wreck diving, underwater photography or videography courses, or diving with the sharks. You could consider taking the PADI Divermaster course perfecting your rescue skills, anticipating major dive problems, and being a role model for other divers. You’ll need to have completed a minimum of 40 dives and attended a First Aid course.

First Aid courses meet the training requirements for the PADI Rescue Diver course and all other CPR professional grade assessments. You’ll learn to provide all possibilities of survival whilst waiting for medical services – including primary care for people who can’t breathe, have no heartbeat, have spinal injuries, or have serious bleeding. The course will also teach you CPR and the use of automated external defibrillator training.

To be a Master Scuba diver you’ll have to verify 25 PADI divers and have obtained five specialities – exploring sunken ships, diving with bull sharks, night dives, and diving in cenotes and caves. You’ll complete the course within the year – taking an exam on diving physics, physiology, skills, equipment, and the use of the Recreational Scuba Planner – then you’ll truly be a professional scuba diver able to organise and carry our courses, evaluate and counsel, and help with training other instructors.

The underwater world will be your oyster!