5 Easy Steps to Become a Scuba Diver
1) Consult your MD/PA/NP to make sure that you are healthy enough to dive. Also, there are some basic requirements to be able to sign up for an Open Water Course. According to SSI Standards, a student needs to be able to tread/float for 10 minutes and swim 100 meters without stopping (no time limit/any stroke).
2) Visit several local dive shops in your area. Take a look around the shop, speak to the staff. Prepare a list of questions. Some sample questions could be:
Tell about the dive shop.
Can I get a tour of the facility?
Tell me about your instructors.
Before I sign up for the course can I meet several of your instructors?
3) Take a 'Try Scuba' Class in a controlled environment. Some dive shops are located near a lake or ocean and conduct 'Try Scuba' classes there. You really want this to be in as controlled an environment as possible to ensure a safe, positive experience.
4) Take your learning modules seriously. You will get much more out of the course if you study all of the provided materials prior to the beginning of the classroom portion of the course. Keep a list of concepts that you are struggling with so the instructor can focus of them to ensure your understanding. The more you understand, the sooner you can get in the pool and begin applying what you have learned.
5) Consider taking 'private lessons' and 'private check-out dives.'
Each instructor can have up to 8 students in a 'group' class. 'Private' lessons are limited to 3 students. Students in 'private' classes receive more attention and move through the skills at their own pace and have more practice time.
There really isn't much of a difference in cost between 'group' and 'private' lessons. I can guarantee that you will get more out of 'private' lessons and will feel more prepared to be released into the wild!