by Zachory Brockman

Created on: October 03, 2009

Getting Started with Scuba A newbies perspective

I was driving home from work one day and I heard over the radio about an advertisement to try scuba for free. I was skeptical at first but after I gave it some thought I called the company the next day. I quickly set up an appointment for the following Saturday and waited anxiously for the glorious day to arrive. Although I can swim I've never felt I was a strong swimmer.

From the moment I first stuck my head underwater and began to breathe off the regulator I was hooked. It was an awesome first experience that mere words can barely describe. Yet I learned some critical lessons that day. First and foremost you can't just go out and buy the equipment and go scuba diving. For your really important life support you must be a certified diver. Reputable dealers will not sell you the equipment without proof. Two of the most recognized organizations are PADI and SSI.

So if you feel you want to try scuba find a good instructor and facility. This may seem like a daunting task but getting certified is critically important. You need to be confident and skilled in the water in the use of your equipment in both normal and emergency situations. These skills are simple but something you must learn to master. This all takes time and effort. While you won't learn it over night you'll gain confidence with each dive.

Once you've found your facility interview your potential instructor. This may sound odd but it's your time and money so make sure it's well spent. He or she will be teaching you techniques that will stick with you rest of your diving career. I'd look for someone you feel comfortable with and trust. In my case I didn't do well in basic swimming skills but with practice and the helpful words of a patient instructor I soon over came my initial problem areas.

After you've found your instructor, facility, and got over the culture shock of paying for the classes now it's time to get down to business. As a newbie here are a few pieces of important advice. Take the training very seriously. There's no joking around in the water. It's your life on the line. While it can be safe and enjoyable sport things can go wrong in a hurry if you are not paying close attention to critical details like how much air you have left, what obstacles are around you, where's your dive-buddy, and how deep you are. Read the course materials, participate in the drills, ask questions, and like most things in life practice, practice, and

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