Are you amazed by the marine beauty you see through beautiful pictures of marine life? Are all those beautiful corals and creatures calling you to visit them? Then you need to know how to do scuba diving. For that first thing to do is to get some proper scuba diving lessons. Do you know that SCUBA stands for Self Controlled Underwater Breathing Apparatus? The name itself tells a lot about the mechanism behind scuba diving. If you get the proper scuba diving training, you will have the privilege to float and swim in the marine universe witnessing beautiful secrets hiding under the shallow waters. Scuba diving in modern days is a non-competitive, yet very exciting adventure sport. If you are willing to roam in waters with a limited air supply on your back with a couple of your diving friends, then scuba diving lessons await you. Let’s see how you can learn this adventurous subject.

What is scuba diving? Know more about Scuba Diving Lessons

Humankind had been diving in the shallow waters since the beginning for food, for pearls, and many more requirements. But they did not have any supportive gear; they relied on their life skills. The history of scuba diving dates back to the Second World War period. That is when Jacques-Yves Costeau, the famous undersea explorer, developed the Self Controlled Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) for the French Navy to be used in scuba diving lessons and missions in warfare. This apparatus helps humankind to breathe underwater for a limited amount of time. Since then, the technology has made the apparatus more high-tech, yet the risks associated with scuba diving have not vanished completely.

If we look into scuba diving from a technical point of view, it has an air tank with a compressed gas mix. It contains oxygen, nitrogen, and a bit of some other gases. Compressed air tanks do not only contain oxygen because oxygen can also be toxic if taken in excess. And, diving while breathing a gas mix with nitrogen is also not risk-free. Divers can fall into a condition called nitrogen narcosis if they exceed the advised depth limits. Nitrogen narcosis makes you feel like a drunk. If a diver gets that feeling, he must dive back to shallow waters without diving deeper if he wants to save his life. Scuba diving is indeed an impressive hobby to have, but it is crucial to understand the dangers that come with this adventure sport and be ready to face the risks and challenges. Therefore, no matter that you are a good swimmer make sure to get proper scuba diving lessons and training before giving it a go. 

How do I learn to Scuba dive? Scuba Diving Lessons for beginners

Diving is inevitably a dangerous thing to do as we humans have no ability to breathe underwater. There are hundreds of fatal accidents happening daily around the world because of drowning or other underwater accidents. No matter how good you were as a swimmer in school, or how experienced you are, there can be instances that you lose control of yourself. Scuba diving lessons will make you physically and mentally ready for the adventure, and the person who teaches diving matters the most when it comes to diving lessons. Experience, competence, and also the personality and teaching approach all matters when it comes to learning a new subject successfully. Therefore make sure to find the right instructor for you. If you are a beginner, the best way to find a good instructor is to talk to a few good divers, you know.

Don’t worry if you do not know any divers. Just browse ‘scuba diving lessons near me or ‘scuba diving certification near me,’ which will show you the nearby local dive clubs. They will have all the information about the lessons and instructors. Usually, these are dive club meetings, where divers meet and share their underwater adventures and experience. Attending such events will give you some understanding about your new interest. You can also get a scuba diving instruction manual to understand where you are heading. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and clarify your problems. After getting a few recommendations, make sure to do your own background, check on the driving schools and instructors. Below facts will briefly guide you on important considerations to make before getting enrolled in a diving class.

1. The instructor should be certified in scuba diving from a recognized diving treating institution or an organization. 
2. He or she should be actively engaged with students without using just only assistants. 
3. The institution should offer you a well-recognized scuba diving certification if you complete the relevant training level successfully.
4. Check how many students they take per class. If the class is too big, you will not get the needed attention as a beginner. And when the class gets bigger, the instructors use more assistants.
5. If there are assistants, check on their qualifications as well. They should be either dive-control specialists or divemasters. 
6. Do make a visit to the training facility. Make sure the pool and class are safe, clean, and comfortable. Though you have no idea about the equipment, just have a good look at how they are maintained. 
7. Some scuba diving programs take their students to distant locations for open-water training. Make sure that the location suits your interest. If you wish to explore sea waters, open water training in a lake will not be right for you. 
8. Check the full cost of the training. The advertised price may not include all the aspects of the training. As you cannot drop out the training in the middle, make sure you have the ability to afford the whole training. Otherwise, you will waste both our money and time. You will also have to purchase your personal equipment like masks, snorkels, goggles, and fins. 

How do you get certified to scuba dive, and why do you need it?

If you want to be an underwater explorer, it is crucial to get Scuba certified. You need a license to dive into scuba diving sites, and it is very dangerous to attempt it without that. As long as you follow the rules and regulations associated with this sport, you will enjoy your dive safely. Getting certified is the first rule to follow! A certified scuba diver has the opportunity to dive beyond snorkeling, which allows you to stay longer underwater. You can experience the wrecks, reefs, sea life, and caverns that are unreachable to snorkelers. If you want to enjoy the whole new world under the sea on your next vacation, get the appropriate scuba diving certification.

So, what are the levels of scuba diving certification? Scuba diving certification levels are created to improve the safety of these sports players. Each diver will get a certification card, which indicates the certification level so that others can understand your competency in the sport. Certification will be an indicator of your knowledge, experience, and skill. This certification is crucial to book a scuba diving trip, select or purchase relevant equipment, select the appropriate air tank, and make a career out of your hobby. Which is the best scuba diving certification? There are a few well-recognized diving training organizations to get the certificate. You can select one from the below list;

1. PADI – Professional Association of Diving Instructors – this is the world’s largest diving training org.
2. CMAS
3. NAUI
4. SSI

The PADI Scuba diving certification levels are as follows.

01.Junior PADI Scuba Diver or PADI Scuba Diver

This level is for divers who do not have too much time to spend on training. This certification will allow you only to dive up to 12m(40 feet) underwater, not more! And you need to accompany a professional diver as it does not give you permission to dive alone. Only a certified dive buddy is not enough to explore; you definitely need to have professional guidance beside you. 

02.Junior Open Water Diver or Open water Diver (OWD) 

In this certification course, the instructors teach you how to manage your own body and the scuba gear when you are underwater. After successful completion of this level, you become an independent, certified scuba diver. Then you can select your favorite dive buddy for your next adventure or explore the sea by yourself. Yet, you cannot dive beyond 18m (59 ft) if you are an adult, and if you are a junior, make sure not to pass 12m (40ft). Make sure to explore within these depth limitations to stay safe throughout the adventure. 

03.Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) 

This is the third certification level for amateur recreational scuba diving. At this level, you can gather more knowledge and experience as a diver. Your diving depth limits go deeper to a maximum of 30m (100feet) after getting this certification. 

04.Rescue Divers Scuba diving certification

In the Rescue Diver certification course, you can develop your rescue skills. This training will make you a much safer diver who could manage emergencies without falling into panic situations.

05.Master Scuba Diver

This is the highest level in recreational Scuba diving certification. You can specialize as a Master Scuba Diver under six specialties, including Rescue Diver. PADI offers a range of training options if you are interested in further improving knowledge and skill in scuba diving.

Next comes the Professional Scuba Diving Certification Levels, and we will list them briefly as follows.

1. Divemaster 
2. Assistant Instructor
3. Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI)
4. Master Scuba Diver Trainer
5. IDC Staff Instructor
6. Master Scuba Instructor 
7. Course director

How long does it take to learn to scuba dive, and how much does scuba diving lessons cost?

The time you have to spend to become a scuba diver depends on the schedule you are selecting and many more other facts. And most importantly, getting certified only does not make you a diver. Certification is only the beginning of the journey. After the training, you need to keep practicing until you become confident about your skill and knowledge. That you cannot do alone; so, it is important to share your experience with other experienced divers and get their insights for you to go up in your learning curve. No matter that, you took the best scuba diving course in the country, yet you need the experience to acquire the nuances of this sport. Some divers say that they believe themselves as divers after 50 dives get logged in their journals. Diving seems easy when you have the skill, yet it takes only a mere second for things to go wrong. There will be little or no warning at all. Managing such situations need skill, knowledge, and experience. So learning to scuba dive goes beyond getting certified.

How much is it for scuba diving lessons? Scuba diving lessons are not very cheap. You need money to get certified, to get the equipment, and to pay for dives. However, it is not possible to give a precise number for a scuba diving lesson cost. Your hobby is not the cheapest, I should say! We will give you a rough estimation of costs that may incur. For the training course and pool, You will have to allocate around $250-$300. You also can complete the theory part of the course online at the cost of $190. Still, you need to spend money on the theory part to complete the diving training in physical pool premises. Open water diving certification cost varies depending on the location. That cost may vary between $230- $350 for four certification dives. So the total cost for scuba lessons only ranges between $480 – $650. 

Then you have to spend on diving equipment. As a beginner, you do not need to purchase all the necessary gear. You will anyway need to purchase your fins, mask, and snorkel. As you practice, you will have time to decide whether to thrive in this hobby or give up. Depending on your decision, you can invest more in the future to complete your scuba diving gear kit. For the basic equipment, it will cost you around $200-$250. You can rent out other necessary components of the kit until you make the decision to buy your own. Then comes the Scuba diving Prices. Different famous scuba diving locations around the country and around the world have different prices depending on the location and the operator. Your question was on scuba diving lessons cost. As you now can see, the cost is high, but as you are diving through the beautiful sea life you will not ever regret the money you have spent on your hobby!

Top locations to Learn Scuba Diving in the USA

You can browse through the internet to find the closest location for you to get scuba diving lessons. If you take San Juan scuba diving lessons, you will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful turquoise waters of Puerto Rico. Diving in the Caribbean sea will be exciting with its islets and cays. Taking scuba diving lessons in MN (Minnesota) will add an amazing experience to your training if you love to explore freshwaters. There are 10,000 lakes in MN that will allow you to dive into famous shipwrecks of Lake Superior. Doesn’t it sound exciting? You also can take scuba diving lessons in NJ (New Jersey) if you live there. 

California is another top location in the USA. If you are in California, you must already know the marine biodiversity under the California sea. You can take scuba diving lessons in San Diego so that you can witness that beauty with your own eyes. Scuba diving lessons in Seattle will also allow you to explore the beautiful marine life in the area. Florida is also a world-famous scuba diving location where you can have a memorable scuba diving experience. If you love to explore one of the longest and gorgeous West Atlantic reef structures, make sure to get some scuba diving lessons in Florida. All these diving locations around the US will make you want to explore the beautiful marine diversity all around the world. There are many tropical islands with beautiful beaches and perfect scuba diving locations to enjoy a perfect vacation under the sun. 

Perfect Scuba Diving Destination in the Indian Ocean: Sri Lanka – a Must-see Dive Site

Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian ocean, is a little island surrounded by beautiful beaches and biodiversity. It is a famous travel destination of many scuba divers because of the vibrant coral reefs, sea life, and diving adventures. There are dozens of sunken wrecks waiting to be discovered in the marine waters as the country is situated in the silk route with two amazing natural harbors. This island is rich with natural beauty both below and above its waters. There are many scuba diving sites around the country. Which one to select depends on the month you are planning to visit. Otherwise, the monsoons can make it impossible to explore the seas. The high season to dive in the west and southwest sea is from October to May. You can explore the North-east cost safely if you come between May-October. 

This island is a perfect place to learn to dive too. They offer different PADI diving courses in Sri Lanka. Among them, the PADI Open Water Diver course, PADI Enriched Air Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, PADI Wreck Diver, and PADI Deep Diver are popular courses among visitors. International Diving School Hikkaduwa is a great place to take your scuba diving lessons from the beginning. They have well experienced, friendly, and professional dive masters and dive instructors who are fully PADI, CMAS, and UDI qualified. They do their course in both Hikkaduwa and Trincomalee in the two seasons. If you go to their website, you can check the Scuba diving Trincomalee prices and Hikkaduwa prices for different categories. There are many must-see scuba diving sites in Trincomalee, and Hikkaduwa has a huge natural coral reef, which is mesmerizing. Many scuba divers who visit the country definitely make many returns time after time as they love to discover this island’s beauty underwater. 

In Summary

Scuba diving is an exciting adventure sport that needs proper training, certification to practice, and lots of experience to thrive in the field. It is exciting and expensive at the same time. And it is important to understand that there are some risks entailing this sport. Following all the safety requirements, rules, and regulations is a must if you want to experience the beautiful underwater without making accidents. You must get the scuba diving lessons from a certified or licensed dive master under a well-recognized diving school to become a safe and skilled diver. Once you fall in love with the underwater universe, you will hear the calling from all the beautiful diving sites all around the world!