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People New to SCUBA - Frequently Asked Questions

Is SCUBA diving hard?

Is SCUBA diving expensive?

Do you have to be a certain age?

My ears hurt when I dive down below the surface - does that mean I can't go diving?

How long does it take to learn how to dive?

Do I have to know how to swim?

What if I run out of air?

What will I do in the classroom?

What will I do in the pool?

What are checkout dives?

Can I get certified with you on vacation?

Can I try diving without getting certified?

Will I see any sharks?

Do I have to buy all that equipment?

Is SCUBA diving hard?

Learning to dive is a lot easier than you'd think - lots of people try it with just a little preliminary knowledge and help from the instructor (called an Introductory dive). All that is required is good overall health and the desire to explore the underwater world. Every year, thousands of people, from young teens to senior citizens, become certified.

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Is SCUBA diving an expensive hobby?

The price of certification varies, depending on how you decide to do your class. For a certification that can give you a lifetime passport to the underwater world, it's really quite affordable. Owning all your equipment is more convenient, comfortable and cost effective if you are going to dive more than a few times a year, and most dive centers rent it if you are not. Even the price of dive travel varies from the diving in your area, to inexpensive Hawaiian vacations, to exotic getaways with us in Papua New Guinea!

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Do you have to be a certain age?

You must be at least 8 years old to SCUBA dive in a pool, and at least 10 years old to scuba dive in the ocean. If you are between the ages of 10 and 15, you'll receive a junior certification (means you can only dive with a certified adult) that can be upgraded to a regular certification after age 15.

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My ears hurt when I dive down below the surface - does that mean I can't go diving?

The "squeeze" you feel is caused by the pressure of the water pushing against your eardrums. One of the first things you'll learn in scuba class is a simple technique of equalizing ­ very similar to what you might do on an airplane. When done properly, you will equalize the pressure on each side of your eardrums and you won't feel any pain in your ears.

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How long does it take to learn how to dive?

Our PADI SCUBA Diver certification takes 2 days and our PADI Openwater Certification takes 4 days. The difference between the two is that there are suggested limits to the type of diving that you can do as a certified "SCUBA Diver" - you must dive with a SCUBA professional (Divemaster or Instructor) versus being able to dive on your own with a buddy. Alternatively, to become an Openwater certified diver in just two days while on vacation, visit your local PADI dive shop and ask about a referral program. You'll do your academic work and confined water skills training at home, then you can sign up for your Checkout dives here in Kona (must be completed within 6 months of doing your referral without a refresher).

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Do I have to know how to swim?

Scuba certification requires only that you be reasonably comfortable in the water. You must be able to swim about 200 yards (using any stroke) and be able to tread water to stay afloat for about ten minutes.

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What if I run out of air?

You will have an air gauge that tells you exactly how much air you have left. During your training dives you'll always be at a shallow depth, and later when you move to deeper water you'll become used to checking your air gauge as much as you would check your gas gauge while driving a car. Our certification course is structured so that your questions are answered and you feel comfortable with your life support equipment, its proper function and what to do in the unlikely event that something doesn't work as planned. Recreational scuba diving has a lower incidence of injury than football, baseball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, racquetball, swimming, water-skiing and bowling!

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What will I do in the classroom?

You'll learn about the basic physiological concepts concerned with diving - the effects of pressure and water depth on your body and the equipment you'll be using. As you dive deeper, the pressure on your body increases. You'll learn everything from how this pressure changes the flow of air your regulator delivers and the amount of nitrogen absorbed into your blood, to the effect water has on sound and light. You'll also learn all about the equipment necessary for safe SCUBA, and how to properly fit and take care of it.

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What will I do in the pool?

The pool (here we are able dive in a shallow, protected ocean area) is also where you begin mastering basic skills: breathing from a regulator, safe descent and ascent procedures, proper buoyancy and emergency protocols. This is where the fun begins: putting on the equipment and blowing bubbles at the fish! Few things in life compare to the sensation of being able to breathe underwater as you move through a weightless dimension that allows you to move in any direction you like with a mere flick of your fins.

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What are checkout dives?

Your checkout dives allow your instructor to determine if you have mastered the skills you need to be a certified diver. You'll be doing the same things you practiced in the shallow water during the first two days of your class - the only difference is, you'll be cruising in the open ocean.

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Can I get certified with you on vacation?

YES! If you complete your classroom and pool sessions in your hometown, you have only to complete four training dives while on vacation over two days. You can also start your training here - we recommend that you acquire the learning materials from us and do a little bit of study at home or on the plane. Check out our education section for more info, or e-mail us.

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Can I try diving without getting certified?

Yes, you can! You have two options with our Introduction to SCUBA program. You can opt for a one-tank experience (one dive) off the shore or a two-tank (two dives) off the boat experience. Both include a short classroom session during which you are introduced to the equipment and basic rules of diving. You'll practice several essential skills in the water. Then you are taken on a guided shallow dive, closely supervised by your instructor. These courses are a safe way to try SCUBA and decide if you want to become certified.

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Will I see any sharks?

You would be pretty lucky to see a shark on a dive. Our population as a whole fears sharks because of the false image given them by movies and television. Humans are not the natural prey of sharks. Almost all shark attacks happen by accident to swimmers and surfers. The shark mistakes them splashing on the surface for a seal or turtle, and takes a bite. We taste pretty bad to them, so that's usually the end of it. Sharks have never attacked SCUBA divers in Hawaii - and the most commonly seen one, our white tip reef shark, is quite shy and harmless.

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Do I have to buy all that equipment?

No. The only thing we strongly recommend you buy when you are getting certified is your mask, snorkel and fins - these items must be fitted to you personally with the help of a dive professional. We provide the BC, regulator, wetsuit, weights and tanks during training. The purchase of diving's life support equipment is best left until you've completed your certification and have a better idea of what diving is all about and what your individual needs might be. Your instructor will be able to help you decide.