By being certified, you are recognized internationally as a scuba diver and you will be able to rent or purchase you own diving equipment for subsequent scuba adventures. Getting certified is the best way to be able to enjoy future scuba diving tours and opens up dive packages to you that were not available before.
Choosing a dive company to get certified by can be a daunting task, because there are literally thousands out there wanting to take you money and teach you all of the necessary techniques needed for deep sea diving and other diving vacations. You are going to want to hire one that has a proven track record of honesty, reliability, integrity and known to provide a positive experience for you and your family while being certified.
To find the right company, here are some questions you should ask every scuba diving company that you research in order to find the right one for you.
• How long will the certification course last? Four days is about the right length.
• How much does the course cost? Remember, you get what you pay for.
• Do you have references available from recent students?
• Who will be giving me the instruction?
• How long have they been an instructor?
• How many people has your company certified?
• How many courses have the instructors taught? You will want an instructor who has certified at least 25 people.
• Does the instructor know how to administer first aid and CPR and are they certified to perform these actions?
• Does your company teach the class with more than one instructor or will I have the same one throughout the course?
• Will I be using similar equipment as the instructor? If not, is the instructor knowledgeable in the different gear?
• Will I learn how to use a dive table during the course?
• Will I be able to get a student discount towards advanced courses after I am certified?
The best ones to speak to are the ones that are licensed PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), an internationally recognized diving association. |
