What do you have to do to get PADI scuba ceritifcation?

Question

im starting the first class tomorrow and when my aunt got certified 20 years ago they would make her swim tons of laps and dive down to the bottom of the pool to put the equipment on and like rip it off her and i'm wondering if they still do that stuff

Answer 1

It's not nearly as harsh as it used to be. I recall watching my Dad get certified _many_years_ ago (like mid 1970's), and they pulled the same stunts .. pulling off gear from behind the diver, swimming laps with full scuba gear but not allowed to breath on the tank, etc. That was when SCUBA diving was considered a more dangerous undertaking, an extreme sport.

These days, it's considered a recreational sport and open to everyone from early teens to elder grandparents. The training necessary to be comfortable with the gear and some safety situatinos is not nearly as strenuous as it used to be.

Typically you'll work on basic knowledge of the gear and various procedures and skills. You'll get comfortable with the gear and these skills in a number of "confined water" dives (like pools or quarries) and then do some open water work.

I've personally taught people ranging from 12 to 70+. The best thing to do is relax and have fun. Pay particular attention to learning how to use the gear and what to do in difficult situations. You'll enjoy the sport for a long time.

Here's a link to a description of an Open Water course,
http://www.padi.com/padi/en/kd/openwater.aspx

Answer 2

Check out www.padi.com for all the details. My brother has his and mentioned how much fun he had. Good luck.