Go with a course that gives you several weeks to absorb the dense lectures and book readings on various topics, such as buoyancy, diving physics, and depth and time limits. At the end of your course, you will be required to take a written test. You must pass it to become certified.
While you are reading and studying, you will also be taking swimming-pool training dives. Most U.S.-based scuba-diving agencies have a 200-yard minimum swimming requirement (300 yards for the YMCA) for certification. There are also survival/safety requirements that will be tested in the pool, such as treading water and the tired-diver tow (dragging a tired swimmer to "shore"). Training dives in the pool are your opportunity to suit up and get familiar with all the equipment in a contained and supervised setting.
The final step on your way to being a scuba diver is to try an open-water dive. This is when all your hard work in the classroom and pool is finally put to the test. You will be required to pass a series of five open-water dives in a lake, quarry, ocean or other large body of water. You will be asked to perform some of the following skills and more:
* Set up and check your equipment and your buddy's equipment * Know your hand signals * Plan the dive * Ascent and descent: controlled and normal, with and without reference (boat) * Mask: clearing and removal * Snorkel: clearing * Buoyancy: pivot, hover, donning and doffing B.C., manual inflation B.C. * Regulator: clearing and recovery * Octopus: use and ascent * Cramps release * Tired diver tow * Navigation: compass surface and compass navigation
