Things You'll Need:
- Fees
- Class materials and forms
- Personal gear
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Step 1
Locate a reputable dive shop that offers a scuba diving course, purchase course materials and sign up for the program with the necessary fees. Many scuba dive shops provide certifications through PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), SSI (Scuba Schools International) or NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors).
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Step 2
Make sure you have personal gear for the in-water skills component of the program: bathing suit, fins, mask, snorkel and if necessary, boots, hood and gloves. Get fitted for your exposure suit (wet suit) and rent that with your regulator, weights and BCD (buoyancy control device).
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Step 3
Review the course material and prepare the necessary homework (from the book or online course if available). If necessary, contact your physician to get written medical clearance for the sport.
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Step 4
Attend the classroom sessions and in-pool skills courses. Plan your ocean check-out dive excursion for your instructor to verify that you can perform the skills. A scuba diver certification requires two check out dives; an open water certification requires four check out dives.
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Step 5
Complete the certification application and include recent photos. Wait for your certification card to be processed by the certifying agency.
