PADI Open Water Diver Course
Benefits
- Lifetime certification
- You won't spend valuable vacation time learning to dive
- Gain the skills and experience to dive safely
- Prepare for the Adventures
in Diving Course
You've got questions...
We've got
answers!
Is scuba hard to learn?
No, it isn't hard at all. Our instructors and the PADI system make the whole
process fast and fun.
How old do I have to be to become a certified diver?
You must be at least ten years old to receive a Junior Open Water Diver
Certification. Ten and 11 year old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a
certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional to a maximum depth of 40 feet.
12 to 14 year olds must dive with a certified adult. At age 15, the Junior
certification upgrades to an adult Open Water Diver certification.
Are there any special qualifications or considerations to participate in a
scuba class?
No. Generally speaking, anyone in good health and at least 10 years old can
participate. You will, however, complete a medical questionnaire. If anything on
the questionnaire indicates a reason to be cautious about diving, you'll need to
check with a physician to make sure you can dive.
Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as a PADI Open Water
Diver?
No. You need to know how to swim and be comfortable in the water. You must
swim 200 yards nonstop, without a time or specific stroke requirement or a 300
yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel. You'll also perform a 10 minute
tread/float.
How long will it
take to get certified?
It takes about 2
weeks to get certified and it is a lifetime certification. We have 2 group
class formats: evening and weekend.
A typical evening
class meets Monday-Thursday 6:30pm-10pm. Two nights you are in the
classroom and two nights you are in the pool. The checkout dives are done
on a weekend with 2 dives each day.
A typical weekend
class meets Saturday and Sunday from 9am-6pm. The next weekend are
your checkout dives, with 2 dives each day. Plan to spend about 4 hours at
the lake or Aquarena for your checkout dives.
I'm leaving on a dive trip next week. Can I get certified before I
leave?
Yes you can! We
recommend coming into the shop as soon as possible to get signed up for class so
we can assign you an instructor and you can get started!
Where are the Open Water training dives done?
The Open Water checkout dives are done at Windy Point Park on Lake Travis.
Windy Point Park (also known as Barstow's) has a great setup for divers,
including an air fill station. During the winter months or for private
classes, we do our checkouts at Aquarena Springs. The water is 70 degrees
year round with visibility up to 70 feet.
What if I have to
miss a class?
If you think you may
have a schedule conflict, let us know when you sign up or as soon as possible.
We can always reschedule your checkout dives with another class on a different
weekend or do private checkouts for you (this is our executive option). If
you have a conflict with the classroom and pool sessions, we can schedule a
separate private classroom or pool session with you (ask for details).
Many people enjoy the flexibility of our private classes. We can schedule
the entire class around your schedule!
What is the diving in Lake Travis like?
Lake Travis is one of the best inland lakes for SCUBA training in the
country. The visibility can reach 25 feet or so at times, and is typically 10-15
feet. While this isn't Caribbean diving, it is generally warm enough to dive
without a wetsuit from June until October.
Are there other places to dive around Austin?
There are lots of other diving opportunities locally,
like Aquarena Springs (with special training), the San Marcos and Comal Rivers,
and Canyon Lake. A little bit further and you'll find Lake Amistad, offshore oil
platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, and the amazing Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Austin divers also tend to
think of Cozumel, Mexico as local.
How long does a tank of air last?
Since people breathe at different rates and as you go deeper you consume air
faster, there isn't any one answer. Because of this, divers carry a gauge that
lets them know how much air is in the tank. Divers in calm, warm water from
15-30 feet can spend about one hour underwater with an average tank.
My ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool. Won't they hurt when I
SCUBA dive?
Your ears hurt because of the water pressure on your eardrum. In your SCUBA
course, you'll learn simple techniques to equalize your ears to the surrounding
pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane.
What about sharks or other marine animals?
Most aquatic animals are passive or timid. A few do bite or sting, but you
can avoid these by not touching them. Divers aren't natural prey for sharks and
therefore shark encounters are rare, and shark attacks on divers are extremely
rare. Even seeing a shark is uncommon; they really are beautiful creatures and
seeing one in the wild is a special privilege.
Is SCUBA diving dangerous?
No, but there are potential hazards, which is why you need proper training
and certification.
I need vision correction. Is that a problem?
No. Wearing soft contact lenses isn't a problem while you dive. However, if
you wear hard contacts, you'll want to dive with gas permeable lenses. See your
eye doctor for more information. Another option is to have prescription lenses
put into your mask.
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