first ever scuba related post.
- Thread starter Pancho
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Certification can be done anywhere in the world. Take a vacation to somewhere you want to scuba and get a package deal. A short timeline for completion is really helpful in reinforcing what you learn. and it'll be in a location you want to explore vs a pool.
And by the way, I used to work with life ins underwriters and scuba is the highest morbidity risk along with small aircrafts.
And by the way, I used to work with life ins underwriters and scuba is the highest morbidity risk along with small aircrafts.
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There are many different certification organizations. All Sport Chalets are PADI centers (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) they focus on making the experience quick and painless. I'm certified through NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), Humboldt State University, American Academy of Underwater Sciences and California Reef Check. There are hundreds of other associations that all pretty much do the same thing and that is to teach you how to SCUBA dive. YMCA, SDI, even LA county has its own dive organization, the list goes on and on...
So with a Sport Chalet PADI course the point is to make it as quick as possible, and for most people this is a perfect fit. When I got my first certification it took one whole semester, in order to become get my Master Diver cert took one year, Rescue diver took a year and a half, Scientific Diver took two years and Skin Diving Instructor and Divemaster both took three years plus an internship.
I'm always looking for dive buddies to SCUBA/freedive/spearfish with...so if you get into it let me know...
So with a Sport Chalet PADI course the point is to make it as quick as possible, and for most people this is a perfect fit. When I got my first certification it took one whole semester, in order to become get my Master Diver cert took one year, Rescue diver took a year and a half, Scientific Diver took two years and Skin Diving Instructor and Divemaster both took three years plus an internship.
I'm always looking for dive buddies to SCUBA/freedive/spearfish with...so if you get into it let me know...
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varies, most instructors make you buy a mask/fins/snorkel/weightbelt during class. So to rent a wetsuit, BCD, regulator, tank...probably in the neighborhood of $50...but you can always freedive which is just holding your breath and that's free! As long as you can get to the beach there are a TON of great beach dive sites, OR you could pay $150 to to get on a charter boat to go out to the islands for 2 dives. My favorite is just taking the Cat Expres over to Avalon and diving Casino Point. Lots of sunken boats, DEEP water close to shore, it's an official dive park, TONS of BIG fish and the best part is there are literally stairs leading into the water...too cool.
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Depends...$300-500 for the class...if you shop around and get a group together an instructor should knock down the price if they're cool...maybe $150-200 for a good mask/snorkel/fins/weightbelt...cheaper if you get them used. Its not impossible to get away with $200 total...yet its also easy to spend $600 all together...so shop around and buyer beware!
