How to become a Scuba Diver in Three Days

1, 2, 3 – Scuba Certified in the Florida Keys

So, this is one of the most often brought up questions by our customers here at Scuba-Fun: “How does a scuba certification actually work?” Followed by: “How long does it really take?“. Well, let’s shed some light, shall we?

Getting Scuba Certified vs Trying Out Scuba

Many people mistakenly think of what almost any scuba dive shop offers as a Discover Scuba Diving or Scuba Resort Course as a full-fledged scuba certification course, which it isn’t. A Discover Scuba Diving course is a one-day scuba experience program in which you get to don scuba gear and first try it out in confined water, usually a swimming pool, and afterward go scuba dive in the open water of the ocean. Of course, you will be under the direct supervision of a scuba instructor at all times.

A Discover Scuba Diving course is a fun way for all family members ten years and older to give scuba diving a whirl, to see what it’s all about, and to get a taste for it if you will. Everything that you need for such a scuba experience (scuba gear) is typically provided for and included in the course fee (check with your scuba store!), and there is no additional knowledge or test required for this experience, all you need to know is how to swim :-).

Especially when you are vacationing in the Florida Keys – home of the Florida Reef, the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States and the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world – you almost cannot evade the many scuba diving offerings available. Participating in a Discover Scuba diving program is a great opportunity to encounter the magnificent coral reef ecosystem and its marine wildlife while here in the Florida Keys. It is truly a memorable experience! Check out more info about the Discover Scuba Diving program at Scuba-Fun here.

But, – and a lot of people do get this wrong – a Discover Scuba Diving experience is just that, an experience! An awesome one, for that matter. However, it does not count as a scuba certification at all.

Now, many people who take part in a Discover Scuba Diving program simply get hooked by scuba, and they cannot wait to become scuba certified as quickly as possible. Here is how to do just that:

The Three Easy Steps to Becoming an Open Water Scuba Diver

Whether you have already participated in a Discover Scuba Diving experience or not, just follow the steps below to become a fully certified Open Water Scuba Diver in the Florida Keys. It’s very easy and pretty straightforward:

Step 1: Register for an Open Water Diver Online Course

The online course or “eLearning” course covers all required course academics including the course exam. You can work through and finish your course at home at your own pace, no need to sit in the classroom anymore, and waste precious time – especially when you are on vacation! To register for an online course and affiliate with Scuba-Fun you can easily click here for a PADI course, or follow this link if you prefer an SDI course. Both are industry-leading scuba training agencies by whose standards Scuba-Fun is teaching our scuba diving classes. The online course fees are to be paid to the agencies directly upon registering. Once you are registered you can start your online course. The course duration varies depending on your learning style and speed. We have seen students take anywhere from 7 to 15 hours to finish the online course, but you should have the course finished before taking your in-water training so you can bring your instructor a copy of your course record. Online courses should be finished within 12 months from registration, or else they expire and you will have to buy new…

Step 2: Schedule your In-Water Scuba Diving Training Sessions

If you have not done so already while working on your online course contact us to schedule your confined and open water training dives. We typically schedule scuba training dives over the course of three days, back to back. The first day is entirely set aside for your confined water aka pool training. On days two and three, you will be doing all four required open water training dives, two each day. Most times, weather permitting, this entails a boat ride out to the coral reef to conduct your training dives in the ocean, or if the weather does not allow for that your training dives can be done in a protected lagoon. If your visit to the Florida Keys does not allow for three training days in a row we will be happy to accommodate you and find a schedule that works best for you.

A little further down we also explain the Scuba Referral Program in case you cannot finish your course with us altogether, or you start or have started your scuba course at another scuba store and would like to finish your training here with us in the Florida Keys.

Step 3: One, Two, Three – Certified!

Be ready to have plenty of fun on your scheduled training days! On your first day, it’s off to the pool. Your instructor will teach you all the scuba skills that are required for this course, and he will spend as much time in the pool with you as necessary for you to comfortably master all skills. From experience, we can say that your first training day will very likely conclude after 6-7 hours, a lunch break included. On days two and three we will only require your time for a half-day each to conduct your open water training dives. You have the option of doing your training dives in the morning or the afternoon, whichever you prefer best. During your open water training dives your instructor will ask you to repeat the skills that you have learned in the pool on your first training day, but aside from that, you will have plenty of time just to scuba dive in the ocean with your instructor and marvel at the underwater world! And just like that, after your fourth training dive and successfully performing all skills, you will be a certified Open Water Scuba Diver! Including the time spent on your online course all it took was three full days! Congratulations!

The Scuba Open Water Referral Program

Sometimes even the best-laid plans need to be reconsidered and you simply do not have three days to dedicate to your class. So, in case you cannot finish your training dives with us during your stay in the Florida Keys, you always have 12 months from your last training segment to resume and finish your Open Water Diver course with either us or any other PADI or SDI dive shop in the world. This is called an Open Water Referral. Should you wish to continue your course with another shop we will issue a Course Record and Referral Form for you to bring to your new instructor within a matter of 12 months, which shows them which training portions have already been accomplished and which skills still need to be done. Vice-versa, Scuba-Fun also accepts such a referral form from other scuba instructors as long as your last training session was within a year. Open Water Referrals are also often used by students who finish their course academics and pool training back home and they look to finish their open water training dives in a warmer climate such as the Florida Keys have to offer :-).

What are the prerequisites for a scuba course?

Again, as simple as 1, 2, and 3 – there are only three prerequisites for the Open Water Scuba Diver course. You need to

1. be 10 years of age or older
2. know how to swim
3. be able to answer “no” to all questions in the Diver Medical Questionnaire [see download below] or provide a release form from your physician

So, how long does it really take to get scuba certified?

If you really want to go for it you can be a certified Open Water Scuba Diver within a matter of three full days, easily! If you like to take things slow, you can stretch the process out a bit, as long as you do not let your training lapse for more than 12 months. Now, with that being said, even though it is permissible it is not really advisable to stretch your scuba training out over such an extended period of time. After a certain time has passed, let’s say six months or so, every reputable dive store and scuba instructor will probably want to go back to the pool and review some skills with you again. Such “refreshers” will be required even though you have technically finished all required pool training already as per your course record form, and extra fees may even be involved with this. Each store or instructor has its own policy when it comes to that, so be sure to inquire if necessary. So, if you have set your eyes on the goal to become scuba certified we do recommend dedicating the necessary time in your schedule and going for it in “one fell swoop” if you can. In case you are using the referral program we suggest continuing with and finishing the course as quickly as you can.

The most important rule, however, is: Go at your own pace, always!

Learning to scuba dive is a totally different experience for each individual student. We have seen so many reactions from the thousands of students we have worked with. For some, it comes naturally, for others it may come with some anxiety first. Scuba diving is supposed to be a safe and fun activity, and you achieve that by being comfortable and confident in what you do. Hence, your scuba training really should be dictated by how quickly you want to proceed only, and not by anybody else. Here at Scuba-Fun, we will always take that into consideration! So, we do hope we have piqued your interest and answered a few questions that you may have had about how to become a scuba diver. If you have any further questions or comments please let us know!