How to Get SCUBA Certified: Steps, Cost & What to Expect
Jonathan Bonano March 13th, 2021 Posted In: How-To Tags: SCUBA
Starting your SCUBA diving journey is a very exciting moment in one’s life. You’ve spent all of your life above ground up until this point and now you have the chance to explore the other 70% of the world!
If you’ve been wondering how to get SCUBA certified, the process is actually much more approachable than most beginners expect. With the right instructor, a little preparation, and some time in the water, you’ll be well on your way to earning your Open Water certification and exploring an entirely new world beneath the surface.
Why Get SCUBA Certified?
Becoming scuba certified opens the door to an entirely new way of experiencing the ocean. From colorful coral reefs and tropical marine life to shipwrecks and underwater caves, scuba diving allows you to explore places most people will never see firsthand.
Beyond the adventure, certification also teaches essential safety skills, underwater awareness, and proper dive techniques that make diving safer and far more enjoyable.
How To Become SCUBA Certified
If you have done even a little bit of research into getting your SCUBA diving certification, you would have noticed there are dozens of organizations to choose from. From NAUI and SSI to the behemoth PADI, whichever one you choose generally depends on which part of the world you get your certification and ultimately which one the diving school offers.
Regardless of the organization you choose, your first diving certification is known as an Open Water Diver Certification and each organization follows a very similar SCUBA certification process.
One of the biggest questions beginners ask is how long does SCUBA certification take? In most cases, the process can be completed in as little as 2–4 days if done on vacation, or over several weekends if completing coursework and dives separately.
Let’s get into that, shall we?
SCUBA Certification Requirements
One of the biggest misconceptions about SCUBA diving is that you need extensive experience or elite swimming abilities before getting certified. In reality, most beginner certifications are designed for complete newcomers. Most major organizations require:
- Minimum age of 10 years old
- Basic swimming ability
- Comfort in the water
- Medical clearance if certain health conditions are present
No previous dive experience is required.
At The Dive School
Before even touching the water, you are going to want to have some basic knowledge of hand signals and your equipment. Hand signals are imperative when communicating underwater. After all, it’s not like you can talk to anyone to see how they’re doing! Hand signals allow for the most basic communication, like asking if someone is “OK” or telling your instructor how much air is left in your tank.
Choosing a Certification Agency
PADI, SSI, and NAUI are some of the most recognized scuba certification agencies in the world. While each organization has slightly different teaching styles, all provide globally recognized Open Water certifications.
In most cases, finding a quality instructor and dive shop is more important than choosing a specific certification “brand.”
SCUBA Diving Equipment
After that, you’ll learn about the equipment: the stuff that allows you to breathe and glide underwater. The three most important tools in your arsenal are the tank, the regulator, and the BCD. The tank contains regular air, not oxygen as many people believe.
The SCUBA tank is then directly connected to the regulator. Your regulator will generally have four hoses with each one attached to an important component of your dive outfit.
One hose connects to your primary mouthpiece while another hose attaches to an “octopus,” which is a second mouthpiece for redundancy or helping out a dive partner. A third hose connects to a gauge. There are gauges that show all kinds of information, but most importantly they show the amount of air left in your tank. The final hose connects to the BCD.
Controlling your buoyancy through the BCD by adding or removing air is paramount when diving comfortably. You don’t want to be knocking into the coral reefs, or worse, shooting up to the surface too quickly. Weights are also used in conjunction with the BCD to help control your buoyancy once underwater.
Masks and Fins
Next, the masks and fins make it possible to enjoy the underwater scape as comfortably as possible. You want to have a mask that fits perfectly on your face so no water seeps in. You also don’t want it to be too tight so it’s not constricting any sinus cavities.
Don’t forget your SCUBA diving wetsuit, too! A properly fitting wetsuit helps regulate body temperature, improve comfort, and protect against scrapes or stings during your dives.
The fins are your motor underwater. Once you get a good rhythm and technique down, you’ll effortlessly move like a fish. Keep those hands tucked in! No need to flail your arms around as your hands do nothing compared to the work of your fins.
Skills Check-Off
There are several skills that you must demonstrate before heading to the open sea and getting your SCUBA diving certification. These will either be done in a pool or shallow water to get you more comfortable before going deep.
This isn’t timed so you can do it at your leisure. You’ll also have to tread water for 10 minutes using any method easiest for you. Just because you can breathe underwater doesn’t mean you don’t need to know the basics of swimming!
Now that those skills are out of the way, you’ll assemble your equipment and jump back into the water to start with the more fun stuff! With your mouthpiece on, you’ll dunk your head at the surface to get the feel for breathing through the regulator. It’s a little weird at first, but it becomes second nature pretty quickly.
After you get comfortable with your new breathing medium, you’ll sink to the bottom and finish the rest of the skills. Your instructor will check if you know your hand signals and can communicate clearly.
Next, you’ll have to learn how to purge your mask if water gets in, then take it completely off only to put it back on and clear it with it full of water.
You will also learn how to “lose” your regulator and retrieve it. Finally, you’ll have to remove your weights and BCD and then put them back on properly. All of these skills are crucial to have in the unlikely event that something unexpected happens underwater.
You’ll also work on buoyancy control, underwater communication, and safe ascent techniques before completing your certification dives.
How Much Does SCUBA Certification Cost?
Another common beginner question is scuba certification cost. The price can vary depending on:
- Your location
- The certification agency
- Pool access and instructor fees
- Whether rental gear is included
In general, most Open Water certification courses range between $150–$600.
Vacation destinations sometimes bundle certification packages with resort stays or dive trips, while local dive shops may spread classes out over multiple weekends.
Show Off Your SCUBA Skills
Don’t think you’re out of the woods yet! Showing off these skills doesn’t finally grant you the coveted SCUBA diving certification. Now that you proved yourself in shallow water, it’s time to show them off at depth! Once you’re at the dive site and out of the boat, you will have to find your buddy at the surface and perform a “buddy check” to assure all is well with each other’s equipment before descending to depth. With your first SCUBA diving certification, you’re allowed to go down to 18 meters (or about 60 feet).
Once you descend to a comfortable spot for both your dive instructor and yourself, you’ll perform all of the skills again to show what you’ve learned. Doing these skills around this depth shows you have the ability to keep your head under pressure in case anything were to happen.
What Gear Do You Need for SCUBA Diving?
Most beginner certification courses provide rental gear, but many divers eventually purchase their own equipment for comfort and fit. Common SCUBA gear includes:
- Mask
- Fins
- BCD
- Regulator
- Dive computer
- Tank
- SCUBA diving wetsuit
Your wetsuit choice depends heavily on water temperature. Thicker wetsuits are designed for colder water, while thinner suits work well in tropical environments.
Back In The Boat
Congratulations! With all these skills in your arsenal, you are now SCUBA dive certified! Now you can decide whether you want to go on and take the Advanced Open Water Diver program, or just enjoy your Open Water diving certification and dive as a professional.
FAQ: How to Get SCUBA Certified
How long does it take to get SCUBA certified?
Most Open Water SCUBA certifications take between 2–4 days in an accelerated course or 1–2 weeks when completed over weekends.
How much does SCUBA certification cost?
Most SCUBA certification courses cost between $150–$600 depending on location, instructor, and included gear.
How old do you have to be to get SCUBA certified?
Most organizations allow children to begin junior SCUBA certification around age 10.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to get SCUBA certified?
You don’t need to be an expert swimmer, but basic swimming ability and comfort in the water are required.
Is PADI the only SCUBA certification?
No. SSI, NAUI, and several other organizations offer globally recognized SCUBA certifications.
What wetsuit do I need for SCUBA diving?
The right SCUBA diving wetsuit depends on water temperature, dive duration, and personal cold tolerance.
