How to Learn to Scuba Dive...

Learning to Scuba Dive...

Scuba diving is a self-regulated industry. That means that there are no laws requiring scuba certification in order for you to scuba dive, but everyone in the scuba industry has gotten together and agreed on a minimum set of standards that everyone must meet in order to be qualified to scuba dive safely. Certifying agencies setup courses to teach these minimum standards (and typically more) to people who want to scuba dive. Upon successful demonstration of these skills a certifying agency issues a certification card to the student which then allows them to purchase scuba diving equipment, get air fills, and get aboard dive boats.

Most entry level scuba diving courses are divided into three parts: academic learning, pool practice, and open water demonstration. The Nittany Divers have combined the academic learning and pool practice portions into our Scuba Diver course and we offer the open water demonstration portion through our Certification Dives.

We separate the course into two parts mainly because not everyone wants to do their open water dives in the quarries of central Pennsylvania. By separating the course, students can learn the academics and practice in the pool here in central Pennsylvania and then do their open water dives anywhere in the world. For more details on the options available to you for completing your certification dives, see our information on your certification options.

When is the next course being offered:

Frequently Asked Questions...

Q: Do I have to be a Penn State student to take your course?

A: NO. Our courses are open to anyone. You do need to be 12 years of age or older to learn to dive. If you are under 18 years of age see our Scuba Diver course page for more details on the limitations imposed on divers under the age of 18.

Q: Penn State has a KINES 045 course but it's full, is your course the same thing?

A: Penn State's KINES 045 is similar to our Scuba Diver course which teaches the academic and pool practice portions of what is need to learn to dive. Our course is shorter and a little less physically intensive since we are not a physical education course.

Q: If I take your Scuba Diver course can I still get the Penn State KINES 045 course credits?

A: YES. If you take our Scuba Diver course you will be given the opportunity to get the Penn State KINES 045 course credits. If you are a full time student there is usually no additional cost for the credits although you may get charged a small late add fee. If you are not a full time student, you will be charged the current per credit fee by the University. KINES 045 is a 1.5 credit course.

Q: Do I need to own my own equipment?

A: NO. We provide all the equipment you need to learn to dive. You are welcome to purchase your own equipment if you want, but it is not required. Most dive shops require that you purchase your own mask, fins, and snorkel in order to learn to dive, but we provide these as well.

Q: Do I need to be able to swim to learn to scuba dive?

A: YES. While you do not have to be an excellent swimmer, basic swimming ability and comfort in the water are necessary. For details on the swim tests you must pass, please see our Scuba Diver course.

Q: I have a medical condition, can I still learn to scuba dive?

A: MAYBE. Some medical conditions preclude a person from safely scuba diving. This determination can only be made by your scuba instructor and possibly a physician. A medical assessment is done as part of the course and you may be required to obtain a physician's approval before taking the course. You can e-mail the instructor and request to talk with him/her about it. For your privacy, please DO NOT ask the question in your e-mail. Send the instructor your phone number and he/she will call you to discuss your medical condition more privately.

Q: Can I learn the academic and pool skills on my own and just do the certification dives?

A: NO. Learning the academic and pool skills under the supervision of a certified scuba instructor is required by the certifying agencies that issue your certification card. You can learn your academic and pool skills from another instructor and do your certification dives with us. You will need to obtain a letter of referral from your instructor and talk with our instructor before going on our certification dives.

Q: Once I get my certification card, does it expire?

A: NO. Scuba certifications are issued once and do not require any type of mandatory renewal. It is recommended that if you have not dove in a few years that you obtain a refresher before doing dives on your own. This allows you to refresh your academic knowledge and scuba skills before going back into open water.

Q: What are the names of these certifying agencies?

A: There are quite a few scuba certifying agencies world wide. In the United States the three biggest agencies include:

On one agency is really better than another; they all have their good and bad points. It is more important to pick a course based on the quality of the instructor than the agency they teach for.

Q: Which certifying agency do the Nittany Diver instructors teach for?

A: The Nittany Divers provide courses through the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).

Additional Questions, Comments, or Suggestions...

Do you have a comment, suggestion, or question not covered by this page? If so, please e-mail the webmaster for an answer and so it can be added to this page.


	How to Learn to Scuba Dive... Learning to Scuba Dive... Scuba diving is a self-regulated industry. That means that there are no laws requiring scuba certification in order for you to scuba dive, but everyone in the scuba industry has gotten together and agreed on a minimum set of standards that everyone must meet in order to be qualified to scuba dive safely. Certifying agencies setup courses to teach these minimum standards (and typically more) to people who want to scuba dive. Upon successful demonstration of these skills a certifying agency issues a certification card to the student which then allows them to purchase scuba diving equipment, get air fills, and get aboard dive boats. Most entry level scuba diving courses are divided into three parts: academic learning, pool practice, and open water demonstration. The Nittany Divers have combined the academic learning and pool practice portions into our Scuba Diver course and we offer the open water demonstration portion through our Certification Dives. We separate the course into two parts mainly because not everyone wants to do their open water dives in the quarries of central Pennsylvania. By separating the course, students can learn the academics and practice in the pool here in central Pennsylvania and then do their open water dives anywhere in the world. For more details on the options available to you for completing your certification dives, see our information on your certification options. When is the next course being offered: Check the Online Schedule of Courses (look for the Scuba Diver course) Sign up on the Notification List to be automatically e-mailed about future offerings of this course. Frequently Asked Questions... Q: Do I have to be a Penn State student to take your course? A: NO. Our courses are open to anyone. You do need to be 12 years of age or older to learn to dive. If you are under 18 years of age see our Scuba Diver course page for more details on the limitations imposed on divers under the age of 18. Q: Penn State has a KINES 045 course but it's full, is your course the same thing? A: Penn State's KINES 045 is similar to our Scuba Diver course which teaches the academic and pool practice portions of what is need to learn to dive. Our course is shorter and a little less physically intensive since we are not a physical education course. Q: If I take your Scuba Diver course can I still get the Penn State KINES 045 course credits? A: YES. If you take our Scuba Diver course you will be given the opportunity to get the Penn State KINES 045 course credits. If you are a full time student there is usually no additional cost for the credits although you may get charged a small late add fee. If you are not a full time student, you will be charged the current per credit fee by the University. KINES 045 is a 1.5 credit course. Q: Do I need to own my own equipment? A: NO. We provide all the equipment you need to learn to dive. You are welcome to purchase your own equipment if you want, but it is not required. Most dive shops require that you purchase your own mask, fins, and snorkel in order to learn to dive, but we provide these as well. Q: Do I need to be able to swim to learn to scuba dive? A: YES. While you do not have to be an excellent swimmer, basic swimming ability and comfort in the water are necessary. For details on the swim tests you must pass, please see our Scuba Diver course. Q: I have a medical condition, can I still learn to scuba dive? A: MAYBE. Some medical conditions preclude a person from safely scuba diving. This determination can only be made by your scuba instructor and possibly a physician. A medical assessment is done as part of the course and you may be required to obtain a physician's approval before taking the course. You can e-mail the instructor and request to talk with him/her about it. For your privacy, please DO NOT ask the question in your e-mail. Send the instructor your phone number and he/she will call you to discuss your medical condition more privately. Q: Can I learn the academic and pool skills on my own and just do the certification dives? A: NO. Learning the academic and pool skills under the supervision of a certified scuba instructor is required by the certifying agencies that issue your certification card. You can learn your academic and pool skills from another instructor and do your certification dives with us. You will need to obtain a letter of referral from your instructor and talk with our instructor before going on our certification dives. Q: Once I get my certification card, does it expire? A: NO. Scuba certifications are issued once and do not require any type of mandatory renewal. It is recommended that if you have not dove in a few years that you obtain a refresher before doing dives on your own. This allows you to refresh your academic knowledge and scuba skills before going back into open water. Q: What are the names of these certifying agencies? A: There are quite a few scuba certifying agencies world wide. In the United States the three biggest agencies include: NAUI - National Association of Underwater Instructors PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors SSI - Scuba Schools International On one agency is really better than another; they all have their good and bad points. It is more important to pick a course based on the quality of the instructor than the agency they teach for. Q: Which certifying agency do the Nittany Diver instructors teach for? A: The Nittany Divers provide courses through the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). Additional Questions, Comments, or Suggestions... Do you have a comment, suggestion, or question not covered by this page? If so, please e-mail the webmaster for an answer and so it can be added to this page.