Certification: BASIC

I was interested in taking my university’s diving program but they no longer offered the beginner’s class and only offered intermediate diving (advanced certification) and intro to scientific diving. I spoke with the dive master and he suggested I get my basic certification off-campus and then enroll in the intermediate course. In the summer of 2014, I began my basic certification. As I was taking summer courses at my university, I decided to pop by the city and visit my local dive shop. They were incredibly welcoming and supportive and I signed up to be certified. Below I will be discussing my experience with the certification as well as mentioning things to know about getting certified.

 

Things to Consider

There are many different diving certification agencies. The most common I found in my area were: NAUI, SSI, and PADI. My basic certification was under SSI, as my dive shop only offers SSI.

 

Course + Gear

Undergoing certification isn’t cheap. Not everyone has that kind of money lying around, especially college students.

The course cost was about $400, this included the materials and a guaranteed spot in the course. The pricing for a basic course can vary, I’ve found that they all hover around the $500 mark, give or take some. While the price seems pretty steep, your basic certification is pretty much for life. If you spend more than 12+ months without a dive before you dive again you will have to take a refresher course. I find that if you’re a casual diver 1-3 dives a year will keep you from having to go through a refresher. I do recommend a refresher if you feel like you need some brushing up on your SCUBA knowledge. Safety is always most important. You can avoid a refresher fee and putting that money towards a dive weekend. I found that when I only owned my basic kit I would pay around $100 for rentals for 2 days, that included 4 air fills.

Aside from course material costs, you must also purchase your basic gear: mask, snorkel, fins, gloves (colder water/California) and boots. Depending on what you select for each item this will run you about $200 – $400+. I spent a lot of time researching fit and color choice and paid about $350 on my basic gear. For some of these items you can go with used gear, I suggest closely inspecting them and making sure they fit properly. For used gear, make sure that seams on booties are not torn and that the soles are in good condition. Fins last a long time, but make sure to check the fin straps. I purchased all of my gear new, so I don’t have much experience with used gear, I would just recommend being weary and critical of the items.

For a more detailed guide on choosing the appropriate starter gear: Basic Kit

 

My Experience

My dive instructor was a hilarious and knowledgeable divemaster who walked us through every aspect of our training. My class group was about 8 people, it was a slightly larger class but we all got pointers and tips on our individual techniques to make sure that we were trained properly. My dive shop offered two options for the course both of which were over 2 weeks: weekday nights or weekends.

I opted for the weekday nights, just because I wanted to spread out my schedule. Each week had 2 class meetings each lasting 4 hours, the first part was classroom-based and the second part was pool time. We reviewed the course material which was part of our homework and asked all kinds of questions, mostly about possible scenarios.

Then we had about 15 minutes to get decked out in the hottest fashions (read: don a wetsuit) and head to the pool. We were buddied up and taught to properly set up our equipment. My instructors have always pushed for a thorough personal check and buddy check to mitigate any problems. The last 2 hours were spent watching and personally going through every drill ourselves. Going through the exercises is very helpful with learning to deal with timing and new environment. I recommend trying every drill yourself, so that you familiarize yourself with the equipment and procedures. The emergency drills are especially important, you want to be prepared for any eventuality.

 

Exit Dives

I was incredibly nervous about completing my ocean dives. How could the pool even compare to the ocean? I had never really been more than a hundred feet from the shore, so I was nervous. I had also dabbled in a free diving session but the lack of external aid really freaked me out. I’m not completely confident with my body’s abilities to free diving seriously. The BC I used really provided that element of comfort and reassurance that I needed because in the end if I ran out of compressed gas, I could manually inflate it. That calmed my nerves and the fact that we were in 4 person group with 2 instructors made me relax. It was a single weekend, where my buddy and I drove down and stayed overnight near the beach.

Day 1:

Dive 1: descent, mask clearings, air-sharing

Dive 2: emergency skills, neutral buoyancy

Day 2:

Dive 1: navigation (w/ instructor), navigation (w/o instructor)

Dive 2: fun dive (almost fell on a crab as I descended)

The exit dives were manageable and fun as well as great exposure and preparation for dives I would later lead.

 

Overall, getting certified was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Nothing compares to the immense joy I feel when I’m underwater. Joining the SCUBA community has allowed me to connect with so many amazing individuals that share the same passions that I do. I got to meet people that would have never crossed my path otherwise. I met people with day jobs in medicine, finance, engineering, and biotechnology. Most of my best friends dive as well, so for me it was like finding a new home.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I love talking to individuals interested in getting certified.

Full Kit

Basic gear is where one can usually afford to spend less. When purchasing a full kit, consideration of an item’s construction and warranties really come into play.

Before I purchased my own, I sunk a lot of time into researching different brands and looked at a million pictures of each piece. I would go to my local dive shop to get a feel for the item. I always want to make sure I love the item before I fork over the money.

Weight Belt + Soft Lead – I actually don’t own my own weight system yet, you can get away with just renting on-site at any dive shop. I usually opt for a weight-belt as it’s easier to carry the weight around my waist that on my shoulders and back. Most BCDs have weight-integration systems that make belts unnecessary but I feel more balanced with a belt. Try out a belt next time you’re at the shop. Soft lead is a more environmentally-friendly option than hard-lead weights. If an emergency ascent is necessary, dropping soft-lead will cause less damage to the dive site.

Exposure Suits

Wetsuit – I own 2 suits currently, one is actually lost and in the middle of being replaced. Depending on the dive site, you could go without one or you might need the thickest one available. There are so many types of exposure suits in varying thicknesses, colors, hood attachments and styles. There are regular wetsuits, semi-dry wetsuits, and dry suits. Although the perfect suit would be custom-made for your body, unless you have serious money for that, a normal suit will suffice. For California diving, use a 7mm. Your choice of back-zip, front-zip or farmer John/Jane style. Make sure you can move, it should be snug but not too restricting.

Hood/Vest – Some suits come with a hood attachment, some do not. I had a semi-dry wetsuit with a hood attachment, and I have a surf suit (for pool use only) that does not have a hood. Diving in cold water requires a hood to minimize heat loss from the head. These really make a difference once you hit the thermocline!

Life Support

Primary Regulator – One of the most expensive pieces of SCUBA gear, mostly because they come with a first stage and a second stage. The first stage is where all of your attachments will join the tank. Choose one with a nice mouth piece, a color you like and features you think you’ll need. Travel options are also available for this equipment, these are lighter and more compact options. Hoses can be adjusted to your liking, you might find a longer hose is necessary.

Alternate Regulator (Emergency/Octopus) – The emergency back-up regulator, mine are the same model. This is only used for emergency air-sharing but should be checked before each dive.

Buoyancy Compensating Device (BCD) – BCDs come in all styles: jacket, back-inflating, etc. Choose one to your liking and make yourself a pro at operating it. Know what each feature is for. Some BCDs have weight-integrated systems, which means you can remove the weight belt from your kit all together. These pockets usually have a quick-release system that you and your buddy should know how to operate. Try to opt for a more streamlined BCD to minimize drag.

Gauges

Submersible Pressure Gauge (SPG) – This nifty gadget measures the amount of air left in your cylinder by using pressure. A cautious diver makes a great diver, always remember to check your pressure often! A gauge should be in measurements you’re comfortable with. They usually come in bar or psi (pounds per square inch). Can be grouped with depth gauge and compass in a console for a more streamlined approach.

Depth Gauge – A depth gauge measures your depth underwater. Most analog depth gauges include a maximum depth indicator needle that mark your deepest depth for record keeping. This gauge can be replaced by a dive computer as most measure depth and can provide a detailed depth profile after your dive. If you do opt to use a dive computer over a depth gauge, make sure your battery and computer are always operating appropriately. 

Compass – Navigation underwater is a tricky ordeal. A compass is essential when there are no noticeable features. Many forget how important a compass is until they need one. Make sure you’re always aware of your position.

Dive Computers – Typically the size of a watch, most come with incredibly useful features. Nowadays, computers can have their software upgraded, air integration and preset profiles. The price ranges wildly. Choose something that can keep time, measure depth (removing the depth gauge from your kit), and give you the no-deco time of your dive. Everything else is an extra, that you don’t NEED to pay for but can come in handy. You can dive without a computer by just using your certifications’ dive tables. Many dive shops rent their BCDs with a console that includes a computer, pressure gauge and a compass. Dive computers can be wrist-mounted or put into a console.

This gear makes up the basic equipment required for a proper ocean dive. Night dives, wreck dives, and other specialty dives usually require a bit more equipment and extras. I will address these in another post.

Basic Kit

There’s no doubt that SCUBA diving equipment is expensive, as is expected for life-supporting equipment. Entering an environment we’re not perfectly suited for comes with its own set of issues.

Becoming certified doesn’t mean you have to buy all of your own gear. It comes down to how much time you spend in the water. If you’re a casual diver, it might be more prudent to rent. If you’re a hardcore diver, then dropping cash on rentals every other weekend adds up. No matter what kind of diver you are, there remains an important lesson: dive with equipment that feels comfortable! I am extremely fortunate to have my own gear, and while I am still completing my kit I feel like I can shed some light on how to go about choosing your gear.

If you do buy your own gear, it should last years with proper care and maintenance. Remember your life is on the line, so your gear should be in tip-top shape.

Absolute BASIC gear:

Upon taking a Basic certification course, you’ll most likely be required to buy the minimal gear, perfect for snorkeling and free diving!

Mask – There are tons of masks available. No matter how cool a mask looks, you should get fitted for one. Nothing sucks more than getting a mask in the mail, only to find it doesn’t actually fit your face. Human faces come in all shapes and sizes, which is why you should go to your local dive shop. Try on different masks until you find one that you like, fits your budget and makes you look like a million bucks. A well-fitting mask should remain on your face without the strap, after a small nasal inhalation to secure the seal. Your nose should fit comfortably in the pocket and be easily accessible for equalizing!

Snorkel – Snorkels are more forgiving than masks, they’re more of a one-size-fits-all. There are 2 main types: a J-tube and a dry-valve. A J-tube is a very basic snorkel and works well. A dry-valve snorkel prevents water from entering the snorkel whilst it is submerged, they may also have a purge valve, where water will be forced out. Take your pick, they come in so many colors.

Boots – Another item you should pick only after trying on. These come in different heights, thicknesses, with and without zippers. Thickness is usually dependent on your diving environment. Zippers allow water to enter the boot, so if you’ll be diving in cooler waters you might want to opt for zipper-less booties. Make sure to try on your fins with the boots, so you know that your boot fits in the fin.

Gloves – While not all diving requires gloves, they are a safer bet. Even if they are really thin, you can always benefit from the protection they offer. These are a MUST in colder water, after a few minutes your hands will become numb and a solid pair of gloves can really make a dive.

Fins – So many options and so many colors! Split or full blade? Purple or red? Full-foot or open-heel? The only thing that matters is how they fit you and how awesome you look in them. Open-heeled fins require boots, otherwise you’ll shred your feet. Bright colors make it easy for your dive buddy to know where you are.

Dive Bag – An essential for cutting down the trips from the car to your setup spot. There are rolling luggage bags, duffle mesh bags, etc. Choose one that is comfortable for you to carry and suits your SCUBA needs. Travel divers favor rolling luggage to make airport trips easier. Broke college students like myself, favor mesh bags with a large compartment. The only requirement for choosing a bag is to make sure all of your gear fits.

If you’re certified, chances are you own these.

While you can rent them, nothing sucks more than arriving at your destination only to find they’ve run out of your size.

The price for these items has quite a large range. Spend as much or as little as you want, but make sure you’re comfortable with the equipment you end up choosing.