10-02-2007, 01:45 PM
Andrew, as a Dive Instructor, there is NO 'voila, you're certified'
You have to be able to perform the skill sets that are defined by the certifying agency. These are usually established by the Recreational Scuba Training Council that oversees most scuba certifying agencies.
Most Dive Instructors have had to deal with some students who cannot be certified, sometimes there are physical, behavior, or other reasons that keep a student from gaining a certification in diving. The hardest student to help, however, is that one that EXPECTS that certification is a right at the end of a course, and that they paid for the certification, Dive Instructors can only teach, the student must be able to be certified, both by showing competance in the skills, and the physical ability.
If you have ever sat through an instructors liability case, you will understand WHY I am correcting this.
As for certification, you will need to:
study materials (there are now internet & electronic systems)
Have a medical release signed by a doctor (who should be knowledgeable on diving issues, this is for YOUR own good, to catch any conditions that could cause you problems)
Demonstrate knowledge competance
Demonstrate in water (in a pool like setting) competance in skills (normally 4-5 dives)
Demonstrate in-water - open water competance in skills (normally 4 dives over 2+ days)
There is usually a training fee...this depends much on the area you are in...and gear use/rental/purchase prices and normally the price of the certification card (some instrucotrs still include it, but many have it as a separate fee, due to the above)
Edited by - carey on 10/02/2007 18:23:52
You have to be able to perform the skill sets that are defined by the certifying agency. These are usually established by the Recreational Scuba Training Council that oversees most scuba certifying agencies.
Most Dive Instructors have had to deal with some students who cannot be certified, sometimes there are physical, behavior, or other reasons that keep a student from gaining a certification in diving. The hardest student to help, however, is that one that EXPECTS that certification is a right at the end of a course, and that they paid for the certification, Dive Instructors can only teach, the student must be able to be certified, both by showing competance in the skills, and the physical ability.
If you have ever sat through an instructors liability case, you will understand WHY I am correcting this.
As for certification, you will need to:
study materials (there are now internet & electronic systems)
Have a medical release signed by a doctor (who should be knowledgeable on diving issues, this is for YOUR own good, to catch any conditions that could cause you problems)
Demonstrate knowledge competance
Demonstrate in water (in a pool like setting) competance in skills (normally 4-5 dives)
Demonstrate in-water - open water competance in skills (normally 4 dives over 2+ days)
There is usually a training fee...this depends much on the area you are in...and gear use/rental/purchase prices and normally the price of the certification card (some instrucotrs still include it, but many have it as a separate fee, due to the above)
Edited by - carey on 10/02/2007 18:23:52