What does it take to get scuba certified?

There are three parts to a the entry level scuba certification. First,  you must complete academic and administrative requirements. The academics can be done online or in person. In this part you will learn about topics from what dive gear is and how to care for it, to diving physics and medical problems divers have to know about. Second, you must pass a swimming and basic water skills test. After you will get comfortable with the scuba equipment in confined water (pool like setting). Third, you must complete open water dives where you will practice the skills you learned in the pool on a real dive.

What is Nitrox? Why should I care?

Nitrox (EAN) is enriched air. This means it is air with extra oxygen. The extra oxygen replaces some of the nitrogen and because of that it reduces the chances that a diver will experience the bends, otherwise known as decompression sickness (DCS). At shallow depths it is safer for recreational divers to use Nitrox than it is to use air. 

Where do you train students?

I use training sites all over, but those I use most often are springs in North Florida. Click Here for a list of my favorite dive sites. I travel for training and can work with someone regardless of where you live. If you are planning on traveling to Florida, we can start your training before you get here (academics) and finish while you are here.

Do I need advanced scuba training?

Maybe. To answer this question, I need to know what your goals are. If the question is do you need to improve as a diver? Then the answer is, most probably yes. If you only dive once or twice a year on shallow sites, then you may not need any other training. If you want to be a good diver or you want to be able to dive sites that are deeper or have more challenging conditions, then you will need additional training to the Open Water course.

What agency do you teach for?

I am a Course Director with IDEA, an Instructor Trainer with SEI, and an Instructor with SDI. Course Director is the highest level of recreational scuba leadership. As a Course Director I can train and certify Instructor Trainers.  So I can train and certify divers from entry level to the top.

Why don’t you teach PADI?

My original Open Water certification was done with PADI in 1991. PADI is one scuba training agency among many. It is large and spends a lot of money to advertise. From what I hear, fees are substantially more for students and instructors. I choose to do what I can to keep my costs down, so I can offer better prices to my students. PADI is not unique, there are lots of internationally recognized agencies and training is similar within the agencies associated with the Recreational Scuba Training Council. PADI is not the oldest agency, as some claim, it was founded in 1966, IDEA has been training divers since 1952.