Scuba diving is easy, but it requires some basic knowledge and physical fitness. The courses needed for scuba diving certification are not difficult, but they aren’t something to brush over and still expect to pass your certification or dive safely.
While scuba diving is easy, there’s still plenty that you need to learn to start. We go over what you should expect while learning to scuba dive, including timelines and risks. This article also explains what most people explain scuba diving feels like, how it compares to other recreational water activities, and how much it may cost.
How Long Does it Take to Learn to Scuba Dive?
It takes anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks (on average) to learn to scuba dive through a proper Open Water Diver course. Your time is divided between learning the basics, usually through a typical learning forum such as a class session or self-paced eLearning, and applying everything you learned in a controlled and monitored environment.
Learning to scuba dive takes time. Because you need to redirect your instincts to allow you to remain calm under water, it’s difficult to set up a singular timeline. Some people get the hang of it easier than others.
Some students may take a while to drudge through the knowledge-building step and then apply everything seamlessly once they get in the water. The important part is making sure you understand everything you learn, not just getting through the course.
The Issue With Single Day Scuba Courses
Single day scuba courses exist, but these do not offer a complete learning experience. While they aren’t just throwing you in the water with a tank strapped to your back, they don’t offer enough time or information for an in-depth experience.
Single day scuba courses will not provide you with certification needed to dive in open water. Instead, they make sure you understand the basics so you can spend some time testing out the experience. Resorts and other attractions usually have a specific area where single-day divers can get in the water with minimal risk.
These courses also expire, usually that same day or within a week. Certification lasts forever, but learning to dive in one day limits your long-term potential.
How Long Does it Take to Master Scuba Diving?
Scuba diving mastery spans a much longer timeline than just learning to dive. Some take to the water with ease and can complete all the prerequisites in just a few weeks, while others take months and even years to reach mastery. The average timeline for a dedicated diver is 6 weeks to 6 months.
While mastery is subjective, most would consider the appropriate certification through PADI or SDI a clear marker. These certifications require:
- Previous certification (Open Water, Advanced Open Water, and Rescue Diver for PADI; Open Water and Rescue Diver for SDI)
- Specialized courses (5 for PADI and 4 for SDI)
- A minimum of 50 logged dives
You can usually swap out equivalent courses between the two, and requirements may change at any time. Some may require more than the required 50 dives to feel comfortable attempting a mastery certification, and understanding your own limits is more important than rushing for validation.
Is Scuba Diving Safe for Beginners?
Scuba diving is safe for beginners to attempt. While basic skills and proper fitness are welcome, there is little that can actually prevent you from starting your scuba diving journey.
Beginners should have a clear understanding of what they are getting into, including what they need to learn and the demands of scuba diving. This shouldn’t dissuade anyone from scuba diving, but it sets realistic expectations.
Who Shouldn’t Scuba Dive?
You should not scuba dive if you do not know how to swim or have a disqualifying condition. The latter may include:
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Pneumothorax
- A history of seizures
A medical consultation is the best way to determine if you are healthy enough to dive. You can always learn how to swim before starting your diver training, but certain medical conditions can not be rectified to a suitable level for the increased pressure and demands of scuba diving.
Understanding the Demands of Scuba Diving
The demands of scuba diving exist on intellectual and physical levels.
The initial hurdle to cross is learning all of the information needed to make informed decisions during your dive, keeping you and those around you safe. Scuba diving demands knowledge regarding:
- How increased pressure affects your body and how you work with these changes
- How to use equipment
- Recognizing and responding to common emergencies
- Communicating underwater with dive buddies and other companions
Most of this information is basic and easy enough to grasp.
You should also have a decent baseline fitness capable of handling extended time in the water. You’ll need to carry your weight by literally carrying gear on land, and the more in shape you are the better you can expect your experience to be.
Is Scuba Diving Uncomfortable?
Scuba diving is uncomfortable when you start. Humans are made to live out of the water, and your body has certain reflexes that kick into gear when you start to dive.
Before you can feel comfortable while scuba diving, you need to:
- Learn how to breathe using a respirator
- Overcome your mammalian diving response
- Learn how to pace your dives
- Recognize signs of distress
Comfort requires practice aided by setting reasonable expectations and using proven skills and tools.
What Does it Feel Like to Scuba Dive?
Scuba diving involves many new sensations. The first obstacle in a dive is learning to let go of air and breathe underwater using your mouth. Your body may start to panic, even if you have a clear understanding of what to expect, and you’ll need to settle your nerves so you aren’t wasting air.
The bubbles from your regulator are often louder than you expect, and they may tickle your nose. Your wetsuit may feel bulky until you get used to it, and you’ll need to adjust your swimming to accommodate the fins used for scuba diving.
One of the most startling sensations to expect is the sudden need to pee. This phenomenon, known as immersion diuresis, is due to your body’s increase in urine production when exposed to water. There’s no shame in giving way to this sensation, and it might be the most difficult feeling to come to terms with.
Scuba diving can feel claustrophobic to start, especially with your dive mask, but once you adjust you start to realize the beauty that exists underwater.
Is Scuba Diving Easier than Snorkeling?
Scuba diving is not easier than snorkeling.
Snorkeling only requires a mask that is both cheaper and easier to use than what you need to scuba dive. You can easily pull up a few videos online and understand what you need to do before heading to water that very same day.
Scuba diving requires multi-day classes and instructor-led experiences before you can attempt certification needed to dive in open water. It takes longer to learn, requires more knowledge to move forward, and puts you in more immersive situations.
Is Scuba Diving Expensive?
Scuba diving can be expensive regarding time and money. You need to dedicate several hours to learning the basics, as well as an extended period to put your knowledge into practice. All before you even get to head out to open water to dive.
Certification can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,200, and purchasing gear puts you out $700 to $2,000. This varies depending on your location and how much you choose to buy rather than rent.
After this a single tank dive runs the bill up another $40 to $150, again differing depending on location and what the dive shop provides.
Dive insurance is another necessary cost, but it varies too greatly to suggest a certain range. What is clear is that scuba diving is not an inexpensive hobby, so you need to consider these costs before making a commitment.
References
https://www.padi.com/courses/master-scuba-diver
https://www.tdisdi.com/sdi/get-certified/master-scuba-diver-development-program/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768097/
https://aquasportsplanet.com/scuba-diving-vs-snorkeling-which-is-easier-for-beginners/