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How to Get a PADI Certification

If you want to obtain a PADI certification, one of the best places to get the experience is through professional instruction. You can easily find courses in various Punta Cana resorts that can help you learn all about scuba diving and the many details that going scuba diving involve and you can even obtain a certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

If you want to be able to go scuba diving with a reputable scuba diving shop or group, you have to obtain certification. This certification is available through a number of organizations, of which the PADI is the most commonly recognized. By taking the courses and obtaining certification through the PADI, you are obtaining proof that you have received training in professional scuba diving and are competent enough to handle yourself when scuba diving.

Requirements

In order to take the PADI certification, you have to be 15 or older, though those between the ages of 10 and 15 can take the Junior Open Water Diver course to obtain PADI certification. You need to be relaxed swimming around in the water and you need to be in good physical condition in order to qualify to take the certification courses.

It will require that you swim about 200 yards but there is no time frame in which you have to reach the distance and you can use any stroke that works for you. Floating or treading water for ten minutes is another requirement, but it is up to you as to how you achieve this goal. Once you have passed these tests, you will take the course, which consists of:

Studying from a book
Tests
Training in a pool
Diving out in open water

You can do all of your book work in a weekend or you can take your time to complete the study. You can even finish the book study, exams and pool training all in one intensive weekend course and this route has become popular for people wanting to hit the water as soon as possible. You can also finish the course work over a span of six weeks, taking only an hour or two every week. You can even do some of your book work through online certification courses.

Testing

Once you have completed your pool training, you are able to do some open water diving. The dives take place over a couple of days and you need to have four or five successful dives in open water if you want to qualify for your certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

There will be tests of some of the skills that you learn in class, such as clearing your mask or buddy breathing. You have to pass these tests in order to qualify for a c-card, which will be your certification of having completed the open water diving course.

Cost

You can find courses that range from $150 for short courses to $500 for an entire course including pool training, book studying and open water diving.

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