OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION

OPEN WATER CERTIFICATION

We are going to start with the most common scuba certification, the Open Water Scuba Diving Certification.
although it differ slightly from one organization to another the core of the course and its purpose remain the same.

In this post we will describe in details each and every technical aspect of the certification and assess the difference and common points between different certification organization.

To start with we are gonna talk about the minimum age required to get certified as an Open water diver; this point differ from one Organization to another; to get certified as a Junior Open Water Diver for PADI the minimum age is 10 but it is 12 for NAUI and IANTD, a Junior Open Water Diver is obliged to dive with an adult Buddy.

Maximum depth is also something that differs from one institution to another , for PADI and NAUI maximum depth is 18 m (60 ft), where it is 21 m (69 ft) for IANTD.

Now we comes to the common part , the core of the Open water certification that is common between all institutions;
The Open water track consist mainly of 3 different parts :

1. The Theoretical class
2. The Confined water dive(s)
3. The open water dive(s)

Their is no time restriction to finalize the track, but a person cannot be certified  unless he passes successfully the written and practical tests.
The Theory class AKA knowledge development class, establishes the principles and basic information that all divers need to know. it consist of the following parts and can be split depending on the students availability.

The Development class contains:

• Introduction to the underwater world
• Introduction to the diving equipment
• The Buddy System
• Communication Under water Signs 
• Dive Planning 
• Boat Dive
• Problem Management
• Pressure and buoyancy 
• Dive Table
• Dive safety

The confined water or Pool or shallow water dive;during these dives the student will apply all dive principle and will simulate all problems that may happen during the dive in order to get the appropriate training on how to deal with it and solve it

The open water dives are mandatory for the student to complete in order to get certified as an open water diver, these dives starts at shallow depth 8 to 10 meters (26 to 32 ft) and each dive it goes a little bit deeper until you reach the maximum depth for an open water diver 18 meters (60 ft).

At the end the user should pass a written exam which is mainly a Multiple question exam in order to get the certification....

Scuba diving is fun... and on the contrary of what many people think it isnt dangerous if we stick to the golden rule of diving :

STOP, THINK then ACT