Frequently Asked Questions
1.
How old do I have to be to snorkel?
Snorkeling
can be done by persons of just about any age - however from age 5 and up
seems to be the time when a person can accomplish this most successfully.
Over 70% of scuba divers started out as snorkelers - and most Scuba Retailers
have special "Snorkelers Only" sections in their store to accommodate
the ever growing snorkeling market.
2.
How old do I have to be to Scuba dive?
Because
of equipment considerations, one used to have to be at least 10 years old
to begin a scuba course. In this day and age of better quality and better
fitting gear, the industry now allows kids to begin the scuba certification
courses at 10 years old. Most certifying agencies also have accommodations
for even younger kids. The SSI Ranger Program and PADI SEAL are good examples
of this attempt to allow young folks to experience this wonderful sport!
Call your local CSRA Retailer for more details.
3.
I would like to take scuba lessons, but I'm not sure that it's for me.
Can I try before I buy?
You sure
can!! Most dive retailers have some sort of Discover type class that allows
you to spend a little while underwater under the supervision of a Scuba
Instructor. You will have to fill out a couple of forms beforehand and
there may be some restrictions as far as age, times etc.
There
also may be a small cost involved to participate, so check it out first
with your local CSRA dive retail store.
4.
Do I have to be in great health and very athletic to scuba dive?
Ten years
ago, the answer would have been a very emphatic "YES!" In this
day of better equipment the answer is not as emphatic. In order to scuba
dive there is a standardized medical form that just about all dive stores
have you fill out before doing anything on scuba. You will be asked if
you have such things as diabetes, heart or lung problems, among others.
If you answer yes to anything on the form you may be asked to obtain a
physician's signature before participating. This is for your protection
and to insure for your safety and enjoyment. Because you may be scuba diving
in an area in the open water that potentially might have currents , surface
waves, or other arduous conditions, it's really a good idea to be physically
fit to maximize your enjoyment of this sport.
5.
Is the scuba equipment heavy? Will I be able to lift it?
Out of
the water, all of your scuba equipment can weigh as much as 45 lbs. However,
fear not! First of all, once you are in the water, the stuff only weighs
a couple of pounds, secondly, if you have a bad back, there are techniques
and ways of getting in and out of the water from boat or shore to minimize
the strain on your back and legs. In this day and age of customer service,
most resorts will be more than happy to assist you in any
way possible if this presents a problem.
6.
Will we see a lot of sharks when we are diving? What creatures are dangerous
to divers?
Shark
sightings are rare unless you go to an area known for their shark populations.
(This
is actually a big selling point with certain types of resorts) For the
most part, you probably will never see a shark. If you are lucky enough,
however, just appreciate it for it's grace and beauty. Contrary to what
Hollywood wants you to believe, we humans aren't part of a sharks diet.
7.
Where do you dive in Colorado?
Although
Colorado is not known for it's numerous bodies of water there are several
mountain and local lakes available for scuba divers. Chatfield Reservoir
has a small lake located at the southwest corner of the park that is used
for diving as is Aurora Reservoir.
Other
areas include Jefferson Lake, Twin Lakes, Grand Lake and Lake Granby, just
to name a few. Colorado dive stores also go to The Homestead Crater in
Utah (95 degree water) and to a place called The Blue Hole located about
6 hours south of Denver in Santa Rosa, NM. Both of these sites offer pretty
good visibility. Diving in Colorado is done mostly by divers who are taking
a course or trying to get in a few dives to sharpen their skills. If you
are looking to sight see underwater in Colorado, you might be disappointed,
but it's still nice to get in and dive with friends once in awhile. Most
Colorado divers look at diving here as a means to an end, in other words
to get ready for their exciting dives in the ocean.
8.
How long does a tank of air last?
First
of all, to set the record straight, a tank of air is just that, a tank
of pure, dried, filtered, compressed air. Most non-divers refer to it as
the oxygen tank when in fact it's just like the air we breathe ( about
21% O2 ) but filtered.
As far
as how long a tank of air will last underwater, that's just like asking
how long a tank of gas will last. It depends on lots of factors such as
the diver's physical fitness, breathing rate, depth, exertion, comfort
level, to name a few. Once a diver has gained some experience, it's not
uncommon to be able to spend an hour or more underwater on a dive.
The deeper
a diver goes, the more air they use. You'll learn more about this when
you take your scuba certification course.
9.
How deep can a diver go?
The limit
for recreational divers is considered to be a maximum of 130 feet. Most
of the corals and fishes live in the area of 10 to 60 feet. You want to
only go deeper than 100 feet after you have gained additional experience
and training. Technical divers, with specialized training and equipment
can go to depths of several hundred feet, but that's a whole other conversation.
10.
Do you have to be a great swimmer to be a scuba diver?
You don't
need to be a great swimmer in order to scuba dive. All that is needed is
general comfort in the water. This is normally assessed when you take your
scuba course by asking you to swim a short distance and to tread water
or float for a short period of time. Normally this is considered an exit
requirement, so even if you can't do this early in the course you have
a chance to practice a little and succeed. (Just about everyone is successful
in this regard.)
11.
Is scuba diving expensive?
To get
into scuba lessons and purchase your basic equipment (mask, fins, snorkel)
is about the same cost as getting into tennis. If you really get turned
on, then it's cost is much like that of skiing. Anyone that owns a motorcycle
or a boat will normally find scuba diving a bargain when you compare it
to the amount of enjoyment you will derive from it. To find out more, just
give your local scuba retailer a call.
12.
Is there a maximum age in which one can take scuba lessons?
Most
retailers have certified people in their 60's and even 70's. All one needs
is the desire to take the lessons and good overall general health. For
people of all ages, dive stores are required by industry standards to have
each student complete a Medical History Form. This form will ask if you
have any heart, lung, back or other health problems. If you answer "Yes" to
any question, normally a physician's signature is required for you to participate
in the course. Please ask your doctor or contact your local dive store.
13.
How long do lessons take?
Depending
on your dive store and certifying agency it can range greatly.
Most
courses take just a few evenings or a couple of full weekends. You normally
will complete some classroom sessions and a few pool dives before going
to the open water to finish your certification. The open water portion
normally takes just a couple of days to complete. You can do this with
your original dive store, or if time doesn't allow, normally you can do
your open water dives at a resort on your planned vacation. Please check
with your local scuba retailer to see what is and is not included with
their courses.
14.
Once I get certified, how long is it good for?
Most
scuba certifications are good for life but most dive stores and resorts
will ask you if you have been diving within the past year or so. You can
validate this be recording your dives in a diver's logbook and having your
buddy or dive leader sign it. If it has been a couple of years since you
have been diving, most stores and resort operations offer at a minimal
fee, a review type of course that prepares you for maximum fun and enjoyment
during your dives.
15.
I was certified years ago, but lost my card. What do I do?
First
of all, see if you have any information (logbook, buddy's card, etc.) that
might have the name of your instructor and certifying agency. Call your
local scuba retailer to see if they can help. If it really has been a long
time, we encourage you to take a beginning scuba course again. You will
benefit greatly from the state of the art equipment and latest educational
techniques offered.
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