Before you dive right in I should ask you a few questions:
- #1 Do you know how to swim?
- #2 Are you confident in the water?
If the answer to the above questions are “no” then I think you need to reevaluate a few life choices my friend. Maybe a visit to your local pool would be a better option for your wallet and ego.
If you answered “Yes” then allow me to ask you a few more questions:
- # 3 Have you snorkeled before?
- # 4 Have you tried scuba diving before?
Now, if you’re a dip your toe in the water before you jump kinda gal and aren’t sure if this is for you then I have good news… There is a beautiful thing that exists that lets you test the car before you buy so to speak. It is called a “Discover scuba dive” or “Try Dive”
You will be able to book a 1-3 hour session with a dive professional that will teach you the very basics of what you will be getting yourself into. This will include a “taste test” in a body of water based off your geographical location (pool, ocean, lake etc…) you will get to see what the equipment is like, how it feels to actually breathe underwater, and what it’s like to feel weightless plus you get to see how sexy you look in a scuba mask.
If you do a quick google search you’re going to find that the price ranges from $150 – $350 but this really depends. You will pay more money if you want to do this in the ocean if the boat ride is included or not as opposed to a pool. It’s worth double checking, if you have any dive shop in your city or even if you are going on vacation find a couple dive shops, give them a ring or send them an email, and see what they have to offer.
Please keep in mind that these “try dives” just give you a taste of the underwater world. Unfortunately it doesn’t count as a certification by any means. That being said, if you have proof of your try dive and loved it so much that you continue to do your Open Water Course, in most cases this will count as your 1/5 (confined water) dives. (but this still doesn’t mean you can go frolicking off into the ocean yourself) and to be honest your instructor will most likely make you do the dive again, for their comfort and for yours!