We asked the following questions to non-divers who said they are interested in learning to SCUBA dive and then we took their responses to our staff. If you are interested in learning to dive but would like some answers before you contact a shop keep reading – your questions are probably in here!
Although we don’t think they are dumb, we understand you might feel a little silly asking certain questions. So, the first thing we asked our interested non-divers was…
What questions do you feel dumb asking?
Here are some of the common responses we received and, according to our staff, all of these are totally normal questions and not dumb at all (congratulations!).
(Q) How do I wear a wetsuit, and do I have to?
(STAFF) A wetsuit isn’t required to dive! Eventually, you will most likely want to purchase one, but for just starting out it probably is not necessary. When you do wear one just know it is supposed to be tight when it is dry (it will relax once it is wet) and the zipper goes in the back nine times out of ten. But, if you accidentally put it on backward, you are not alone! We will just smile and help you get turned around – it happens all the time!
(Q) What do I do with my hair?
(STAFF) If you have long hair (i.e., longer than you would want floating around your face!) you will probably want to put it up in some way. Everyone has a different preference – topknots, space buns, french braids…whatever works! The only thing to avoid is placing any type of ponytail or buns in the middle of the back of your head, because that is where your mask strap needs to sit. Other than that, you do you!
(Q) What if I always hold my nose when I go underwater - can I still dive?
(STAFF) Good news – your mask covers your nose! You will also be taught how to handle any water that sneaks into your mask. Our instructors are very used to students who are nervous about water in their nose, and we have a lot of experience helping people get comfortable with this issue; it is very normal!
(Q) What happens if you run out of air or your equipment fails, and how often do those things happen?
(STAFF) It is rare to accidentally run out of air or have catastrophic equipment failures. For the air, you have gauges to keep track of how much you have, and you also have a backup! You are taught how to do this right from the start of your diving education. Your gear should regularly be inspected and serviced, and this prevents failures due to worn parts or faulty pieces. Even if there is a surprise breakdown, you have backups on you that you can simply switch over to until you can get back to the surface and/or get things fixed. Additionally, you should always be diving with a buddy, so you have a backup to your backup, because if (somehow) ALL of your systems failed you can still use your dive buddy’s secondary. We teach you how do to all of that, so you can dive confidently knowing that even if you do experience a gear problem you know how to calmly sort it out.
(Q) How much does it usually cost to get your basic diving certification? *(Non-divers’ estimates varied but averaged anywhere from $500 to $3,000. Most people said they wouldn’t want to spend too much without knowing if they would even like diving but said they would be willing to invest if they were committed to diving, even as a hobby.)
(STAFF) Costs will vary from country to country and region to region, of course! But here in our area it’s roughly $800-$1,000. That is going to include basic gear and the course (open water). Like anything else, you will get what you pay for. You might find a cheap place and then find yourself trying to learn with low-quality gear in a huge group of people all vying for the help of one or two instructors. Or, you can spend a little bit more and learn in reliable, comfortable gear with individualized instruction and attention. We recommend the latter!
(STAFF) It is perfectly normal to shy away from putting money towards something you are not sure if you like or not! That is one of the reasons why we offer the Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) class. It allows first-time divers to get some exposure to diving in a low-cost, zero-commitment situation. We provide you all the gear, a controlled environment, and teach you a few easy skills before spending some time underwater to just relax, move around, and play some games! Attending a DSD lets you take diving for a test drive so you have a good idea of whether or not you want to invest your time and effort into getting SCUBA certified.
Lastly, here’s a question from our non-divers to our staff:
What should I look for when choosing a dive shop?
(STAFF) Well-maintained gear and professional staff! Honestly, one of the first things we recommend you do is Google your local shops and read the reviews! Pay particular attention to how recent the review is, whether any staff are mentioned by name, and the overall rating. Ideally, you want to see well-rated reviews that attest to well-maintained gear, knowledge and professionalism of the staff, with bonus points for cleanliness and organization of the shop. When looking for a dive center, remember that the cheapest options are not necessarily your best bet – these are people who are going to be responsible for your life!
Ready to give it a go? Awesome! We are a family of devoted divers with a passion for sharing that love with everyone, and we are excited to help you get started! Head over to our Courses page to get more details on what each course entails (including that Discover Scuba Diving class!) and take a look at the Calendar to see what is coming up soon. No matter what, always feel free and welcome to give us a call or stop by the shop. Whether you want more information on classes, gear, or anything else we are delighted to help you out!