I am about to sign up at a PADI certified diving place, to learn to scuba dive. I am 14 years old and I need to know that I can become completely open water certified. I would also appreciate anyone that could give me a few websites that I can buy gear from. I would like to purchase all of my own gear, wetsuit, tank, bc, regulators, mask, snorkel, everything. I live in Ohio near Lake Erie and have gone to lake Huron to visit family. I believe both are classified as temperate waters. Any tips possible would be greatly appreciated.
At your age, you’ll be classed as a junior open water diver. There are a few restrictions placed on your diving.
There’s a depth restriction ( I believe it’s 40 feet) and you MUST dive with an adult that is at least open water certified.
Once you hit 15, you automatically gain an adult open water cert, with no extra cost and that will allow you to a depth of 60 feet with a certified adult diver.
Shop around for your course locally. Don’t just go into the first dive shop you see and sign up. Not all dive shops offer excellent training. Find one that you feel comfortable and safe with.
Buying equipment? DON’T do it online. Go to a local shop. You need to try this gear on before purchase. It’s no good to you or even dangerous if it doesn’t fit right. You can’t try stuff on, online. The shop you’re taking your course from will probably offer you a discount. They’d like you to come back. You’ll also get better service for your gear if you buy from a local shop and can be guaranteed that what they sell are not manufacturing defects, damaged or used goods. Online dive shops sell this stuff. Finally, by buying your gear locally, you keep that dive shop in business. That shop is going to be the hub of your world for diving. It’s where you’ll meet other divers and organize trips. If it’s gone you’ll have to start placing ads in newspapers to find dive buddies.
At your age, you’ll be classed as a junior open water diver. There are a few restrictions placed on your diving.
There’s a depth restriction ( I believe it’s 40 feet) and you MUST dive with an adult that is at least open water certified.
Once you hit 15, you automatically gain an adult open water cert, with no extra cost and that will allow you to a depth of 60 feet with a certified adult diver.
Shop around for your course locally. Don’t just go into the first dive shop you see and sign up. Not all dive shops offer excellent training. Find one that you feel comfortable and safe with.
Buying equipment? DON’T do it online. Go to a local shop. You need to try this gear on before purchase. It’s no good to you or even dangerous if it doesn’t fit right. You can’t try stuff on, online. The shop you’re taking your course from will probably offer you a discount. They’d like you to come back. You’ll also get better service for your gear if you buy from a local shop and can be guaranteed that what they sell are not manufacturing defects, damaged or used goods. Online dive shops sell this stuff. Finally, by buying your gear locally, you keep that dive shop in business. That shop is going to be the hub of your world for diving. It’s where you’ll meet other divers and organize trips. If it’s gone you’ll have to start placing ads in newspapers to find dive buddies.
References :
commercial diver, IANTD techie, chamber op, gas blender
To add to what Scubabob said, you also probably DON’T want to buy all your gear right off the bat. Dive gear isn’t cheap, and you want it to be an investment that you’ll get good use out of. You won’t know what kind of equipment you really want/need until you’ve got some experience in the water.
Buy your mask and snorkel, for sure. For that, you’ll need to play around with different masks to get the right fit. The crew at your dive shop will show you how to do that. Then, use your pool dives to test out different equipment/loaners/demos, rent different stuff after you’ve got your C-Card and then buy what works for you. Beats having to spend money on multiple pieces of equipment down the road because you didn’t know what you were doing in the beginning.
References :