[Scuba Diving Getting Started Guide] How to take the scuba diving license test!Answers to the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions for Beginner Divers

Although freediving and scuba diving are both types of diving, beginners may not be able to tell the difference between the two, or may not know which one to start with. In fact, the easiest way to distinguish is the "diving equipment" on the diver.Scuba diving is to go into the water with equipment that can provide air, so that people can keep breathing smoothly underwater. According to breathing habits and depth, they can stay underwater for about 30-60 minutes, which is more suitable for observing aquatic life; while free diving It is to dive through one's own breath, and it can stay for about 60-120 seconds depending on the length and depth of the breath. It requires less equipment and can swim in the sea more like a fish.

In addition, in terms of breathing methods, diving skills, equipment operation, etc., there are also significant differences between scuba diving and self-diving. There is no good or bad, it just depends on which way you like to explore the ocean world!

Unlike free diving, you only need light equipment such as "mask, snorkel, fins, and counterweight" to go into the water, while scuba diving equipment needs to be equipped with light and heavy equipment. In addition to "mask, snorkel, fins, In addition to "counterweight", the more important thing is the reinstalled "gas cylinder, regulator, BCD (buoyancy control device)". Adding up the whole set of scuba diving equipment on the body is about 20 kg, although it is really heavy compared with free diving Less, but after going into the sea because of the buoyancy of sea water, it will not feel too heavy, but it is indeed a great physical challenge for some people when they are on the shore or on a boat!

"Can I learn to scuba if I can't swim?" is a common question for novices. In fact, swimming skills are not directly related to scuba diving. Many divers with hundreds of diving qualifications are still landlubbers.Scuba diving is to "float" in the underwater world without gravity by carrying the equipment on your back, just like astronauts floating in outer space, so the underwater world is also called "inner space", so whether you can swim or not does not affect learning scuba diving success or failure.The most influential thing is actually the mentality of "fear of water". Usually, if you go to the swimming pool, you will tremble all over. When you go to the beach where the situation is more unpredictable, you will need to spend more time to face the fear and relax. But as long as you overcome it, you can successfully complete the dive. course.

The scuba diving license photo is the entry ticket to dive into the underwater world. As long as you have a qualified OW license, you can go to dive shops at home and abroad to participate in local scuba diving activities; otherwise, if you do not have a scuba diving license, you can only participate in experience diving That's all.And if you hold a higher-level AOW scuba license, you will have the opportunity to go to deeper, more difficult, and more special dive sites. Therefore, if you are really interested in scuba diving, it is recommended to at least get the AOW scuba license. You will be more familiar with marine knowledge and various diving skills, better able to protect the safety of yourself and your diving buddies, and the most important thing is to have more choices in diving sites.

Each diver can reach different diving depths according to experience and ability.If you hold an Open Water Diver OW scuba certificate, you can only dive to a depth of 18 meters, but with an Advanced Open Water Diver AOW scuba certificate, your dive depth will be relaxed to 30 meters.Generally speaking, for diving for underwater sightseeing and recreational purposes, the diving depth is limited to no more than 40 meters, and deeper diving is the category of technical diving or industrial diving.But don't be embarrassed by it, because most of the corals and marine life grow in shallow water no more than 30 meters, which is enough to keep your eyes on!

For the most basic Open Water Diver OW scuba certification, the course can be divided into three parts - subject, confined water course, open water course:

1. Subjects: Through paper or online textbooks, together with instructors' explanations, to understand the basic concepts and principles of scuba, such as equipment introduction, pressure principles and calculations, diving safety principles and risks, etc., there will be exams at the end, basically don't overdo it. Laziness is almost passable
2. Confined water courses: usually in deep swimming pools or calm seas. At the beginning, one cylinder is used to practice equipment assembly, basic scuba skills, and emergency response. The purpose is to practice before entering open water With familiar equipment, so as not to rush to the beach
3. Open water course: Finally, go to the beach for actual diving. There will be a total of 4 cylinders to use the various scuba skills and knowledge learned earlier, and emergency response. It can be done up to 2 times a day, each time about 30 minutes

To complete the above three parts, it usually takes at least 3 days to complete, but according to each person's ability and situation, the time will be added or subtracted by one day. If all the scuba courses are successfully passed the assessment, you will be a qualified OW diver. !

The four major scuba systems all have their own scuba license types and classifications. However, to engage in scuba diving activities, at least the initial certification level of the system must be obtained. The following are the initial certification assessment thresholds of the four major systems. The assessment process is similar. They will ensure that the most basic scuba diving skills and knowledge are learned.

Generally, the OW scuba course is expected to take 3-4 days. It is recommended to judge according to the location of the examination, your own time and cost, and first decide to choose a location close to home that is convenient for class; or go to a remote island or resort , while traveling and taking the scuba license test.After determining the location, choose a suitable local scuba diving shop. The following lists the aspects that can be considered when choosing a scuba diving shop. In addition, it is also helpful to refer to online student reviews and ask relatives and friends about their actual experience.

The price of scuba diving certificate courses will vary according to different systems and different examination places.The cost of an OW scuba license in Taiwan is about $11,000-$15,000, which usually includes diving fees for 5 cylinders and licensing fees, but some transportation fees, swimming pool or venue fees, meals, etc. may need to be paid separately; if you go to Obtain a scuba license while traveling on outlying islands or resorts, as well as accommodation or other additional costs.Usually, each scuba diving shop will have a combination plan, or offer a preferential price for a multi-person group. It is recommended to ask multiple parties to compare prices to avoid disadvantages, or refer to this articleTaipei scuba diving finishing,Kenting scuba diving course recommendation,Small Liuqiu scuba diving recommended.

Having an OW scuba license is like getting an admission ticket to Sea World. After that, it is more important to "repeat practice" and "accumulate experience", such as neutral buoyancy, oxygen consumption control, safety of diving buddies, etc., all need a lot Practice to accumulate experience. The easiest and fastest way is to participate in Fun Dive (FD) or diving tour groups. Through continuous FD, you can go to more dive sites, expand your scuba vision, accumulate diving numbers, and communicate with more people. .

If you obtain a more advanced AOW scuba certificate (or other system scuba certificates of the same level), you can participate in night diving, shipwreck diving, deep diving and other different diving experience, especially night diving and daytime diving environment are completely different. The skills and knowledge required are different.