Dive Training

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Text Box: The PADI Open Water Diver Course
Safety, Fun, Responsibility, Awareness Now is the time to dive into the PADI Open Water Diver course, the most popular dive program in the world! This is your ticket to a lifetime of intense adventure with PADI, the dive company that sets the standards in the global diving community.

As a certified PADI Open Water Diver, the most widely recognized and respected rating in the world, you have the freedom to safely dive with a buddy independent of a professional within the limits of your training and experience.
Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit, and comfortable in the water can earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification. If you are between 10 and 14 or have a child between these ages, there is a PADI Junior Open Water Diver program available. However, not all children have the maturity to safely master the skills and material required for certification, we accept students under fifteen on an individual basis, generally when accompanied by a guardian. Throughout the course, you'll learn fundamentals of scuba diving, including dive equipment and techniques. You earn the PADI Open Water Diver rating by completing five pool dives and knowledge development sessions and by making four open water (ocean or lake) dives.

Like most instructors we divide the course into two phases, priced separately, giving you maximum flexibility in scheduling your experience. The first is the Knowledge Development and Pool Training. The Second is four open water dives. Our most popular location for open water dives is a combination of the Florida Springs and Gulf of Mexico. We have certified students in Lake Lanier, Lake Jocasse, SC, the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and our favorite location. Cozumel Mexico. Check the schedule on our home page for trips where you can complete your open water dives.

You can also complete the Knowledge Development and Pool Training phase and receive a referral so that you may complete your open water dives at any resort location with another PADI instructor. How long will it take?

PADI programs are performance based. You proceed as you demonstrate mastery of the course skills. This allows you to work at a pace that is comfortable for you and means that some students progress more quickly than others.

Typically your can complete knowledge development in three, two hour sessions after you have read the open water manual, completed the knowledge reviews and watched the videos on your own. If you have special learning or scheduling requirements we will rearrange or extend the class.

The five pool skill sessions can be completed quickly but we always schedule extra time so that you are never rushed and can practice the skills you have learned. Typically we schedule three, three-hour pool sessions. Which seems to work for most students, if you need more time we will arrange it.

What will I need? PADI Open Water Manual, book or CD PADI Recreational Dive Planner PADI Open Water Video or DVD A SCUBA Log Book We price classes to include these materials (not all instructors do so ask when you compare).

In addition you will need SCUBA quality mask, fins and snorkel. If you do not own them and want advice on selecting them we generally have some you can try out in the pool and are glad or offer advice and recommend local sources. PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, Adventures in Diving The Adventures in Diving program offers both the Adventure Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver certifications. If you complete any three adventure dives, you can earn your PADI Adventure Diver certification. If you complete your Deep Adventure Dive, Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive and three Adventure Dives for a total of five, you can earn your Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

After your five dives, you'll be more experienced, feel more comfortable in the water and simply enjoy diving more because you better understand the underwater environment.

You can proceed to Advanced Open Water Diver certification directly after your PADI Open Water Diver Emergency First Response Why Emergency First Response?

Emergency First Response gives you the tools you need to perform CPR and FirstAid. Whether you're a diver or a non-diver, Emergency First Response prepares you to properly handle potentially life-threatening situations. Emergency First Response satisfies ythe CPR and first aid prerequisites for our PADI Rescue Diver course.

This comprehensive program is composed of two core modules that can be taken together as stand-alone courses: Emergency First Response - Primary Care and Emergency First Response - Secondary Care. Together, these courses proved extensive instruction in CPR and First Aid, as well as providing optional (yet recommended) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Emergency Oxygen sections. certification (or qualifying certification from another certifying organization). Good Divers are always training! Including us! PADI Specialty training offered by SouthernSCUBA.com Want to get more out of diving? Safely improve your skills in your areas of interest by taking a PADI specialty course. Accumulate five specialties and you are well on your way to the highly regarded PADI Master Scuba Diver Certification. At Southern Scuba we offer a wide range of specialty courses to meet your interests. All classes are offered as private instruction to meet your requirements and schedule or you can join us on a trip. PADI Rescue Diver The PADI Rescue Diver will expand your knowledge and experience beyond purely recreational level because you'll learn to look beyond yourself and consider the safety and well being of other divers. Although this course is serious, it is an enjoyable way to build your confidence.

Because of our focus on safety and diver responsibility at SouthernSCUBA we like to see every active diver proceed to the Rescue Diver skill level. Students find that they learn more and have more fun in the Rescue Diver class than in any other we offer.

Rescue Diver training will prepare you to prevent problems and, if necessary, manage dive emergencies. During the five open water sessions, you'll cover:
Self-rescue and diver stress dive first aid emergency management and equipment swimming and non-swimming assists panicked diver response underwater problems missing diver procedures surfacing the unconscious diver In-water artificial respiration egress (exits) first aid procedures for pressure related accidents dive accident scenarios
The PADI Rescue Diver certification is a prerequisite for all Professional level PADI courses, beginning with the PADI Divemaster certification.

Open Water	Emergency First Response
Advanced	Specialties
Rescue Diver