getting ceritfied

mnreefman · 12-24-2003, 06:47 PM

hey people, i want to get certified, what is required and how much does it roughly cost... thx

Pro_builder · 12-24-2003, 07:01 PM

certified for what?

Maxx · 12-24-2003, 07:02 PM

Padi was about $100 if I remember right....thats just open water. There are tons of other certifications you can go after and I honestly have no idea what those cost....
gear is what gets expensive. you can easily spend several thousand dollars in scuba gear depending on what you purchase...
Go for it! You'll love it.
Nick

jks1 · 12-24-2003, 07:06 PM

I think i paid 150.00 in San Diego about 8 years ago. Maxx is right gear is expensive. I recommend you dive with rental gear for a while till you know exactly what you want. It is an incredible experience, its totally worth it.

tankgirl · 12-24-2003, 08:19 PM

Hi mn,
There's a "paper" part - studying and taking tests. This part can be done anywhere. I think it's around 12 hrs total, for this part. This part is basic safety - learning how to avoid exploding your lungs, figuring out how deep you can dive and how often, so you don't get too much nitrogen in your bloodstream. That stuff.

Then, there's usually a trip to a pool. You have to do stuff like find and put on then clear your mask after the instructor grabs it off of you. And some other simple equipment stuff, inflating your bc vest, stuff like that. Plus some simple bouyancy stuff.

Then, you go to open water (the ocean) and you have to prove you can swim a certain distance, something like a 100 ft. or so, & tread water for some number of minutes. Then, a shallow dive to prove you can use a compass to navigate. I think you have to do an emergency ascend. And, of course, stuff like clearing your ears as you go down.

Finally you get to do several more dives with your dive instructor (who will certify you). If I remember right, altogether it came to around 3 diving days in the ocean.

That's all I can remember. It was a long time ago.

BoomerD · 12-24-2003, 11:30 PM

I had a long chat with Bob Fenner a few weeks ago, on a variety of subjects. Gosh is that guy knowledgeable on MANY subjects! He calls PADI "Pay And Dive In!"

Highly recommended it as a start into the diving world though.

mwrager · 12-25-2003, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tankgirl
Hi mn,
There's a "paper" part - studying and taking tests. This part can be done anywhere. I think it's around 12 hrs total, for this part. This part is basic safety - learning how to avoid exploding your lungs, figuring out how deep you can dive and how often, so you don't get too much nitrogen in your bloodstream. That stuff.

Then, there's usually a trip to a pool. You have to do stuff like find and put on then clear your mask after the instructor grabs it off of you. And some other simple equipment stuff, inflating your bc vest, stuff like that. Plus some simple bouyancy stuff.

Then, you go to open water (the ocean) and you have to prove you can swim a certain distance, something like a 100 ft. or so, & tread water for some number of minutes. Then, a shallow dive to prove you can use a compass to navigate. I think you have to do an emergency ascend. And, of course, stuff like clearing your ears as you go down.

Finally you get to do several more dives with your dive instructor (who will certify you). If I remember right, altogether it came to around 3 diving days in the ocean.

That's all I can remember. It was a long time ago.

tankgirl said it all.

mnreefman · 12-25-2003, 02:04 AM

thanks everyone!

mnreefman · 12-25-2003, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pro_builder
certified for what?

hehe this is the scubadiving forum lol

Craig Manoukian · 12-25-2003, 02:16 AM

I think Troy, er Santa, has been up late assembling toys!

mwrager · 12-25-2003, 11:00 AM

mnreefman, are you going to get certified? i am planing to go on 4 dive trips this comming summer. keep us up to date.

tankgirl · 12-25-2003, 11:20 AM

Hi mw,
Forgot to mention, you can do the 'paper' part at home thru a local Y or whatever, then go anywhere you want to do the open water part. That way, if you want to go somewhere nice (tropical), you don't waste time on the paper stuff, and get to dive right from the start. The cost of certification includes your equipment.

mwrager · 12-25-2003, 11:43 AM

Hello TG

If you buy your equipment it can cost a lot of money. I know I own all my own equipment. Like I said I love to dive I plan on diving in So Ca around the 4th of July, in the mid of July I will be in Belize, the end of June I want to be in Costa Rica and the first of June I want to FA Keys. That should take up all my money. Like I said I love to dive. 2 of my 3 children are also certified to dive.

tankgirl · 12-25-2003, 01:34 PM

Hi mw, Sorry, I meant the previous post for mnreefman, doh! Cool - you've got a lot of diving trips planned. Nice that your kids are certified, too! Stay safe!!!
Cheers, tg

HAP · 12-25-2003, 08:19 PM

You should expect to pay at least $250 -$350 to get certified. You have to purchase the open water course materials, buy a mask, snorkel and fins. There are also tank, regulators, BC and other misc equipment that you'll need to rent plus any fees to get into locations to do dive tests. Usually the pool work is included in the initial course cost that runs about $150.

Later, the equipment purchases can be made over time. I've sunk as much money into my equipment as I have my reef. My dive computer alone ran over $600. But, when you are 80 feet down you should want quality stuff....

Do it! You will never regret it!!

hap

12-24-2003, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
mnreefman Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,393 View Gallery Karma Komment	getting ceritfied hey people, i want to get certified, what is required and how much does it roughly cost... thx

12-24-2003, 07:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	certified for what? __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-24-2003, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,080 View Gallery Karma Komment	Padi was about $100 if I remember right....thats just open water. There are tons of other certifications you can go after and I honestly have no idea what those cost.... gear is what gets expensive. you can easily spend several thousand dollars in scuba gear depending on what you purchase... Go for it! You'll love it. Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

12-24-2003, 07:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	I think i paid 150.00 in San Diego about 8 years ago. Maxx is right gear is expensive. I recommend you dive with rental gear for a while till you know exactly what you want. It is an incredible experience, its totally worth it. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

12-25-2003, 02:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
mnreefman Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,393 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks everyone! __________________ http://reefrock.com

12-24-2003, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
tankgirl Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: So. Ca Posts: 1,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hi mn, There's a "paper" part - studying and taking tests. This part can be done anywhere. I think it's around 12 hrs total, for this part. This part is basic safety - learning how to avoid exploding your lungs, figuring out how deep you can dive and how often, so you don't get too much nitrogen in your bloodstream. That stuff. Then, there's usually a trip to a pool. You have to do stuff like find and put on then clear your mask after the instructor grabs it off of you. And some other simple equipment stuff, inflating your bc vest, stuff like that. Plus some simple bouyancy stuff. Then, you go to open water (the ocean) and you have to prove you can swim a certain distance, something like a 100 ft. or so, & tread water for some number of minutes. Then, a shallow dive to prove you can use a compass to navigate. I think you have to do an emergency ascend. And, of course, stuff like clearing your ears as you go down. Finally you get to do several more dives with your dive instructor (who will certify you). If I remember right, altogether it came to around 3 diving days in the ocean. That's all I can remember. It was a long time ago.

12-24-2003, 11:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	I had a long chat with Bob Fenner a few weeks ago, on a variety of subjects. Gosh is that guy knowledgeable on MANY subjects! He calls PADI "Pay And Dive In!" Highly recommended it as a start into the diving world though.

12-25-2003, 02:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I think Troy, er Santa, has been up late assembling toys! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

12-25-2003, 11:00 AM	#11 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	mnreefman, are you going to get certified? i am planing to go on 4 dive trips this comming summer. keep us up to date. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-25-2003, 11:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
tankgirl Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: So. Ca Posts: 1,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hi mw, Forgot to mention, you can do the 'paper' part at home thru a local Y or whatever, then go anywhere you want to do the open water part. That way, if you want to go somewhere nice (tropical), you don't waste time on the paper stuff, and get to dive right from the start. The cost of certification includes your equipment.

12-25-2003, 11:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hello TG If you buy your equipment it can cost a lot of money. I know I own all my own equipment. Like I said I love to dive I plan on diving in So Ca around the 4th of July, in the mid of July I will be in Belize, the end of June I want to be in Costa Rica and the first of June I want to FA Keys. That should take up all my money. Like I said I love to dive. 2 of my 3 children are also certified to dive. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-25-2003, 01:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
tankgirl Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: So. Ca Posts: 1,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hi mw, Sorry, I meant the previous post for mnreefman, doh! Cool - you've got a lot of diving trips planned. Nice that your kids are certified, too! Stay safe!!! Cheers, tg

12-25-2003, 08:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
HAP Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lewisville, TX...but my heart is in Chicago! Posts: 151 View Gallery Karma Komment	You should expect to pay at least $250 -$350 to get certified. You have to purchase the open water course materials, buy a mask, snorkel and fins. There are also tank, regulators, BC and other misc equipment that you'll need to rent plus any fees to get into locations to do dive tests. Usually the pool work is included in the initial course cost that runs about $150. Later, the equipment purchases can be made over time. I've sunk as much money into my equipment as I have my reef. My dive computer alone ran over $600. But, when you are 80 feet down you should want quality stuff.... Do it! You will never regret it!! hap __________________ Definition: Aquarium (n) A hole in your living room in which you throw money. [And I thought this would be cheaper than going to Aruba to dive - Yeah! Right!!] Oceanic 75g Reef Ready, DIY stand and canopy, 50g sump/refugium with 125lbs+ Fiji live rock, Turboflotor Multi Skimmer, 2 – 250w Metal Halides running Ushio 10k lamps, 110w Actinic, DIY moonlight, several corals (mostly softies but a few SPS and LPS as well), a bi-color blenny (Benny), a yellow Tang (Jet), 2 percula clowns (Frick & Frack), a blue spotted jawfish (Spot), a red-lipped blenny (Red), a dragon goby (Puff), a psychedelic mandarin (Mandy), a diamond sifter (Jewel), a green bta, a rose bta, a couple serpent stars, a coral banded shrimp and several crabs and snails who will remain anonymous...

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