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Frequently Asked Questions
Is scuba diving safe?
Do I need to own my own gear to scuba dive?
What kind of gear should I get?
What is the difference between a wet suit and dry suit?
Do I need to always dive with a dive buddy?
Is there a difference between diving in warm water and cold water?
Where can I get airfills or rent gear & tanks?
What are specialties?
What is altitude diving?
What is the difference between a Scuba Diver certification and an Open Water certification?
What is the difference between a group class and a private class?
Why PADI?
What is PADI Con Ed?
Why Desert Scuba?
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Is scuba diving safe?
Please do not let anyone tell you that scuba diving is dangerous. But at
the same time, do not allow anyone tell you that there are NO risks involved
in diving. That is one of the big reasons we love to dive . . . the thrill of
it all, the adventure. So, here is the real lesson to be learned. You will be
going underwater with SCUBA equipment. SCUBA stands for Self Contained
Underwater Breathing Apparatus. That fact, in and of itself, alone brings with it
inherent risk.
But, you can do two things to minimize your risk while at the same time
maximizing your enjoyment. The first is to gain as much knowledge as
possible. In scuba diving, knowledge = safety & enjoyment. The more
you know, the better prepared you are for any situations you encounter.
The second is your equipment. Today's advances in scuba technology
have made it safer and more affordable than ever before. If you learn
about and take care of the equipment and gain as much knowledge as
you can - your experience will be fun and safe.
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Do I need to own my own gear to scuba dive?
No. The question really becomes how much will you dive? If you think
you might dive sporatically after your are certified, then you could rent
your gear when you dive and save some money in the process. But if you
might move beyond being a "casual" diver to the point of frequent or (as
most of us are) obsessive diving, then owning your own gear makes
more sense. In that situation, you will know your gear's condition better,
feel more comfortable with gear that you are familiar with, and just plain
have a more enjoyable experience with your own gear. Although diving is
by no means a cheap sport, it has become easier over the years to own
safe, great performing equipment for less and less. You may decide whether
to rent equipment or to own your own equipment by factoring in how much you
will be diving balanced with how much you can afford.
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What kind of gear should I get?
There are two things to consider when you are looking at gear. First,
what kind of diving will you be doing and second is how it feels for you
individually. The kind of diving, where you will be diving, and who you
will be diving with should all come into play when looking at gear. But
equally as important is how comfortable you feel in the gear. Finally,
make sure you find something that will help you feel fabulous while you
are down there!
There are many choices when it comes to gear: a jacket versus back
inflate; diaphragm versus piston type regulator; and the list goes on.
The ultimate answer will depend on a lot of different things. Your best bet
is to do as much research as possible on what is available and then turn to
people you trust to help you fill in the rest. Check out the manufacturers
as well when doing your research on equipment.
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What is the difference between a wet suit and dry suit?
A wetsuit is made up of a layer of neoprene that traps water between
your body and the wet suit. Your body warms up the water which acts as
insulation to the water temperature outside. A dry suit blocks all water
from coming into your suit and keeps you warm as your body
temperature heats the air inside your suit. Using a dry suit changes your
buoyancy and requires additional training and practice to master. If you
will be diving regularly in cold water, a dry suit is definitely an investment
to look into.
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Do I need to always dive with a dive buddy?
Yes!! Once you have done everything you can do to minimize your risk
and maximize your enjoyment, your buddy becomes an additional layer
of safety for your dive. In your Open Water certification course, you will
not only learn individual skills that will help your diving, you will also
learn team skills that allow you and your buddy to work together under the
water. Besides safety, it as just plain more enjoyable to dive with someone
else! Do not keep all those amazing sites and experiences to yourself. Make
sure to share them with a friend.
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Is there a difference between diving in warm water and cold water?
You mean besides the obvious difference? There are many types of
diving but one major classification is warm water diving and cold water
diving. Of course, many people enjoy warm water diving in places like the
Caribbean or the South Pacific, but believe it or not there is a large group
of divers who, through necessity or pure enjoyment, dive in cold water
by choice. The most obvious difference is the difference in gear. Cold
water diving will obviously utilize more equipment for protection against
the cold. Many cold water divers use a dry suit. Although a wet suit of
some kind can be used in warm water diving, it does not have to be as
extensive allowing the diver to be less encumbered while diving. Another
difference is the view. Of course it will depend on where you dive, but if
magnificent coral reefs and tropical fish are your thing, then warm water
diving is for you. If you want to experience the beauty of some of the
most gorgeous lakes, rivers and bays in the world, then try your hand at
cold water diving. Each is its own thrill. Each offers unique experiences
that you will never forget.
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Where can I get airfills or rent gear & tanks?
Desert Scuba offers airfills and has a full line of gear for rental or purchase.
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What are specialties?
Specialty certifications are additional training offered by PADI. Once you
receive your Open Water certification, you will be able to advance your
certifications and increase your skills and knowledge through specialties.
PADI offers many different specialties including Advanced, Wreck Diving,
Underwater Video, & Photography and many others. Check out our
Dive Courses section for a complete
listing of specialties and their prices.
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What is altitude diving?
Altitude diving refers to diving done at any altitude over 1000 feet.
Altitude diving requires that you make adjustments to your dive
calculations. Additional depth needs to be calculated to make up for the
increase in atmospheric pressure occuring at altitude. Check here for the
altitude adjustment table.
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What is the difference between a Scuba Diver certification and an Open Water certification?
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What is the difference between a group class and a private class?
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Why PADI?
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What is PADI Con Ed?
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Why Desert Scuba?
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