Home Study for Scuba Certification

A Little Background:

The traditional method of teaching scuba revolved around a highly experienced instructor guru who would pass along whatever gems of knowledge he chose as appropriate. This system worked well for the 1960's and early 1970's when scuba was practiced only by the adventuresome and hardy.

In 1978 PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) introduced a radical change in instruction methodology known as the Modular Scuba Course. This new entry-level course created a standardized format which instructors could use. Effectively, this course took the bulk of the responsibility of passing along knowledge from the instructor to the teaching materials. While many instructors protested, most understood that this allowed instructors more time to work individually with their students solving problems in the pool or classroom instead of creating teaching lesson plans.

Home Study for You:

In addition to a modularized student manual PADI introduced an instructional video which can help teach some of the academics and introduce the pool and ocean skills needed for your safe and easy diving. This video is the key to Home Study and here is how it works:

Contact Dive USA by E-Mail requesting Certification Vacation materials and/or registration information.

Send in a $100.00 deposit and Dive USA will send out your manual and video. Once you send in an additional $200.00 your course and housing will be confirmed.

With your materials package you can start your course at home.

First read the First Module of the Student Manual.

Next watch the First Academic Module on the Video.

Complete the Knowledge Review at the end of the First Module.

Follow this procedure until the Book and Video are completed.

Bring your Manual and Knowledge Reviews with you to Dive USA upon arriving on Singer Island. We'll schedule a series of review sessions and pool and ocean dives according to your convenience.

Within a span of about 4 to 5 days you'll have become a certified diver and eligible to "learn more about diving" and the underwater world. Go back to main certification article