| If reckoned at a conservative rate, there are | | | | Get trained only from PADI or NAUI affiliated |
| probably around 1.2 million active scuba divers in | | | | diving schools. Do not take a crash course on |
| the United States. Divers who perform 5 or more | | | | scuba diving that are typically offered by diving |
| dives during the year are classified as active | | | | resorts in most dive destinations. Remember that |
| divers and are likely to sustain the conduct of this | | | | learning basic scuba diving skills involves a process |
| sporting activity in the coming years. Meanwhile, | | | | and of course, paramount instruction. If you are a |
| dropout rates from scuba diving certification | | | | beginner, submit to training from a certified diving |
| agencies have been pegged to be between 40 to | | | | school. This will serve as a guarantee that the |
| 80% annually. This piece of statistics is mostly an | | | | training provided conforms to the standards set |
| offshoot of pertinent market movements, | | | | by scuba diving organizations and likewise |
| particularly the advent of more 'extreme' sports | | | | practices high level of safety in its instruction. |
| that may have enticed certified scuba divers to | | | | Do not accelerate your training. Scuba diving |
| shift hobbies. Nonetheless, dropouts would also | | | | conforms to a multi-fold training that commences |
| include neophyte divers who may have | | | | in a classroom (theoretical) and progresses to the |
| encountered unpleasant circumstances in the | | | | swimming pool (simulated) before engaging |
| course of their maiden dive to render themselves | | | | students to an open water dive. Some |
| eternally disavowed from the conduct of future | | | | run-by-the-mill training facilities would disregard |
| scuba diving activities. | | | | pool training and this is likely uncalled for. |
| What a pity! To think that this scenario could have | | | | Inexperienced divers armed with merely a few |
| been prevented if said prospective divers were | | | | theories on their mind would likely succumb to |
| handled by expert scuba divers who are trained | | | | panic and distress when eventualities happen (such |
| and certified to carry on instruction. Well, if you | | | | as in the encounter of flooded mask or free |
| have got a profound interest for this recreational | | | | flowing regulator) a few feet below sea water. |
| sport and wouldn't want to end up swearing | | | | Now this is hardly a pleasant introduction to scuba |
| against any future dives, find below a few | | | | diving. |
| guidelines that should help you sort this out. | | | | |