Open Water Diver Certification

Do Not Buy an Open Water Certification Course; Hire a Scuba Coach

Properly prepare yourself for a lifetime of legendary underwater experiences!

Darcy Kieran is the author of the handbook “The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide To Scuba Diving: How to Increase Safety, Save Money & Have More Fun!” and other books & logbooks for scuba divers, divemasters & instructors.

If you are not a Medium subscriber, you may read this post on the Business of Diving Institute website instead.

It is wise to receive proper training before going diving — not just for your safety but for your enjoyment. And to save time! Why would you want to reinvent the wheel when somebody can show you the best practices?

Yet, I also believe that imposing the bureaucratic requirements of dive certification is a bit excessive, especially when the training is typically substandard and even more so when it is presented as a “course.”

When I wanted to go skiing with my kids, we started by taking ski lessons on the little hill. It was logical and led to much more fun later on the big hills. Yet, nothing prevented me from grabbing a pair of skis and heading to the top of the mountain, even though I could easily break my…