Okay, so I finally decided to get my scuba certification. I live in Seattle, so I figured there would be tons of places to do it, and I was right! The whole process was pretty awesome, and I want to share how I went about it.
Finding a Dive Shop
First things first, I needed to find a place to get certified. I just started Googling “scuba certification Seattle” and a bunch of options popped up. I looked at a few websites, checked out some reviews, you know, the usual. I wanted a place that felt legit and had good instructors.
I ended up picking a place that had great reviews and seemed really focused on safety. That was a big deal for me – I didn’t want to cut corners when it came to learning to breathe underwater!
The Coursework
So, the certification is split into a few parts. First, there’s the online learning. It’s basically like an online textbook with videos and quizzes. You gotta learn about dive theory, equipment, safety procedures – all that stuff. Honestly, it was a little dry, but I powered through it. I spent a few evenings just working my way through the modules.
Pool Sessions!
After the online stuff, it was time for the pool sessions! This is where the real fun began. We met up at a local pool with our instructor and the other students. We learned how to assemble our gear, how to breathe underwater, how to clear our masks, and how to equalize our ears. It felt super weird at first, breathing underwater, but it quickly became amazing.
- Putting on the gear: It’s heavier than it looks!
- First breath underwater: Totally surreal.
- Clearing the mask: A little tricky, but I got the hang of it.
- Equalizing: Super important to avoid ear pain.
We spent a couple of days in the pool, practicing different skills and getting comfortable with the equipment. The instructor was really patient and helpful, which made a huge difference.
Open Water Dives
Finally, it was time for the open water dives! This is where you actually go out into a real body of water and put everything you’ve learned into practice. We went to a local dive site. The water was pretty cold, so we had to wear thick wetsuits.
The first dive was a little nerve-wracking, but also incredibly exciting. We descended slowly, and the underwater world just opened up. We saw some fish, some crabs, and lots of cool underwater plants. We practiced some of the skills we learned in the pool, like buoyancy control and emergency procedures.
We did four open water dives over two days. Each dive got a little easier and more comfortable. By the last dive, I felt like a real diver! The visibility wasn’t great, but it was still an incredible experience.
Getting Certified!
After completing all the dives and the coursework, I officially got my scuba certification! It felt amazing to accomplish something I’d been wanting to do for so long. Now I can go diving anywhere in the world! I am already trying planning my next dive trip. I felt a real sense of accomplishment.
The whole experience was definitely worth it. I learned a ton, met some cool people, and discovered a whole new world beneath the surface. I also felt super prepared and safe.
