What is Involved

Becoming certified consists of three phases:

• Classroom
• Pool Training
• Open Water Training

Classroom

In the classroom, your instructor will review the knowledge you’ve gained by working through the self-study materials. He or she will bring this information to life with first-hand examples of how divers apply this information on dive vacations and here at home. Discussions with your instructor and fellow students help you learn and add to the enjoyment.

Pool Training

In the pool, your instructor will demonstrate and have you practice fundamental diving skills. Like all aspects of learning to dive, pool sessions are fun and enjoyable. They increase your comfort level and make the transition to open water diving easier. When you’ve completed your academic review and confined-water training, you’ll be ready for the final and most important phase of earning your entry-level diver certification: your open water training dives.

Open Water Training

Open water training consists of 4 dives conducted over two days. Each of the sessions consists of the opportunity to apply the skills you mastered in the pool and to make a guided dive under the supervision of your instructor and his or her assistants. As far as open water training goes, you have three options:

• During warmer weather, you can join us at Lake Mendota or Devil’s Lake.
• Throughout the year, MadisonScuba conducts long-weekend and week-long trips to some of diving’s most popular resort destinations. Many of our students elect to complete their certification dives during the first two days of these trips and then continue diving for fun.
• If you already have a vacation planned to a warm-water destination anywhere in the world, we can provide you with referral paperwork so you can complete your training on your vacation.

Once you’ve completed your classroom, pool training, and open water training, you will have earned your certification as an Open Water Scuba Diver, your ticket to a lifetime of diving adventure.