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WHO DIVES?
Pretty much anyone who has an appetite for adventure and discovery. Look around
your local superstore, and you’ll see a good cross-section of who dives!
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IS DIVING VERY PHYSICAL?
Diving does involve physical activity, but it might just be the most fun exercise you
ever get! You burn up to 700 calories an hour without breaking a sweat!
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WHAT ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS?
For safety, all students must complete a brief medical history questionnaire. Medical
issues usually don’t eliminate a person from diving, however you and your physician
can evaluate your ability to dive.
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AM I TOO OLD TO DIVE?
If you want to learn, and you are in reasonably good health, then the answer is no!
It’s one of the wonderful activities with which you can age without
creating bad knees, sore feet, etc.! We think diving keeps you young!
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HOW GOOD OF A SWIMMER DO I HAVE TO BE?
It is a watersport, you do need basic swimming skills. You have to demonstrate this
ability, however there is no time limit or specified swimming stroke. You will also
need to float for 10 minutes using any method you prefer.
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HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO TAKE SCUBA?
You must be at least 10 years old. Certification restricts a 10 year old in depth. The
skills are the same as for adults, and the materials are the same as for adults. Due to
national standards restrictions on size of class with a 10 year old, SportsCo teaches
these younger divers on a private basis. The standards are relaxed at 12 years so
a 12 year old my enter a regular class.
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IS THERE ANY OUTSIDE WORK FOR THIS CLASS?
You will receive a Crew Pack which contains all of the learning materials you will need
for class. You will also have a companion DVD to use during your class. Your Crew
Pack will include your book, logbook, dive planner, and other information. You can
view the video, read the book in the comfort of your home. We’ll have a short video
review in class. The majority of class will be spent in our pool where the real fun is!
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DO I HAVE TO OWN ANYTHING FOR THIS CLASS?
You do need your own basic scuba mask, fins, snorkel, and dive boots.
Dive gear is often different than than basic snorkeling equipment due to the difference
in activities. We have a complete selection of affordable gear, and if something does
not fit in class as well as you want it to, we can exchange it for something that does.
The first lesson in scuba equipment is fit and comfort are important to your enjoyment
of the sport!
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IS IT EXPENSIVE?
Not compared to other sports. You could spend more on golf lessons, cooking lessons
or even one amazing night out! We pride ourselves on quality at an affordable price,
and scuba is a lifelong activity.
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AFTER I’M CERTIFIED DO I HAVE TO OWN EVERYTHING TO DIVE?
No. You can rent gear at a special reduced rate when you are certified by SportsCo.
If you travel, rental gear is available at most resorts. If you really get into diving, then
you’ll probably want to own your personal scuba system, because at that point it is
more cost effective than renting. Once you have your own gear, diving costs almost
nothing but the expense of driving to the lake!
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WHERE WILL I DO MY OPEN WATER DIVES?
We are fortunate to have Beaver Lake nearby. Divers from the surrounding states
visit Beaver because of its excellent clarity and available shore diving. If you are
going on a trip, and wish to make your certification dives there, we can assist
you with that as well.
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DOES MY CERTIFICATION EVER EXPIRE?
No, however if you go a significant period without diving, you may want to come back
and take a Scuba Review program. We conduct these on an individual basis, and you
will review all of the skills you learned in your Open Water course to refresh you.
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WHAT IF MY SCHEDULE DOESN’T FIT IN WITH A REGULARLY SCHEDULED CLASS?
Not too worry! Since our pool is located on the premises, we are quite flexible in
scheduling. Private classes are always available.
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IF I HAVE A CERTIFICATION FROM ANOTHER AGENCY, CAN I TAKE A PADI CLASS?
Yes. You can take classes beyond the open water level with other certifications.
We’ll make sure that you are current on skills and welcome you to the PADI family!
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DO I GET A DISCOUNT FROM YOU IF I TAKE LESSONS FROM YOU?
Our students are valued by us, and we offer many benefits at discounts to them.
Rental equipment is available at reduced rates, pool use is discounted, and when it
comes time to buy gear we have some other options to save money.
