Experience intense adventure. Take the plunge! Scuba diving has become one of the most popular recreational sports among the college generation. Diving vacations are the perfect spring or summer break getaway combining recreation, beautiful beaches, warm water and incredible underwater scenery.
There is nothing like the feeling of gliding effortlessly through the deep blue waters just above the brilliant colors of the coral reef. The underwater world is a haven for the earth's most mysterious creatures, and PADI Diver programs put this world right at your fin tips. If you live life on the edge or find pleasure in a pure adrenaline high, you should be a PADI Diver. Separate truth from fiction and find out what really goes on underwater. So how do you get started?
Learning to scuba dive is easy. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the largest scuba training agency in the world and offers several flexible options to get you swimming with the fishes. Best of all, most PADI courses are approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) allowing you to receive college credit for your dive education. The ACE credit recommendations for PADI courses may help you in receiving college credit at an American university or college- even if the courses aren't conducted on a college or university campus. For more information on PADI courses approved for college credit visit www.padi.com.
Discover Scuba Diving is an introductory course to the sport of recreational scuba diving. When you discover scuba diving, you discover excitement and adventure-freedom and serenity. Nothing compares to the weightless exhilaration of breathing underwater. Only a diver knows the feeling! In this course you will spend a few hours with your instructor learning basic scuba techniques, learn to use scuba equipment and get accustomed to your new surroundings. Then once you have had a chance to practice your scuba skills in the pool your instructor will take you on a dive adventure in the ocean, lake or other open water area to get a close-up look at the underwater world.
For those of you looking for scuba certification there are a couple of course options:
First, the PADI Scuba Diver course is a pre-entry level certification for those who don't have the time to complete the regular diver course. This course is ideal for vacationers or people that only plan to dive a couple times a year. The PADI Scuba Diver program allows you to get certified quickly and easily by minimizing time constraints. With the PADI Scuba Diver certification you can dive under the direct supervision of a PADI professional on your next dive trip. With a PADI Scuba Diver certification card you'll be able to obtain air fills and scuba equipment for diving under supervision.
Next, for complete diver certification the choice is the PADI Open Water Diver course. You earn this rating by completing five pool dives and knowledge development sessions and making four open water (ocean or lake) dives. As a certified PADI Open Water diver you have the freedom to dive with a buddy independent of a professional.
Virtually anyone who is in good health, reasonably fit and comfortable in the water can earn a PADI Open Water Diver certification. PADI courses offer tremendous flexibility and let you work out individual needs with your instructor. By completing a PADI course you'll earn a certification that is recognized worldwide.
Dive Vacation Destination
Now that you're certified or at least ready for the scuba experience let's take a look at some great places to dive. While there are thousands of dive destinations throughout the world, Cozumel, Mexico ranks as one of the top five rated places to dive in the world and is only a two and a half hour flight from Houston, Texas.
Cozumel is a small island located 19 kilometers/ 12 miles from mainland Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. The island is a flat plain. The shoreline changes from sandy beach and relatively no surf on the leeward side to strong currents on its windward side. Cozumels' most popular dive sites are on its eastern side. Most PADI dive operators offer morning two tank dives that usually include a deep wall dive followed by a relaxing shallow reef dive. A single tank afternoon dive can be added to your dive itinerary or available as a stand-alone option.
Cozumel has dives sites to accommodate all diver levels. But no matter what your level, be prepared for Cozumel's specialty- drift diving. Drifting past magnificent corals as you're suspended in blue water requires good buoyancy skills so a pre-trip Peak Performance Buoyancy course may be a wise investment.
For the novice diver there are shallow reefs such as Palancar Gardens, a part of the Palancar Reef with depths reaching 40-70 ft. with an easy current. Coral grows profusely and fish are abundant. Intermediate divers should head to Santa Rosa reef, one of the most popular reefs, it's an area of coral buttresses on the lip of the drop off with caverns, huge sea fans and dramatic giant sponges. An advanced diver option might include a trip to Palancar and Palancar Caves. The caves are within the Palancar reef with the cave entrance at a depth of 45ft. and the exit at 120 ft. This dive should only be attempted by experienced divers. Palancar, a favorite is huge and you won't see it all in 25 dives. It is known for its coral columns.
When you aren't diving explore the town of San Miguel, there are many excellent shops, craft stores, restaurants, boutiques, bars and discos. You can also head to one of many fine beaches for an afternoon of jet skiing, windsurfing, sport fishing or sailing. Several day trips are available by ferry to the mainland- explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum or the eco-archeological theme park, Xcaret. No matter what dive sites or island activities you choose you won't be bored in Cozumel.
Get a New Job- part time or full time becoming a PADI Instructor is a rewarding experience.
Now that we've enticed you with the tropics wouldn't it be great to live and work there. It's not a pipe dream you can really do this. Many college students work in tropical paradises during their summers off or for a couple of years after graduation to travel and see the world. Can you think of something better to do during your summers, or before you have to work in the real world and sit in front of a computer all day.
You could be traveling around, teaching scuba diving, making all of your friends who are waiting tables for the summer jealous. Plus you'll come back with a killer tan and amazing stories. If you come to your senses you might wind up doing it for the rest of your life.
We're talking sun and sand all day and what you do at night could be your little secret. Many scuba instructors have met their husbands or wives at a party on a deserted beach.
What do you need to do to get down there and start having some fun? I'm glad you asked, you need to become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor. It could take as little as six months, but it'll probably take a little bit longer unless you really hustle. Most universities offer scuba courses through the physical education department, and if they don't you'll probably be able to take scuba courses through your local PADI Dive Center and get college credit for them. All PADI courses needed to become a PADI Scuba Instructor are accredited by the American Council of Education (ACE) for college credit. So this can help you graduate as well.
Just so you know scuba instructors just don't play on the beach all day, they really work pretty hard. The catch is you can be out on the ocean working really hard or working some thankless job back home. Think about it, the possibilities are endless.
For more information on all PADI courses, dive destinations, locating your nearest PADI Dive Center or Resort or becoming a PADI professional visit www.padi.com or call PADI at (800) 729-7234. |
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