Do you have your open water PADI certification? If not, then you are probably wondering what you need to do in preparation for the course. In this blog post we will cover 5 helpful tips that will help prepare you for a successful and safe experience.
1) Get your medical form filled out by a doctor
This is a form that needs to be filled out by your doctor in order for you to take the first steps towards getting into open water.
– Find a Doctor near me: Check with the PADI office where you are registered and they will provide you with information on local doctors who can complete this task for you.
2) Ask your Instructor or dive training center questions as much as you can.
If you are taking the course through a dive center, then there is often an option to schedule a call with them. They should be able to answer any questions that you might have about equipment or training techniques.
Asking your instructor will help make sure they know what you want out of the experience and can ensure your safety at first priority.
During the first day of your open water course, you will have a briefing about what to expect and any risks involved.
You can also search for common fears that people experience when diving in their local area and speak with locals who have been on dives there before.
3) Start preparing mentally for what’s ahead of you
Be mentally prepared of what will happen in the open ocean.
If you have a fear of heights, then an open water course is probably not the best idea to begin with.
Talk about any fears that might come up during your training and make sure they are addressed before diving into anything new. The first thing people should do if they want to take an PADI open water course is call their local dive center where there will be instructors available for questions.
They can answer any equipment or training question you might have so it’s worth looking into this option beforehand. The briefing on day one of the class will go over what all is going to happen in the ocean as well as potential risks involved, which may help some nervous students prepare their mind.
4) Pack all of your gear and equipment well in advance (it’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!)
Most of the dive centre will prepare you gear before the trainings starts, but it is still important to make sure you are well prepared for the course. Even though your instructor will tell you what all equipment and gear you need with them before they start teaching a new skill, there’s always something that can be forgotten on short notice
A mask; fins; snorkel; weightbelt (if needed); buoyancy control device(BCD) – this could be a jacket style BCD, inflatable vest BCDS, semi-closed circuit rebreathers…you will need to find out what suits your needs best from the instructor before purchasing any specific equipments
A buoyancy compensator (BC) – this is your main device for controlling your position in the water. Dive centres should provide you with a BC before any PADI course starts, but if not, make sure to purchase one that will fit properly
Boots or neoprene socks – it’s best to use boots on open water dives because they can protect against cuts and scrapes from rough surfaces…but again, depending on what type of dive centre you are diving at, some instructors may prefer using leather booties over neoprene socks
Wetsuit; mask strap cover; fins straps covers – these items help prevent unwanted damage to gear during training sessions as well as when storing them after every session
5) Make sure to get enough rest before taking on an intense week!
Last but not least, get dehydrated before and after each dives . It is important to stay hydrated during your training sessions.
This blog post has now been completed. Thank you for reading! I hope it was helpful and informative. If there’s anything else that needs clarification, just ask in the comments section below! 🙂