An open-water scuba certification is an achievement, but there’s far more to learn when it comes to diving. Here are seven great reasons to continue your dive education after an entry level dive course.
- Your confidence will improve. It’s natural to be slightly apprehensive after an entry level dive course, and gaining some skills will make you more comfortable in the water. An increased understanding of your environment and the different skills you’ll need for different types of dives will make your dives more enjoyable.
- Higher certification opens up a larger range of dive sites. Reputable dive operators will ask about your certification level and dive experience when you sign up for a dive. Having a more advanced certification or specialized credentials allows you to confidently explore more places.
- You get more out of your experience by learning more about specific underwater pursuits that interest you. Wondering how to get the best from your new camera? Tempted to take a look inside that wreck? Maybe you want to know more about the marine life you see, or you want to improve trim and reduce air consumption. Maybe you just want to cruise over the reef with an underwater scooter. Specialty courses teach you the skills you’ll need to engage in these underwater activities.
- You can dive in varied, more challenging geographical areas. Navigating a cold-water kelp forest in a drysuit; drifting past a deep wall with no buoy system; or exploring that mountain lake — all require skills that you can learn via continuing education.
- Even if you don’t plan to go pro, becoming a certified Rescue Diver improves general safety for not only you, but everyone you dive with as well. You’ll make better decisions, as knowing how to anticipate dangerous situations often helps you avoid them. If something does go wrong on a dive, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to deal with it competently. Divers who have completed a rescue course often say it’s the most valuable course they ever took.
- You may start a new career. Many professional divers say that the allure of the lifestyle, as evidenced by their divemasters and instructors, is what motivated them to pursue professional-level training. You too can make a living doing something you love, and the first step is an advanced certification.
- More certifications often mean more dive experience, and, generally, the more dives you log, the more proficient a diver you will become. That increased skill set empowers you to not only go on new dive adventures, but also to make the most of them.
