Frequently Asked Questions

Find The Answer That You Need.

What's involved in learning to scuba dive?
Learning to scuba dive with PHOENIX SCUBA is an incredible adventure! With Phoenix Scuba as your training center, your path to breathing underwater is accomplished in three exciting phases:

1. Knowledge Development - Learn the lingo.

During the first phase of your Open Water Diver scuba certification, you develop an understanding of the basic principles of scuba diving. You learn things like how pressure affects your body, how to choose the best scuba gear and what to consider when planning dives. When you get to your class & pool. You have already read the digital materials so you will be ready to take the final exam right after paperwork.We will review questions students missed on their exams.

You get registered and read your Open Water Diver materials before you arrive for pool.

2. Confined Water Dives - Scuba Skills Training.

This is what it's all about – diving. You develop basic scuba skills by scuba diving in a pool or body of water with pool-like conditions. Here you'll learn everything from setting up your scuba gear to how to easily get water out of your scuba mask without surfacing. You'll also practice some emergency skills, like sharing air or replacing your scuba mask. Plus, you may play some games, make new friends and have a great time. There are two confined water (pool) sessions, with each building upon the previous. Over the course of these 2 pool sessions, you attain the skills you need to dive in open water.

3. Open Water Dives - Locally or on Vacation.

After your confined water dives, you and the new friends you've made continue learning during four open water dives with your PHOENIX SCUBA Instructors at Lake Pleasant. This is where you fully experience the underwater adventure – at the beginner level, of course. You may make these dives at the lake or perhaps on one or our PHOENIX SCUBA group trips.

How long does it take to get certified?
It's possible to complete your confined and open water dives in as few as 5 days by completing the digital homework portion online then classroom discussions followed by pool and lake certification dives offered by PHOENIX SCUBA.

The Open Water Diver course is incredibly flexible and performance based, which means that PHOENIX SCUBA can offer a wide variety of schedules, paced according to how fast you progress.

Your instructor's interest is in your learning to scuba dive, not in how long you sit in a class. So, training is based upon demonstrating that you know what you need to know and can do what you need to do. This means that you progress at your own pace – faster or slower depending upon the time you need to become a confident scuba diver who dives regularly. You can start learning to scuba dive online right now with PHOENIX SCUBA.

How much does it cost to take scuba lessons? 
Compared with getting started in other popular adventure sports and outdoor activities, learning to scuba dive isn't expensive.

For example, you can expect to pay about the same as you would for:
a full day of surfing lessons
a weekend of rock climbing lessons
a weekend of kayaking lessons
a weekend of fly-fishing lessons
about three hours of private golf lessons
about three hours of private water skiing lessons
one amazing night out at the pub!
Learning to scuba dive is a great value when you consider that you learn to dive under the guidance and attention of a high trained, experienced professional - your PHOENIX SCUBA Scuba Instructor. From the first day, scuba diving starts transforming your life with new experiences you share with friends. And, you can do it almost anywhere there is water. Start learning online with PHOENIX SCUBA and get ready to take your first breath underwater!

What scuba gear do I need to learn to scuba dive?

At PHOENIX SCUBA we ask that you have your own personal gear (mask/fins/snorkel/boots) that you will need to complete class, pool and certification dives. As you become more comfortable and know what you like and don't like in gear you may want to purchase your own BCD and Regulator. Choosing and using your scuba gear is part of the fun of diving. PHOENIX SCUBA will help you find the right gear. Each piece of scuba equipment performs a different function so that collectively, it adapts you to the underwater world.

When you finish or course you should think about getting your own dive computer, safe tube & reel, flash light
 PHOENIX SCUBA will help you choose ones that have the fit and features best suited to you.

Included in the cost of your Open Water Diver course, PHOENIX SCUBA will include rental of a:
dive regulator
BCD
scuba tanks and weights 
scuba wetsuit if needed

Hoods and gloves not provided (purchase on-line or at the dive shop)
Check with PHOENIX SCUBA to confirm sizing available for your course package. It's recommended that you invest in your own scuba equipment even before you finish your course because:

• you're more comfortable using scuba gear fitted for you
• you're more comfortable learning to scuba dive using gear you've chosen
• scuba divers who own their own scuba diving equipment find it more convenient to go diving
• having your own scuba diving gear is part of the fun of diving

The kind of gear you will need depends on the conditions where you dive. You may want:

• tropical scuba gear
• temperate scuba equipment
• cold water scuba diving equipment (California)

How do I know what's the best scuba gear?

Easy. There is no best gear. But, there is the best gear for you. The professionals at PHOENIX SCUBA are trained to help you find scuba gear that best matches your preferences, fit and budget. These professionals can get you set with the right stuff, plus they provide service and support for years of enjoyable and dependable use.

What's required to take scuba lessons?

If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid scuba diver. You'll also want to keep in mind these requirements:

Minimum Age:
10 years old
Students younger than 15 years, who successfully complete the course qualify for the Junior Open Water Diver certification, which they may upgrade to Open Water Diver certification upon reaching 15. 
Physical: For safety, all students complete a brief scuba medical questionnaire that asks about medical conditions that could be a problem while diving. If none of these apply, you sign the form and you're ready to start. If any of these apply to you, as a safety precaution your physician must sign a medical form that confirms that you're fit to dive. In some areas, local laws require all scuba students to consult with a physician before entering the course.

Waterskills: Before completing the Open Water Diver course, your instructor will have you demonstrate basic waterskill comfort by having you:

• swim 200 metres/yards (or 300 metres/yards in mask, fins and snorkel). There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want.
• float and tread water for 10 minutes, again using any methods that you want.

About Physical Challenges: Any individual who can meet the performance requirements of the course qualifies for certification. There are many adaptive techniques that allow individuals with physical challenges to meet these requirements. Individuals with paraplegia, amputations and other challenges commonly earn the Open Water Diver certification. Even individuals with more significant physical challenges participate in diving. Talk to your Instructor for more information.

Learning Materials: In the interest of saving our natural resources we have chosen to provide digital materials for study prior to classroom.

Where can I scuba dive?
You can dive practically anywhere there's water – from a swimming pool to the ocean and all points in between, including quarries, lakes, rivers and springs. Where you can scuba dive is determined by your:
experience
level site
accessibility
conditions interests
For example, if you've just finished your Open Water Diver course, you probably won't be diving under the Antarctic ice on your next dive. But, don't limit your thinking to the warm, clear water you see in travel magazines. Some of the best diving is closer than you think.

Your local dive site can be anything from a special pool built just for divers like one found in Brussels, Belgium, or more typically natural sites like Belize's Great Blue Hole, Australia's Great Barrier Reef or Japan's Yonaguni Monument. It may be a manmade reservoir or a fossil-filled river. It's not always about great visibility because what you see is more important than how far you see.

The only truly important thing about where you dive is that you have the scuba diving training and experience appropriate for diving there, and that you have a dive buddy to go with you. PHOENIX SCUBA can help you organize great local diving or a dive vacation. Visit today to get started.

My ears hurt when I dive down. Will that keep me from becoming a scuba diver?
No, assuming you have no irregularities in your ears and sinuses. The discomfort is the normal effect of water pressure pressing in on your ears. Fortunately, our bodies are designed to adjust for pressure changes in our ears – you just need to learn how. If you have no difficulties adjusting to air pressure during flying, you'll probably experience no problem learning to adjust to water pressure while diving.vented scuba designed earplugs like Doc's Pro Plugs may be helpful for equalization issues. If the problem persists please consult your Doctor.

Does a history of ear troubles, diabetes, asthma, allergies or smoking preclude someone from diving?
Not necessarily. Any condition that affects the ears, sinuses, respiratory function or heart function or may alter consciousness is a concern, but only a physician can assess a person's individual risk. Physicians can consult with the Divers Alert Network (DAN) as necessary when assessing a scuba candidate.

DAN has information available online if you wish to do some research.

What are the most common injuries or sicknesses associated with diving?
Sun burn and seasickness, both of which are preventable with over the counter preventatives. The most common injuries caused by marine life are scrapes and stings, most of which can be avoided by wearing gloves and an exposure suit, staying off the bottom and watching where you put your hands and feet.

Contact PHOENIX SCUBA for information about exposure protection needed for any of your diving.

What about sharks?

When you're lucky, you'll get to see a shark. Join us on our FIJI dive trips.

Although incidents with sharks occur, they are very, very rare. Most commonly shark encounters primarily involve spear fishing or feeding sharks, both of which trigger eractic feeding behavior. Sharks main food source is fish and if they can get a free feed they will.

Most of the time, if you see a shark it's passing through and a relatively rare sight to enjoy.

Some myths, about sharks, that you have heard may be dispelled by checking out Australian Geographic.

Do women have any special concerns regarding diving?
Aside from pregnancy, no. Because physiologists know little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation is that women avoid diving while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Menstruation is not normally a concern.

How deep do you go?

With the necessary training and experience, the limit for recreational scuba diving is 130 feet. Beginning scuba divers are certified to 60 Feet/18 metres unless you are a Junior Scuba Diver then it is 40 Feet/12 metres. Although these are the limits, some of the most popular diving is no deeper than 12 metres/40 feet where the water's warmer and the colors are brighter.

What happens if I use up all my air?
That's not likely because you have a gauge that tells you how much air you have at all times. This way, you can return to the surface with a safety reserve remaining. But to answer the question, if you run out of air, your buddy has a spare mouthpiece that allows you to share a single air supply while swimming to the surface. There are also other options you'll learn in your Open Water course with PHOENIX SCUBA.

What if I feel claustrophobic?

People find the “weightlessness” of scuba diving to be quite freeing. Modern scuba masks are available in translucent models, which you may prefer if a mask makes you feel closed in. During your scuba diving training with PHOENIX SCUBA, your instructor gives you plenty of time and coaching to become comfortable with each stage of learning. Your scuba instructor works with you at your own pace to ensure you master each skill necessary to become a capable scuba diver who dives regularly.

PHOENIX SCUBA keeps classes small so that we can give you more time to get comfortable with the amazing world of diving.

RETURN POLICY

REFUND POLICY: Please understand that you start class when you  by receive your digital materials, there is no refund of tuition after that point. You have 6 months from enrollment of any of our courses to complete the course and certification dives.

Please be sure you are willing to make this commitment before you pay for class.

If you do not show up for your scheduled class or lake certification dives and do not call before class/lake date to reschedule we are unable to refund course fees.

**Prices subject to change without notice**