The short answer is Yes! You need to know how to swim (but not expert in swimming)
Scuba diving is one of the most exhilarating activities that you can do. But to get started, it’s important to know what questions beginners have so that we can better answer them. For example, someone might ask if they need to be able to swim before they start scuba diving. The answer is yes!
You only need enough swimming skills for a lifeguard or anyone who would be expected to rescue a drowning person from the water in order for your certification agency and dive instructor to feel comfortable with teaching you how to scuba dive.
Keep reading if you want to learn how to scuba diving:
Table of Contents
1. What is scuba diving and how does it work?
Scuba diving is when you dive underwater using a scuba set. A scuba set consists of an oxygen tank, air regulator and pressure gauge, face mask and snorkel, fins (to help with swimming), and wetsuit – which will provide insulation against cold conditions.
Scuba divers breathe from tanks that are filled with compressed gas containing 21% oxygen & 79% nitrogen under high pressure to allow them to spend more time underwater without coming up for air; this breathing system is usually called a “scuba rig”. Diving can be done in lakes, oceans, or in groundwater.
2. Why do you need to know how to swim before you can scuba dive?
The underwater environment is a completely different experience than the surface one. The first time you learn how to scuba dive, it’s important that you have someone else with you who knows what they’re doing in case something goes wrong; this way there will be someone in charge of your safety and well-being.
As well as knowing how to swim before diving, many people also find it helpful when taking their beginner courses if they are comfortable swimming lengths of 18 metres (about 60 feet). This gives them a good indication of whether or not they’ll enjoy spending time down below – which may come as an unpleasant surprise!
If you’re new to water sports then learning how to swim can help build your confidence levels when starting to learn scuba diving.
3. How deep can a person go while scuba diving?
A person can go anywhere from three to eighteen metres (about nine to 60 feet) while scuba diving. This is measured by the pressure exerted on the body and should be taken into account when considering which type of breathing apparatus you’re going to use during your dive – air or a mixed gas.
The depth at which these two types of diving machinery are used changes how long they last, as does other factors such as personal buoyancy adjustment and weight status?
For example, an average diver might have up to 45 minutes worth of air in their tank whereas only about 12-15 minutes for a mixed gas rig that utilises Nitrox instead of compressed air. More importantly, though this also means that divers using Nitrox need more time to acclimatise at the surface before they can go down.
This is because Nitrox contains less oxygen than compressed air and thus takes longer for someone’s body to get used to it when ascending from depth – up until about 14 metres (about 45 feet), where there is a sudden pressure drop in your lungs that triggers an automatic response, telling you not to ascend any further.
A diver using Nitrox would need more time on the surface as their bodies cannot breathe normally during this adjustment phase whereas those diving with air do so within seconds of reaching the water’s surface due its compressibility making ascent easier.
4. Is there any other way around the swimming requirement for people who are not confident in their skills?
No. All PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) divers must complete a swimming test before they can take their first SCUBA dive lesson. If you have not done so, the only way into this exciting sport is to start learning how to swim properly and then continue from there with scuba lessons in due time.
You will be able to adapt more easily than someone who has never learned how to swim – but without knowing what it feels like for your lungs when inhaling air underwater through a regulator or what it’s like being immersed in water at depth, you might find yourself struggling on deeper dives as these are two things that require some degree of skill and previous experience anyway.
5. What should I wear while scuba diving.
The basics are a rash guard, shorts or swimsuit and sandals (or water shoes). And before you go under the waves make sure that jewelry is removed from your body as it can get caught on something underwater and lead to an unpleasant experience at best or even permanent damage
So keep all of those precious gems safely stowed away in your bag for now! You will also need to bring some kind of identification with you just in case anything happens. Like any other sport, safety equipment such as masks/snorkles and fins are required but they don’t have to be expensive; renting them ahead of time might work out cheaper than purchasing outright if this is going to become one
6. When should I start learning how to swim if I want to get certified as a diver later on down the line?
The short answer is that it should be a priority. If you’re not confident in your technique, having to swim underwater could lead to panic and the situation getting out of hand quickly. It’s also important for safety reasons; if something goes wrong while diving, being able to get back up again without panicking or holding someone else under with the weight of their gear will help enormously so make sure you can do this before going any further!
7. What are the risks of not knowing how to swim when scuba diving?
If the diver does not know how to swim, they may not be able to get back up due to being unable to float. The weight of their gear could also prevent them from staying afloat and force them underwater. If this is a risk you are willing to take then it’s important that you have someone with training on hand or an emergency response plan in place before diving into the water.
There are some additional risks associated with scuba divers who don’t know how to swim if they need assistance, such as: -their inability to find help and accessing safety equipment; -difficulty following instructions during emergencies situations; -a lack of knowledge about what hazards should be avoided while submerged underwater (such as swimming near sharp objects)
8. How much does a PADI open water diver course cost?
Since the cost of a PADI open water diver course varies depending on location and instructor, it is hard to provide an accurate answer. One way to find out how much your local dive store charges for this class may be by checking Yelp or asking another scuba diver in your area about their experience with that establishment.
In general, you can expect prices at most stores to range from $400 – $650 USD. However, if you are looking for more specialized certifications such as cave diving or wreck diving certification then those courses will typically have higher rates.*
You might feel discouraged when faced with a greater sum than anticipated; however, don’t give up just yet! There are some ways that you can save money while.
9. Bottom Line
Scuba diving is a sport that requires people to wear scuba gear and breathe underwater while exploring the ocean floor. If you want to learn how to scuba dive, we recommend first learning how to swim since it’s necessary for safety reasons as well as being helpful in terms of developing your skillset. There are some risks associated with not knowing how to swim when scuba diving so make sure you don’t put yourself at risk by taking our online PADI open water diver course!
You will need other qualifications or experience depending on what type of certification you’re looking for but our team can help answer any questions about different certifications or requirements before enrolling in one of our courses. Sign up today!