• NAUI Certifcation - My First Day of SCUBA Class


    I've finally made the plunge and decided to get SCUBA certified. It has been a long time in the making since I got in the reef hobby, and followed that with the photography hobby. I've waited and waited, trying to save up money and this year, I asked for it for my birthday present from all my family. I called around every local dive shop here in San Diego and got their fees and class schedule. Most of them are PADI certified instructors. The general schpeel was an incoming student would have to purchase classes, certification documents, books, mask, fins, snorkel, booties, and rent the rest of the gear. This together, by my estimate, would average about $450. There were options for weekend classes (most expensive), or two to three weeks of classes a few nights a week. I was disappointed because I only had $250 saved and had no other way of coming up with the rest.

    I am a part of a local forum and I found a few people that had done NAUI certification instead of PADI. National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) is an alternate certification to PADI that is still accepted worldwide. Here is a brief intro from the NAUI website to give a little background on the organization.
    The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) has been teaching the world to dive safely since 1959. As the largest non-profit and most respected dive training and certifying organization in the world, NAUI offers a full range of training programs from Skin Diver through Instructor Course Director, with dozens of specialty courses including Nitrox and Technical diving.

    NAUI’s global reputation for the best in training and educational products reflects its core values of quality dive training through education. Many organizations specifically choose NAUI for their diver education programs including Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, United States Navy SEAL Teams and NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, Texas (USA) where astronauts train for their space walks.

    While NAUI has long been respected for having the highest training standards in the recreational diving industry, we are also highly regarded for our Technical Diver Training. Many of our technical developments have been adopted by other agencies; our Technical Diving Division continues to produce new theories and research that keep NAUI on the cutting edge of technical diving.
    I called I.B. Divers here in San Diego and it turns out they had a program that worked perfectly for me. The total cost was $268 and this included the class, books, and certification. You don't have to buy anything but booties (~$40) before the class as they will allow you to use their equipment all week, included in the price! The classes are every night for a week from 5:00p - 9:00p. Two hours in the pool and two hours in the classroom, and then the check out dives are on the following Saturday and Sunday. So, sign up I did.

    My class started tonight and after the initial anxiety attack of being one of 2 girls, clad in a bathing suit in front a class of ten strapping male HOTTIES, I was suited up with a mask, snorkel, and fins. We got to choose from a whole array of gear they had available to us. I chose a black mask because I was told by a large number of my underwater photography buddies that black silicone is preferred for keeping down distractions and light reflections underwater. I chose a snorkel that had a flexible tubing and a splash guard (pretty basic) and then I grabbed a pair of fins. The fins I chose tonight were Yellow Scubapro Twin Jet Open Heel Fins. I really liked the fins. They propelled me through the water fast and without much drag. I was worried about my physical stamina because lets face it, how often do I get out from behind the computer and go swimming for two hours? But with the split fin, it was really easy and I didn't even get a leg cramp. But... I get ahead of myself.

    We first had to take a swim test without our gear, which consisted of 10 laps across the width of the pool, floating for 5 minutes, and treading water for 5 minutes. This was relatively easy, except for the cold air from outside entering my lungs and being...well cold air from outside. I would encourage anyone wanting to dive but hasn't got out there for fear of physical limitations, to get out and just do it. I'm an active person, but by no means physically fit . If I can do it with one bum shoulder and a sit-down desk job, you can do it too. We got our gear on with the help of a buddy and learned how to get in the water and not lose our gear. The two hours in the pool tonight covered mostly free dive techniques and how to dive down to 15 ft properly and equalize your ear pressure, clear your mask of water while submerged, and empty your snorkel when you clear the surface. I had a little issue with holding enough breath to go deep enough to the bottom of the pool, but I worked through it and got further each time I tried.

    After a very warm shower in the locker rooms and my t-shirt and jeans, I had a bit of the feeling in my fingers and my self-esteem back. Our class was very basic. A little paperwork, and some review about all the equipment we'd have to use. Our instructor took mercy on us and let us go at 8:30p since none of us knew to bring food or drink with us tonight.


    I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. Just not to the part where I have to try on wetsuits in front of those hotties. I came home feeling a little sore between the shoulder blades, but nothing major. Only thing is...I've got to find a way to get water out of my ears...

    On to Day Two... LINK
    Comments 11 Comments
    1. stangchris's Avatar
      stangchris -
      very inspiring, might have look into this. so do we get any funny face pics of you in the snorkel gear, or wet suit pics lol.
    1. Jessy's Avatar
      Jessy -
      I'll try and snag a pic of the funny faces tonight, but its hard because I'm doing this alone and I don't want to ask some random person to snap a pic while we're in the water And not wetsuit pics lol
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev -
      Way to go Jessica. There is a way to get water out of your ears that I know of, but perhaps they suggest something better at your class. Be sure to ask. What I've done is lean my head to the side and then basically hit my palm against my head over that same ear a few times. Lean to the opposite side and do the same. The minor impact forces the water out of the ear canal.
    1. ray356's Avatar
      ray356 -
      Good for you Jessica! I was certified many years ago (probably before you were born) and have various NAUI certifications (Assistant Instructor, Dive Master, etc.) I also live in the San Diego area and know that you will really enjoy the diving in our area. Hope the rest of your classes go well. It is well worth the effort.
    1. waldend's Avatar
      waldend -
      I have heard before that a few drops of iso. alcohol dropped in the ear and worked around a bit to get it down into the ear will help. I also have read that about 5-10% white vinegar added to the alcohol will help break down earwax that could be holding the water.

      I typically use Marc's method. It either gets the water out or else the concussion from beating on your head all day helps to numb the feeling.
    1. David W's Avatar
      David W -
      That's cool Jessy. I just finished the N.A.U.I. course this summer. It's really interesting and cool. Hope all goes well.
    1. dahenley's Avatar
      dahenley -
      i got SSI certified last fall.. It was sweet! and i love diving..... (too bad i live in north Texas where there isnt a body of water within hours!!!......... )
      i cant wait till im done with school and move close to water, or be able to afford a vacation or trip...

      I hope you have fun, and its an amazing experience. just wait till your first open water dive. after the first tech series, we were able to do what we wanted and wow. i will never forget.

      keep us updated!
    1. drimo's Avatar
      drimo -
      There are some ear drops you can get at a pharmacy that help to dry up water in the ears.

      When I did my PADI certification, I got a nasty ear infection from the water in quarry for the checkout dives. Every time I dove after that, I used the drops and didn't have an issue.
    1. Eric B's Avatar
      Eric B -
      Jessy glad you finally made the leap.....Hopefully you will enjoy it!
    1. gerbilbox's Avatar
      gerbilbox -
      Excellent! I've been thinking about getting my SCUBA next year, and it'll be great to read more about how's it like. Will the course include an ocean dive?
    1. Jessy's Avatar
      Jessy -
      Thanks everyone! I'm planning on purchasing "swim ear" and also some sudafed or something to clear up the last bit of my sinuses.

      @gerbilbox, the class ends with a series of 4-5 ocean dives in La Jolla, CA this weekend. I'll have plenty of pictures as my friend and photographer Scott Valembois is coming down from Fresno with his D90 and the underwater housing for it.