FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
INTRODUCTION:
THE SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THIS SCUBA CLASS WILL RESULT IN BASIC SCUBA CERTIFICATION ISSUED THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNDERWATER INSTRUCTORS (NAUI). THIS CERTIFICATION IS RECOGNIZED THROUGH OUT THE WORLD.
TO MINIMIZE THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH WITH THIS TYPE OF TRAINING. A WATER SKILLS ASSESSMENT & MEDICAL PROFILE EVALUATION WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE FIRST MEETING OF ANY COURSE. ALTHOUGH ITS NOT REQUIRED THAT PARTICIPANTS BE EXPERT SWIMMERS, THEY SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN THE WATER. THE WATER SKILLS ASSESSMENT INCLUDES A SWIMMING EVALUATION, WEIGHT RECOVERY, FLOATING & TREADING WATER, & AN UNDERWATER SWIM. THE MEDICAL PROFILE EVALUATION INCLUDES A MEDICAL HISTORY REVIEW & ASSESSMENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS GENERAL HEALTH RELATED TO THE STRESSES & DEMANDS OF SCUBA TRAINING. PARTICIPANTS ARE SCREENED FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAY PREDISPOSE THEM TO PRESSURE RELATED INJURIES OR TRAINING RELATED ACCIDENTS OR FUTURE DIVING ACCIDENTS.
FEES:
SEE THE CLASS YOU ARE TAKING OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW CONTACT UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER1. WHAT DOES SCUBA CERTIFICATION MEAN?
SCUBA CERTIFICATION IS DOCUMENTATION OF A STANDARDIZED
TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDING POOL & CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AS WELL AS FOUR OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVES. ALL CERTIFYING AGENCY PROGRAMS HAVE THE SAME BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
2. WHAT DOES NAUI MEAN?
NAUI IS AN ACRONYM FOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR UNDERWATER INSTRUCTORS AND IS THE CERTIFICATION AGENCY THAT WE USE. THERE ARE SEVERAL CERTIFICATION AGENCIES INCLUDING NAUI, PADI, SSI. NAUI IS A VERY REPUTABLE AGENCY & IS RECOGNIZED WORLD WIDE. THE NAUI PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WAS STARTED IN 1967.
3. WHO TEACHES THE COURSE?
EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS INCLUDE LYNN SAMUEL, MD. PH.D., WHO HAS TAUGHT THE IM-REC. SPORTS & PHY'S ED CLASSES SINCE 1990. & BARRETT PAYNE M.ED., & ALLEN WHETZEL & SHANE GIMBERT & ALSO COMPETENT & ENTHUSIASTIC TEAM OF ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS & INSTRUCTORS. THE UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER TEACH THE UVA & SURROUNDING AREA CLASSES
4. WHAT IS THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR SCUBA
CERTIFICATION?
NAUI REQUIRES THAT A STUDENT BE AT LEAST 10 YEARS OF AGE. WE (UVA) REQUIRE THAT A STUDENT UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE A PARENT WITH THEM IN THE CLASS AT ALL TIMES. STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 15 ARE ISSUED A JUNIOR CERTIFICATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DIVE WITH AN ADULT. JUNIOR CERTIFICATION TRANSFERS TO BASIC CERTIFICATION WHEN THE STUDENT TURNS 18. THERE IS NO UPPER AGE LIMIT.
5. WHAT GOES ON WITH OPEN WATER DIVES?
FOR CONVENIENCE, OPEN WATER DIVES ARE USUALLY CONDUCTED AT OUR (UDC) PRIVATE QUARRY. OPTIONS FOR OPEN WATER DIVES INCLUDE REFERRALS SO THAT DIVES CAN BE COMPLETED DURING A PLANNED TRIP. OPEN WATER DIVES MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE END OF THE CLASSROOM/POOL PORTION OF THE COURSE. HOWEVER, WE DIVE OFTEN, & OUR SCHEDULE IS FLEXIBLE; THEREFORE, COMPLETION OF THIS PORTION IS NOT NORMALLY A PROBLEM.
6. WHAT DOES THE CLASS COST COVER?
THE COST OF THE COURSE COVERS POOL USE, INSTRUCTION, MAJOR EQUIPMENT RENTAL, OPEN WATER DIVES AT OUR QUARRY & CERTIFICATION. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF MASK, SNORKEL, BOOTS & FINS. THE STUDENT MUST PROVIDED MASK, SNORKEL, BOOTS & FINS ; HOWEVER THE DIVE SHOP (UDC) WILL RENT BOOTS & FINS. IF PARTICIPANTS ARE PLANNING TO PURCHASE GEAR, THEY SHOULD WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST CLASS MEETING TO LEARN WHAT IS SUITABLE EQUIPMENT FOR SCUBA. MASK, SNORKEL BOOTS & FINS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CLASS. STUDENTS WILL BE OFFERED A DISCOUNT ON GEAR PURCHASED AT THE SHOP (UDC) WHILE ENROLLED IN CLASSES. THERE IS ALSO A TEXT BOOK , WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE COURSE COST.
7. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL, MORE ADVANCED
CLASSES AVAILABLE?
ADDITIONAL CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER. PLEASE VISIT OUR NAUI PAGE,
8. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR SCUBA?
THE UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER TEACHES SCUBA THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA & A NUMBER OF OTHER COMMUNITY & PRIVATE POOLS. THE UNIVERSITY IM-REC SPORTS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO UNIVERSITY MEMBERS & THE COMMUNITY, SIGN UP THROUGH SUSIE FIDLER 434-924-6200
IF YOU HAVE A GROUP INTERESTED IN SCUBA INSTRUCTION AT YOUR FACILITY CONTACT THE UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER (434-296-6306) FOR RATES & TO SCHEDULE YOUR CLASS!
9. WILL MY SNORKELING EQUIPMENT WORK FOR
SCUBA DIVING?
YES YOU CAN USE YOUR MASK & SNORKEL, PROVIDING YOUR MASK FITS PROPERLY. SNORKELING FINS DON'T HAVE THE THRUST OR PROPULSION THAT THE LARGER OPEN HEEL SCUBA DIVING FINS HAVE. SNORKELING FINS ARE JUST TOO FLEXIBLE. OPEN HEEL SCUBA FINS ARE DESIGNED TO BE WORN WITH A BOOT SO THE FOOT POCKETS DON'T CHAFE (RUB THE SKIN OFF YOUR FOOT). OPEN HEEL SCUBA DIVING FINS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE MORE THRUST & PROPULSION! YOU WILL BE A MORE COMFORTABLE & EFFECTIVE DIVER WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT.
10. WHAT IF I HAVE SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS?
SCUBA DIVING IS SAFE FOR MOST PEOPLE. MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN RESULT IN UNCONCIOUSNESS UNDER WATER (SUCH AS SEIZURES OR INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETES) ARE NOT CONSIDERED SAFE FOR SCUBA.
OTHER CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR SCUBA ARE MEDICAL PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTY BREATHING UNDER WATER, (SUCH AS ASTHMA & HISTORY OF SPONTANEOUS PNEUMOTHORAX (COLLAPSED LUNG)
IF YOU ARE UNDER THE CARE OF A PHYSICIAN FOR A SPECIFIC MEDICAL PROBLEM, WE SUGGEST YOU CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR
11. DOES THE UNIVERSITY DIVE CENTER WORK WITH
SCUBA CLUBS?
YES WE DO. WE HAVE SPECIAL PRICING FOR AREA CLUB MEMBERS,
CONTACT US