FREQUENTLY ASKED
??'S
Why choose ADVANTAGE SCUBA?
We're not your typical dive shop.
We're a small business...and we plan on keeping it that way! Of course,
we offer our customers
great deals on quality dive equipment.
We also offer our students a special price on any of our Specialty Dive
Courses. In
addition we offer free Annual Inspections
on any equipment you've purchased as long as you own it.
After earning your OWD Certification..... the
real wonder and enjoyment of scuba begins.In addition to diving our local
lakes,
fresh water springs and quarries, we plan
several group dive trips each year to "world class" dive locations..likeCozumel,Mx.,
Bonaire,Cayman Brac, and the Bahamas.
The are highly affordable quality resorts that we've enjoyed over the past
ten
years of fantastic diving.
The last and most important reason for considering
ADVANTAGE SCUBA,is in our personal committment towards training our
students to become safe, proficient,long term
divers. Our Open Water Pro Diver course leads the industry in both
academic
training and skills development. Ask yourself
this simple question 'Do you want to become a competent, responsible diver
or just want to get a C-Card?' The choice
is yours...Go with the Advantage.
Where is the training done?
The classroom and pool sessions are conducted
in Altoona,Pa. The Open Water Check Outs are done
at Clover Creek Blue Hole Quarry, located
in Williamsburg,Pa.
I took a Resort Scuba Course while ,on vacation
several years ago ,and didn't do very well... I'd
like to try it again...but I'm not sure
I can do it. I'd really like to learn scuba..what should I do?
It's unfortunate that you had a bad first experience..but
your not alone. Many people have had poor
results with resort courses.The biggest problem
with resort courses is there done in to short of a time
frame.Usually 2 hours,or less, training on
how everything works....and your in the water. I would
suggest trying our Experience Scuba
Class.
In our OPen Water certification course we spent
(7) four hour sessions of classroom and pool training..
plus about (10) hours study(yes..homework!)
from IDEA's OPen Water Workbook...before you do any
open water diving. The real key to our success
rate is found in our caring, highly experienced,professional
staff ..who provide individual attention thru-out
the training and skills development process. Our mission is to
ensure that every student we certify meets
the standards setforth to be safe, responsible divers.With the proper
training and skills just about anyone can
learn to dive.
Can my 10 year old son take scuba lessons?
Some Agencies( PADI and SSI ) will certify
children as junior divers at the age of 10. IDEA requires
the student to be a minimum of (12) years
of age. It's been our experience that most 10 year olds lack the maturity
to understand many of the concepts associated
with being a responsible diver. Let him snorkel and skin dive for a few
years...if he does well enroll him in a scuba
course.
I'm 47 years old and in reasonably good health....Is it to late in my life to take up scuba diving?
Absolutely not! Many of our students are middle
age and beyond...there are quite a few divers, in their
60's and 70's still going strong. It's a good
idea to seek the advise of your family physican before enrolling
in any program.
My husband is a diver. He's been after me
for the past 3 years to get certified so I can dive with him.
I tried scuba diving in the pool a few
times..and I really didn't like it. What should I do?
I think you have answered your own question.
The decision to take up scuba should be solely based on
how you feel about doing it. If your not comfortable
with it..or get no enjoyment from it..you shouldn't
do it.Scuba diving is not something you do...
to make someone else happy.
Is obtaining an Open Water Diver Certifcation expensive?
That's a good question...it should be the first
thing anyone considering recreational diving should ask.
Secondly,and perhaps of greater importance
is 'what is included in the course'. There can be a wide variation between
one dive shop and another..the lowest price
is not always the best way to go.At Advantage Scuba our Open Water Course
costs..$350.00 For that price the student
receives approximately (30) hours of classroom and water skills development
training
presented by qualified,highly experienced
instructors.The cost also includes all books and study materials necessary
to
complete the course.With exception of "personal
items" (mask,snorkel and fins) all other equipment used during the course
( tanks,regulators,BCD,wet-suit, hood, gloves,etc.)
are included in the price.
Each student must complete a total of six
(6) Open Water Dives conducted over a 2 day period...which
is also included as is the cost of processing
your C-Card, Certificate and Student Log Book.
There seems to be host of scuba certification
agencies out there( PADI, NAUI, IDEA, PDIC,etc.)
How do I know which one to choose? Are
some better than others?
Regardless of what you've
been told... here are the facts: Nearly all certifying agencies are governed
by two enities,the Recreational Scuba Training
Council(RSTC)and the American National Standards
Institute(ANSI). These agencies set the minimal
training standards for all scuba courses from entry
level to instructor trainer. So what it boils
down to is this: all agencies training programs are very
similar in content.The key to getting high
quality training.. is the INSTRUCTOR. At Advantage Scuba
we are committed to training each individual
student to become a competent,responsible,safe diver.
We enter a bond with each student.. regardless
of how much time it takes, we will work with any
student in need to meet all course requirements.
To do anything less is simply, unacceptable.
Our certifying agency, the International Diving
Educators Association (IDEA) has been training divers,
all over the world,since 1952. Our training
programs have the highest academic ranking in the dive industry.