Can You Learn Scuba Diving At Home?

Scuba diving is a fast-growing hobby all over the world. There are various diver training agencies in many locations with PADI being the most popular. The availability of these training schools makes training easy but can you learn scuba diving from home?

Yes, you can learn to scuba dive at home. PADI offers eLearning courses that divers can use to train in the comfort of their homes. However complete beginners should train with a qualified instructor, especially when training in open water. Advanced divers can take eLearning courses to improve their diving skills.

PADI offers an eLearning Open Water Certification course which can be completed in 10 – 15 hours. The theory class introduces divers to basic diving skills, equipment and gear, underwater breathing, and any other necessary skills.

To complete the full training and earn your certification you will have to visit a PADI dive center for the practical part of the course and the exam.

To fully learn scuba diving at home, you will need to buy the scuba gear and equipment, and hire a certified instructor. This can be quite expensive for many people which is why many people prefer training at a diver training center.

eLearning courses are convenient for those wishing to learn scuba diving but never have enough time. Starting with the theory part makes it easy to complete the class. You can spare 2 hours twice a week to attend the practical training.

In this article we’ll look into scuba diving and whether you can train at home, is it safe, and much more.

Keep reading!

Does It Take Longer To Learn Scuba Diving At Home?

It can take longer to learn scuba diving at home due to multiple reasons. For instance, balancing a work-life and family time may leave you with little to no time for the eLearning class.

In addition, since you don’t have a strict schedule to follow many people tend to relax and take the course at a slower pace.

With proper dedication and discipline, the PADI eLearning course takes 8 – 15 hours to complete.

Remember you still have to visit a dive center for practical training with an instructor. If you need to get your certification before your next holiday creating time every day or week will help you complete the course much faster.

Just like another sport, mastering any skill takes practice and a good amount of training. Whether you are learning scuba diving at home with a personal instructor or at a dive center, you will need to practice.

From my experience, training at a dive center is faster, you get to meet new people and have instructors guide you throughout the course.

I only spent 3 days training for my Open water diver certification. During this period I learned so much since I could ask the instructors questions and receive immediate feedback.

PADI instructors are available for consultations when taking the eLearning course.

When taking an eLearning course it’s important to take the classes in a continuous manner to avoid forgetting what was already learned. The longer breaks you take between classes you are more likely to forget concepts and have to retake them over and over again.

Can I Learn Scuba Diving From YouTube?

Yes, you can learn some basic skills and scuba diving principles from YouTube but it would be difficult to master the technical skills.

There are many scuba diving YouTube channels at your disposal. One notable factor is that a larger portion of these channels are either showcasing their diving experience or recommending the best diving gear.

It’s quite difficult to find a channel that solely focuses on training beginners on how to scuba dive. Well… not on a diving course level.

YouTube is a great platform to learn basic skills and also learn from other scuba divers. It’s a great place to learn mistakes to avoid when scuba diving, how to care for your diving gear and equipment, and other preparation skills beginners need.

In a scuba diving class, every diver gets the attention they need from the instructors. After training in confined waters you have some confidence to go open water diving. You also get a confidence boost knowing your instructor will accompany you.

On the other hand, would you feel confident going scuba diving after watching 10 scuba diving videos? Probably no. you can’t open YouTube underwater to check what you should do when a problem arises.

I love watching scuba diving videos as it’s a great place to learn new tips and tricks. I also get inspiration for my next dream diving spot. Different people in different locations will open your eyes to many dive spots you didn’t know existed.

Can I Teach Myself To Scuba Dive?

As a total beginner, it’s hard to train yourself how to scuba dive.

You will need someone with experience or scuba diving knowledge to teach you how to use the equipment safely. You also need training on underwater breathing, how to handle risks and emergencies and so much more.

Scuba diving has been around for many years. During this time experts have developed training manuals, effective gear and equipment, and skills for use in scuba diving.

Diving instructors have also trained to make the experience easier for everyone. Take advantage of their knowledge and learn scuba diving in a few sessions.

Trying to train yourself will probably take you double or triple the time it would have taken you in a diving course. With instructors, it’s also safer for you and those around you.

Many divers will always advise complete beginners to train in a dive center for multiple reasons. Once you have an advanced diver certification, you can actually take online diving courses and train on your own. At this level, you have mastered most of the skills required in scuba diving. You are also aware of how to respond to emergencies and identify potential problems.

I have met a couple of underwater photographers and videographers who are self-taught. Along the way, you met other professionally trained divers and learn more from them advancing your skills.

Can I Get Scuba Certified Online?

No, to get a scuba certification you are required to complete your practical training at a dive center or resort.

eLearning courses only offer the knowledge part of scuba diving also known as the theory part. You are required to actually practice these skills by diving in water for you to learn and master them.

One requirement to get your certificate is completing a 200-yard swim which can only be done in water. Completing your training at a dive center helps you practice underwater breathing, equalizing, and using the diving equipment.

Online scuba diving courses are great options to get started on your diving journey especially if you don’t have a lot of time at your disposal.

Keep in mind to get the certification valid all over the world, you will have to physically visit a dive center for the last part of your training with an instructor.

Who Can Take Online Scuba Diving Courses?

To take an online scuba diving course, you have to be at least 10 years old.

The same requirements apply to in-person lessons. Kids aged 10 start with a Bubble-maker course which introduces them to scuba diving. At age 15 they can earn their open water diver certification.

Although the minimum age requirement is 10 years, this doesn’t mean they can actually scuba dive alone. The kids would need supervision from adults or instructors.

At that age, the kid may want to experiment with what they already learned in the theory part which can be quite dangerous for them. Let the kids know and understand that to practice these skills they need a dive instructor and the correct diving gear.

Anyone over 18 years old can take advanced diving online classes such as the Self-Reliant Diver offered by PADI.

Is Scuba Diving Hard For Beginners?

Many beginners have concerns be it fear of sharks, fear of drowning, fear of water, or breathing underwater. All these reasons stop many people from ever training for scuba diving.

Scuba diving for beginners is not hard. Dive agencies have short introductory courses for all beginners. These courses introduce you to scuba diving, gear, and equipment.

Discover Scuba Diving by PADI, is ideal for those wishing to explore scuba diving or simply go scuba diving while on vacation.

You get the full recreational diver experience under your instructor’s supervisor. Don’t worry about drowning or attack by sharks, your instructor is with you.

Scuba diving gear is designed to help you float underwater as you explore. If you follow the tips shared during your training class, scuba diving is very easy and so much fun.

Conclusion

We looked at how long it would take you to learn scuba diving at home, whether you can earn a scuba certification online and how easy it is to learn scuba diving.

We’ve also looked at who can take and learn scuba diving at home. Safety is important and should come first for everyone taking online scuba diving courses.

To learn and master scuba diving you have to immerse yourself in the water and practice. Practice will improve your diving skills and make you a better dive buddy.

Happy diving and stay safe!