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Is it Necessary to Renew My Dive Certification?

Is it Necessary to Renew My Dive Certification?

Written by Leisure Pro Staff
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Published on July 18, 2015

A common concern that often comes up among those who dive infrequently is whether they will need to retake their dive certification after a substantial period out of the water. The short answer is no, but what you need to do next depends on what kind of certification you got in the first place.

Maybe you went to the Cayman Islands or a tropical resort and got “certified” to SCUBA. But, is it a true certification? Most likely what you got was a “Discover SCUBA” level certification. You learned the basics of breathing through a regulator and using a mask and fins but little else. You made great underwater memories and would like to go diving again. Most Discover SCUBA certifications are either good for your time at the resort, or can be valid for up to one year. If you want to continue diving you’ll now need to go for the complete open water certification class.

An open water diver’s certification is good for life. While you never need to renew it, it is a good idea to take an occasional refresher course if you’ve been in dry dock for a while. This could consist of a check out in a pool to make sure you still have all the basic skills required to dive.

Another great reason to brush up on your skills is the changing equipment. If you are a diver of “a certain age” getting back into the water after 20 years, you may find that the gear younger divers are wearing quite different from what you donned back in the day. But don’t let that stop you! Today’s equipment is streamlined and user friendly, designed for ease of use and customization for each diver’s needs.

If you’ve been out of the water for a few months or many years, giving your equipment a good clean up and check out is just as important as brushing up on your own skills. Maybe join in a discover scuba event in your local area, just to get your feet (and everything) else wet again. Don’t let your time on land dissuade you from getting back into the water.

Leisure Pro Staff

Leisure Pro Staff

Marketing Director for LeisurePro