Medical
Questionnaire - Please review prior to any scuba or snorkeling program, if you have any YES answers please print this form out
Physician Form - Should you
have any YES answers on the medical questionnaire you will need a
physician to grant you permission to take a scuba or snorkeling program
Parental Consent - For all minors under the age of 18
Waiver for Non Entry-level Scuba - Required for all courses other than Open Water Diver Here is an overview of the most commonly asked questions. If your question is not answered in this section, just let us know by e-mailing us at training at uniteddivers.com and we will answer it and if it is relevant, also add it to this FAQ section.
How do I register?
I have medical history. Can I still dive?
What equipment must I purchase to learn to scuba dive?
How old must I be to scuba dive?
Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?
How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
Is scuba diving dangerous?
Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as an Open Water Diver?
If my ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool, won't they hurt when I scuba dive?
What type of wet suit do I need? What are the diving conditions?
How long does a tank of air last?
Q: How do I register?
A: United Divers provides four ways to register. You can either register by phone, register online, or register by visiting our Somerville facility. If you stop by the store you can watch a fifteen minute risk awareness video about scuba diving. Please take a look at the Medical Questionnaire prior to registering - any "yes" answers require the approval of a physician.
Q: I have medical history. Can I still dive?
A: At United Divers, safety is our number one concern. So for your safety and ours, all potential divers must complete a medical questionnaire before they will be allowed to participate in any United Divers course. Please check with our staff if you have specific medical needs before attending any class. Depending on the diving course being taken, you may first be required to have a dive medical. Failing this medical, or having certain pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and epilepsy may prevent you from diving. So will pregnancy. Training instructors will determine if you will require a physician’s approval before attending a diving course. Please check with the Training Director for further information if you have any questions regarding our medical screening process or have any privacy concerns.
Q: What equipment must I purchase to learn to scuba dive?
A: All divers must provide their own mask, fins, snorkel and boots- these are personal fit items and will make your scuba experience more enjoyable. ** You will receive a $50 gift card to use at United Divers to help purchase these items when you register for an open water diver course. ** United Divers has a conveniently placed full service retail dive store within our training center. The retail store has a wide selection of gear and has trained staff that can help you chose items that fit you. You will also need the student kit, which includes the manual, dive tables and a logbook. United Divers will provide all the Scuba Equipment for the pool sessions: Buoyancy Compensator, Regulator with gauges, Scuba tank, weights and weight-belts . The cost of this equipment is built into the cost of class and pool tuition. However, divers will be held responsible for all lost or damaged equipment. For the certification dives, we also provide a equipment rental Rent-To-Own program to help offset the cost of having to buy your own equipment.
Q: How old must I be to scuba dive?
A:United Divers allows children 12 years old and up (known as Junior Divers) to participate and must present a valid Parental Consent Form before they will be allowed to participate in any course. Once certified, Junior Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or active dive leader to a maximum depth of 40 feet. Junior divers may upgrade to the Open Water Diver level at age 15 by simply diving with a dive leader and completing an oral or written knowledge review.
Q: Is it hard to learn to scuba dive?
A: No, in fact, it's probably easier than you imagine especially if you're already comfortable in the water. The entry-level diver course is split into knowledge development, confined water (pool) skill training and four scuba training dives. The course is "performance based," which means that you progress as you learn and demonstrate knowledge and skill.
Q: How long does it take to become a certified scuba diver?
United Diver courses are "performance based," which means that you earn your certification when you demonstrate that you've mastered the required skills and knowledge. Some people learn faster than others, so how long it takes you may vary. The United Divers' Open Water Diver course (Beginner Track) is typically split into six to seven sessions with tremendous flexibility. The course may be scheduled over as little as two days, or as much as five or six weeks, or something in between, depending upon student needs and logistics. As a rule of thumb, most students complete their initial certification in three or four weeks.
Q: Is scuba diving dangerous?
A: Not really. Statistics show that recreational scuba diving is about as safe as swimming. Certainly there are potential hazards -- which is why you need training and certification -- but like driving a car, as long as you follow the rules and use common sense, it's pretty safe.
Q: Do I have to be a great swimmer to be certified as an Open Water Diver?
A: You need to be is a reasonably proficient swimmer who is comfortable and relaxed in the water. The swimming requirement for certification is an easy 200 yard non-stop swim (with no time or specific stroke requirement) and 10 minutes treading water.
Q: If my ears hurt when I dive to the bottom of a pool, won't they hurt when I scuba dive?
A: Your ears hurt because water pressure pushes in on your eardrum. In your scuba course, you'll learn a simple technique to equalize your ears to the surrounding pressure, much like you do when you land in an airplane, and they won't hurt at all.
Q: What type of wet suit do I need? What are the diving conditions?
A: On average the water temperature here is 55-65° F so a 5mm to 7mm wetsuit or drysuit should be sufficient. Your instructor will cover different kinds of suits and what is appropriate for your needs.
Q: How long does a tank of air last?
A: This is a common question that, unfortunately, doesn't have a single answer. People breathe at different rates, and you breathe faster when you're swimming than when you're resting. Also, the deeper you go, the faster you use your air, and, you can get different size tanks. So, the answer is "it depends;" this is why divers have a gauge that tell them how much air they have at all times. As an approximation, though, a diver sightseeing in calm, warm water in the 15 - 30 ft. range can expect the average tank to last about an hour.
