A common concern among those who dive infrequently is whether to renew 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, you got 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 I want to dive again. Most Discover SCUBA certifications are suitable for your time at the resort or valid for up to one year. If you wish to continue diving, you must 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, taking an occasional refresher course is a good idea if you’ve been in dry dock for a while. This could consist of a check out in a pool to ensure 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 wear differs 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.
In Conclusion
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 skills. Maybe join in a discover scuba event in your local area to get your feet (and everything) else wet again. Don’t let your time on land dissuade you from returning to the water.
