Many people dream of scuba diving on their exotic vacations, but are afraid that if they learn to dive, they will end up wasting a lot of their vacation time and money on one activity. The truth is, there are diving courses and schools all over the world, and it is possible to begin your learn to dive course in your native country and to complete it while you are on vacation. Or better yet, you can learn to dive before you go on vacation and earn a diving passport that will enable you to scuba dive anywhere in the world. So before you go on vacation, look into your options carefully if you want to learn to dive.
When you learn to dive, you will be taught basic mechanics in a swimming pool. This might seem simplistic, but even the best swimmers need to learn special techniques for movement when they learn to dive, since mechanics are not the same as those used with regular swimming, especially since divers have equipment to deal with as well. The beginning course also teaches the prospective diver equipment use and maintenance. This is the most intimidating aspect for those who want to learn to dive, but once you get the understand how to handle your equipment, you can begin to dive with confidence.
Of course, safety is an important component of your course as you learn to dive, and the buddy system is essential, even for seasoned divers. Other concepts taught in beginning and intermediate courses include: