25 Years Teaching Scuba in the Triangle, over 4,000 divers trained and certified.

Welcome Aboard!~

and thanks for considering our beginning SCUBA program.

It is our full expectation that you will have a truly enjoyable time learning to dive, and that this is the beginning of a lifetime of diving adventure for you.

We encourage you to come in to the shop at your earliest convenience to let us welcome you to the SCUBA community. We'll go over all of the information listed below, and make absolutely certain you are fully prepared to begin your new life adventure.

If your schedule precludes your being able to stop in before your class starts, you can still get started.
All you need to do is:

Download these medical history documents and complete the questionnaire. If you have any "yes" answers on your questionnaire, take the questionnire and the physician's guidelines included in the download to your doctor for approval. Call us if you hjave any questions. 255-1931.

Log on to Scuba Schools International's on-line training program by hitting the image link to the right and get started on your academic training. We ask that you have at least three chapters completed prior to starting your pool training with us, but please feel free to complete the entire program first if you'd prefer.

Call us with a credit card handy to place a deposit on the scuba training schedule of your choice. 919/255-1931. This is also the perfect time to arrange a visit - so we can give you a warm personal welcome, help you select your logbook and your snorkeling equipment if you need to purchase some, and allow us to give you a tour of our wonderful facility andto answer any and all questions you may have.

You may also wish to talk to us about our Free SCUBA program. (Simply put, you buy your SCUBA gear from us now and your SCUBA lessons are free.There are quite a few more incentives in this program, too. Click the link to check it out.) If you opt for this, the orientation is a great place to start the process of assembling your total dive system.

Here's how your scuba class will go:

• Your swimsuit and towel.
• Your logbook (and homework, if you're using our home study rather than our on-line system.).
• Your personal snorkeling system.
• Your completed Medical Waiver signed by your doctor, if indicated by your health history form.

(Please note: If you've opted to participate in our free SCUBA lesson program, we'll have your Total Dive System waiting when you arrive.)

Here's what will happen during your first class:

• You will start with a brief classroom session. Your instructor will introduce himself/herself and our dive asssitants, will thoroughly explain the learning program to you, and will make sure you fully understand the risk involved in learning to SCUBA dive. Then you'll head for the pool. We love our pool. It's clean, clear, and 87 degrees, so you will be comfortable in your swimsuit.
• You WILL do a quick swim evaluation. You'll complete an untimed swim of 200 yards, using whatever stroke you like best. Then you'll do a 10-minute float/tread.
• You WILL go SCUBA diving! Hey - that's what you're here for, right? You can only learn to dive by going diving... and it is an incredible experience!

And then you'll come back for 5 more class sessions, with each session building on to the skills learned in the prior session - and you will become more and more proficient with your SCUBA skills, and then it will be time for:

Your Certification Dives

The final part of your SCUBA course will be your Open Water Certification Dives. This is a two-day process in which you complete five dives with your instructor and absolutely assure yourself (and your instructor) that you can comfortably and competently perform all of the skills that a diver should be able to do to stay safe.

We routinely offer this training year-round (here's our schedule), or you may choose to get a referral from us so that you can complete your certification dives elsewhere. Please advise us ASAP if you'd like a referral. We'd like contact information for the facility that will complete your training so that we can make sure your referral experience is problem free. We do charge a $30 referral fee.

If you choose to complete your certification dives with us (and we hope you will), please know that if you want to get them done quickly, it might be a good idea to enroll in those dives immediately, so that you are assured a spot on the roster. But you may also choose to consult with your pool training instructor first.

And that's it - you'll soon be a fully-certified SCUBA diver and will be for the rest of your life. It's going to be a pleasure getting to know you and we hope you enjoy the same level of excitement and adventure that has enriched our lives for many years. Once again, WELCOME ABOARD!

~ Your friends and future dive buddies at Gypsy Divers