Introduction to SCUBA Diving and Marine Life in Hawaii

Prerequisite: No prior scuba diving experience is required; basic swimming proficiency, proof of medical insurance, and no existing medical conditions which may interfere with scuba diving. Personal mask, fins, and snorkel (these items can be purchased at a discount through cooperating dive shops). A swimming skills evaluation will be conducted in a swimming pool on the first day of class, and all students must pass the following skills before proceeding to underwater activities: 10 minutes treading water, swim 50 feet underwater, swim 400 yards in 10 minutes.

Skin diver and scuba diver skills are taught in the context of using these skills to safely dive in open water in a range of the underwater environments and conditions. As part of the course, students will earn NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) Scuba Diver and Advanced Scuba Diver certifications. The objective of this course is to provide students with intensive training in preparation for continued marine science education and more advanced training scuba diving. During the course students will learn to identify the major coral reel fauna a several popular dive sites in Hawai‘i.

Credit: 3