Oahu scuba certifications - Frequently asked questions

7. How many scuba certification courses have they taught? Good scuba instructors, who have an extensive resume of experience teaching scuba certification courses, are extremely hard to find. Oahu scuba diving shops have a notoriously high turnover ratio of scuba instructors to staff. Many of the ones who are there are recent hires, and have very little Oahu scuba diving experience. They also work long hours for very little money, generally getting paid by the activity, not by the hour. Insist on someone who has certified at least 100 people, and has been teaching a minimum of two years. - Unlike most Oahu scuba diving companies, our instructor, Sean Deming, is also an owner of Reef Pirates Diving and has a vested interest in providing the best Oahu scuba diving experience possible. We don't leave our instruction up to others, we take it upon ourselves. Sean certifies between 60 to 70 people a year at various levels, and has been instructing on Oahu since 2004. Let Reef Pirates Diving put together an Oahu scuba diving certification program based on your schedule and diving needs.

8. Is the scuba instructor First Aid / CPR certified? In order to become a PADI Scuba instructor, one must complete the Rescue Diver certification. PADI requires current CPR/First Aid training for one to receive Rescue Diver certification. Most scuba instructors are also First Aid/CPR Instructors. - Our instructor is not only First Aid / CPR Certified, he is a First Aid / CPR Instructor. In addition to teaching First Aid / CPR, he also teaches Child Infant Care and A.E.D. Most Oahu scuba diving shops will have you obtain the CPR and First Aid certifications through outside agencies. We at Reef Pirates Diving offer in house First Aid and CPR certifications. We'll even come to you. Choose Reef Pirates Diving for all your Oahu scuba diving needs.

9. Will the course be taught by rotating scuba instructors? This is a common practice some Oahu scuba diving operations use where one instructor "Team Teaches" the course with another, exposing you to differing personalities and teaching methods that will only confuse you. Unless you are doing a referral scuba certification, where you are starting and finishing your course in different locations, steer clear. - With Reef Pirates Diving you will find no rotating instructors. Your Oahu scuba diving courses will be taught by one scuba instructor. At no time will you feel like you are being passed on. Our scuba instructor, Sean, will work with you step by step through the entire diving course.

10. Will both the instructor and the student use similar equipment during the certification course? When both scuba instructor and student are using the same brand of scuba gear, and have similarly designed equipment configurations, it allows students to learn faster and easier, both in and out of the water, during the certification course. - We at Reef Pirates Diving use only the latest scuba gear. Our scuba gear is in new or near new condition. Both you and your instructor will be wearing almost identical sets of scuba gear. We are not your average Oahu scuba diving company. We don't pack our classroom or our boat. Come see the difference with Reef Pirates Diving.

11. Can I get a student discount after completing a certification course with Reef Pirates? Any reputable dive operation should give you a generous student discount towards future diving activities and/or scuba equipment purchases you make from them, in appreciation for taking their scuba certification course. - Reef Pirates Diving offers a lifetime 10% discount for all people completing one of our Oahu scuba diving certification courses or continuing scuba education courses. Choose Reef Pirates Diving for all your Oahu scuba diving needs.