Frequently Asked Questions


Learning to SCUBA dive is safe and affordable and it can expose you to an amazing underwater world. It requires training from instructors whose main goal is your safety and enjoyment. To ensure you are completely comfortable in the water Columbus SCUBA, Inc. (CSI) classes are performance-based. This means that you earn your certification when you demonstrate that you’ve mastered the required skills and knowledge. An entry-level certification course takes approximately 4 class sessions and a weekend during the summer. Classes typically take place during the evening in a small classroom setting. Your SCUBA education will involve elearning academics, in-pool sessions and 4 open-water certification (check-out) dives. Academics provide an opportunity to learn about the history, theory, and essentials of SCUBA diving. Pool sessions allow you to practice the diving skills necessary to be a safe and well trained diver. You will test your knowledge and apply your skills during training dives in a local quarry or through an open water referral. Upon completion, you will receive a certification card that identifies you as a trained diver, allowing you to rent SCUBA equipment, participate in advanced training, and explore exciting diving destinations.

PADI Divers carry the most respected and sought after scuba diving credentials in the world. No matter where you choose to dive, your PADI certification card will be recognized and accepted. On most scuba diving adventures, you’ll be surrounded by other PADI Divers who made the same certification choice you did – to train with the world’s largest and most respected scuba diving training organization.  In short, we want to be sure that you, as our student to this new underwater world have the most thorough and comprehensive training available and that your card is recognized regardless of where you travel in the world.

Please contact us by email at info@columbusscuba.com or give us a call at (614) 353-PADI (7234)

At Columbus Scuba, we pride ourselves on quality training. We understand that different people respond better to different teaching techniques and our instructors are flexible and versatile in their abilities to work with diverse audiences. We teach diving because we love diving, and we want you to love diving, too! You won’t feel like a number at this dive school as we will integrate you into our dive community so that you can continue to enjoy this sport locally and abroad for years to come. 

SCUBA diving is like anything else new in life that we try to learn — there is always a learning curve. It is new and foreign and it is natural to have apprehensions. However, the more you experience SCUBA diving and practice the skills the more comfortable you will become. We can help you become comfortable by using repetition and by touching on the same topics in many different ways. What feels completely foreign to you at the beginning of the class will be fun and enjoyable by the end of the class.

The most important thing is to be open to a new experience. An ability to swim is required, but it is really about being comfortable in and around water. Your first night of class will involve a ‘swim test’ in which you will swim 200 yards. You will also tread water for 10 minutes. 

We ask that all students purchase their own mask, fins and snorkels, as these are personal fitting items.  We do offer significantly discounted student packages in store. Stop by the shop during business hour and our staff can help you find the perfect fitting gear!

We offer junior SCUBA certifications. You must be at least ten years old to receive a Junior Open Water Diver certification. Ten and eleven-year-old Junior Open Water Divers must dive with a certified parent, guardian or PADI Professional and are eligible to dive to a maximum depth of 12 metres/40 feet. Twelve to fourteen-year-olds must dive with a certified adult. At age fifteen, the diver may upgrade to a regular PADI Open Water Diver certification without further training.

CSI is all about you! We are in this sport to make diving achievable and fun for anyone interested. Our primary focus is providing a high quality dive education, training, and certifications. We are truly in this sport because we love to dive and like helping people discover how great it is. We spend the majority of the summer weekends diving in locations around central Ohio – with past open water students – some from over 10 years ago. Your involvement with SCUBA and our group of divers can continue for as long as you want after your Open Water course is over. CSI has a family feel, as you can tell from our testimonials page, and we wouldn’t be in SCUBA diving if it was any other way.

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