Q: How old do you have to be to learn to dive?

A: 10 - 12 years old is the minimum age limit, depending on the training agency, for SCUBA certification. For children under 10 we still have classes available that will give them an experience on SCUBA, though they will not be able to go SCUBA diving until they turn 10.

Q: How long can you stay down on a tank of air?

A: If I had a nickel for every time I was asked this one..... The truth is it depends on how much you breath (consumption rate) and the depth of the dive. The actual time could be as little as 5 mins. or over 2 hour.

Q: Is there anywhere to dive around me?

A: In central Virginia alone there are several nice places to go diving that are very close. Lake Rawlings, Virginia Beach, and the Outer Banks are all close enough to make day trips to.

Q: What about sharks, barracuda and moray eels?

A: Don't worry about them. They are more afraid of you that you are of them. Statistically you are far more likely to have an encounter with a shark while swimming at the beach that you ever would have while diving with them. As for the rest of the marine life, if you do not bother them, they will not bother you.

Q: How long does it take to get certified?

A: Some scuba classes can take as little as a weekend while others may take several weeks to complete. We have different class formats to fit your schedule.

Q. Where can I get more information?

A: You can visit www.tdisdi.com , www.padi.com or www.naui.com to get more information on available certification levels and dive travel. You can also visit our link page for many great diving links. www.tricityscuba.com/links.htm